In our city’s history, immigrants have always played an important role. They build our economic prosperity, diversify our culture, contribute to our social vitality.

Jim Watson
Mayor of Ottawa
The target beneficiary of the work of OLIP is the whole community. In this short period we have planted together important seeds for Ottawa’s development.  

Dick Stewart
OLIP Council
The OLIP Council is committed to leadership.  In only a few years, we have a common vision and priorities, and are up to the task of implementing the Ottawa Immigration Strategy.

Salimatou Diallo
OLIP Council Vice Chair, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario
I was happy to see integration to Algonquin territory and indigenous culture related programming in 2014 WOW. Please continue to involve local Aboriginal organisations and…

Linda Manning
WOW 2014 participant, Senior Fellow, University of Ottawa
All the WOW events that I went to were great – WOW does give a sense of a community trying to improve its attraction and retention!

Caroline Andrew
Professor, University of Ottawa
Canada has been shaped by people who came from all over the world to build this country. WOW offers a platform for us to celebrate this history and the future it will help…

Alex Munter, Chair of the OLIP Council and President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
The City of Ottawa will continue to play a lead role in the implementation of the Ottawa Immigration Strategy, just as we did in the founding of OLIP.

Steve Desroches
City Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ottawa
The Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre is so happy to have joined the OLIP Health and Wellbeing Sector Table. It is clear that OLIP cares about immigrants and refugees and…

Wendy Tang, Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre
We are very pleased to have done the “Opportunity Cost of Not Investing in Interpretation” report – it is so important to have clarity on these challenges and…

Hindia Mohamoud, Director, OLIP
My nomination is an indication that our hard work in building Canada is recognized. All we do is to serve the community in return for embracing us when we needed it.  

Mehdi Mahdavi
Ottawa Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards Nominee

Speaker Biographies – 4th Biennial Ottawa Immigration Forum – November 20, 2017

November 14, 2017

Master of Ceremonies

Sarah Onyango

Welcoming Remarks

Mayor Jim Watson

Thoughts from Partners

Charting our Progress through Complexity

Alex Munter – Chair, OLIP Council and President and CEO, CHEO and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre

Access to Talent: A Top Priority for Ottawa’s Business Community

Ian Faris – President and CEO, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and Executive Member, Local Employment Planning Council

Importance of Local Collaboration to Promote Newcomers’ Health and Well-Being

Chantale LeClerc – CEO, Champlain Local Health Integration Network

Keynote Address:  Assuring Newcomer Success:   Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Valerie Preston, Department of Geography, York University and Principal Investigator, Migration and Resilience in Urban Canada

Expert Panel:  Linking Policy and Practice

Yvonne Ferrer – Director, Refugee Resettlement Program, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

Dr. Trina Foster – Executive Director, Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation

Leslie Emory, Executive Director, Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Dr. Josephine Etowa, Professor, University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences

Jennifer Ditchburn, Facilitator and Editor in Chief, Policy Options

Closing Remarks and and Acknowledgements

Hindia Mohamoud, Director, OLIP