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
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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
The work and expertise that OLIP brings to our community is so important as it helps us to build bridges and break down silos.  I look forward to our continued work together. 

Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa

Vision and Values

  1. OLIP’s Vision
  2. OLIP Partners’ Shared Beliefs
  3. Ethical Guidelines for Working Together

OLIP’s Vision

OLIP partners envision a more prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive national capital, strengthened through the contributions of immigrants.

  • A more prosperous city as a result of immigrants increased participation in Ottawa’s labour market and economy.
  • A more vibrant capital achieved by engaging immigrants’ diverse cultural, intellectual, and civic perspectives.
  • An inclusive national capital that upholds and practices the values of public service, multiculturalism, and bilingualism.

OLIP’s vision is woven throughout the community-wide priorities identified in the Ottawa Immigration Strategy.

OLIP Partners’ Shared Beliefs

Partners’ commitment to OLIP’s vision is based on the common understanding that:

  • Successful attraction, settlement, and integration of immigrants is essential for Ottawa’s future prosperity and vitality, and yet the integration of immigrants is currently fraught with multiple and complex challenges, which must be systematically untangled and resolved.
  • The challenges that confront immigrants and organizations involved in their integration cut across jurisdictions and organizational mandates. Success demands collaborative leadership and concerted action that focuses on the issues and desired outcomes, not on organizational boundaries.
  • Trust among partners is a critical and scarce commodity that must be carefully nurtured.
  • OLIP partner institutions and community stakeholders, including immigrant civic groups, are diverse and each brings unique strengths that make their contributions to the OLIP vision invaluable.
  • Strong bridging connections between immigrants, public institutions, and host communities that welcome newcomers are essential for improving access and inclusive participation.
  • Ottawa has considerable strengths on which to build.  From this foundation, we can transform our city into a model national capital and a welcoming community where immigrants succeed, and diversity thrives.

Ethical Guidelines for Working Together

In working towards the OLIP vision, partners agree to abide by the following ethical guidelines:

  • Community-driven: basing all decisions on the needs of the community
  • Collaborative: building trust, articulating common goals, and facilitating intersectoral knowledge transfer and development
  • Purposeful: always keeping the OLIP vision, mission, and objectives at the forefront
  • Inclusive: ensuring all voices are heard and working with not for the community
  • Flexible and responsive: learning through action, taking advantage of lessons, and being adaptable
  • Respectful: listening and providing opportunities for engagement
  • Transparent: communicating openly with each other and with the community
  • Mindful of best practices: being inquisitive about what works best while paying attention to Ottawa’s local context and immigrants’ diverse needs.