Helping Newcomers settle in Canada
We offer free, confidential and culturally sensitive settlement services in various languages.

Services Provided:

Information and Orientation:
We will introduce you to Canadian life and the community by providing information on different issues, such as Housing, Banking, English as Second Language, Legal problems, Social Services, Taxes, Daycare, School registration, Shopping, Budgeting, the Police, Canadian values, Roles and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, Immigration, Sponsorship, Canadian Citizenship and more

Referral:
If we are not able to help you, we will put you in touch with other community resources/services, such as banks, shops, housing, health, cultural, educational, recreational, legal and other organizations and agencies.

Interpretation and Translation:
With a counselor who might speak your language, we are able to provide interpretation service to help you communicate and cope with day-to-day life in the community.

We also welcome your own interpreters!

Our translation services are limited to documents related to employment, health, education and legal matters that are necessary for immediate settlement.

Advocacy:
We advocate and place phone calls for you dealing with Housing, Social Services, Employment, Employment Benefits, Human Rights, Legal Services...

Settlement Counselling and Crisis Intervention:
We identify your settlement needs, and determine how to address them. If you have a problem adjusting to life in Canada, or have a personal problem, we will link you up with specialized counseling services (abused women, health, family planning, legal, seniors, youth services etc.)

Employment Services:
We offer assistance in job search, resume preparation, and acquisition of other skills that will help you find employment

We can also help you obtain certification or recognition of your academic credentials.

Escort:
Escort services may be arranged, but not on regular basis.

Community Orientation Program
We provide group settlement sessions at English as Second Language Schools on topics relevant to newcomers’ settlement needs. Guest speakers are invited from agencies in the community.

Newcomer Information Sessions ( NIS ):

We provide group settlement sessions on topics relevant to newcomers’ settlement needs through a program known as Newcomer Information Session ( NIS ) Program.

These sessions are facilitated on-site and at English as a Second Language ( ESL ) schools.

• Newcomer Information Sessions ( NIS ) at ESL Schools for 2007/2008:

1. Apprenticeship by Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
2. Banking by TD Canada Trust Bank
3. Budgeting and Money Management by Catholic Family Counselling Centre - Credit Counselling Program
4. Canadian Citizenship by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
5. Dental Care by Region of Waterloo Public Health
6. Domestic Violence by Anselma House
7. Driver's License by Kitchener Drive Test
8. Education System in Canada by YMCA Immigrant Settlement Adaptation Program (ISAP) and Settlement and Education Partnership in Waterloo Region (SEPWR)
9. Elder Abuse by Restorative Justice Approach to Elder Abuse
10. Employment by YMCA Newcomer Employment Centre
11. Fire Safety by Kitchener and Waterloo Fire Departments
12. Fraud and Scams by Waterloo Regional Police
13. Health Care System in Canada by YMCA ISAP Program
14. Immigration by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
15. Income Tax by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
16. Introduction to Canadian Law by Waterloo Regional Police
17. Landlord and Tenant Issues by Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal and YMCA ISAP Program
18. Legal Rights at Work by YMCA ISAP Program
19. Library: Orientation to Kitchener Public Library (KPL)
20. Orientation to Canadian Workplace Culture by YMCA ISAP Program
21. Parenting in Canada by the Family and Children’s Services
22. Public Health by Region of Waterloo Public Health Department
23. Sexual and Reproductive Health by Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region
24. Volunteering by Volunteer Action Centre of Kitchener
25. Youth and Drugs by Waterloo Regional Police

•  On-site Newcomer Information Session ( NIS ) for 2007:

1. First Days in Canada
2. Budgeting and Money Management
3. Parenting in Canada
4. Orientation to Canadian Workplace Culture
5. Your Legal Rights at Work
6. Health and Safety at Work
7. Funding your Post-Secondary Education
8. Learn how to do Your Own Tax Return
9. Car Insurance
10. Orientation to Ontario Works: Social Assistance
11. Adjusting to Life in Canada
12. Nutrition

• Other on-site ISAP events for newcomers include:

1. Income Tax Clinics
2. Immunization Clinics
3. Dental Clinics
4. Tax Services Clinic
5. Legal Immigration Clinic

For yearly schedule and registration please call 519-579-9622

Languages we speak:
Arabic, Albanian, Amharic, Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian, Chinese, Dari, Dutch, Farsi, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu

Who is eligible for our services?

• Permanent residents and people with the Minister’s Permit*
• Newcomers  to whom Canada intends to grant permanent resident status (Convention Refugees included).

The program is designed primarily to meet the needs of newly arrived immigrants and refugees, however other eligible immigrants may receive settlement services, regardless of how long they have been in Canada, as long as they have not become Canadian citizens.

ISAP Program Staff List

OFFICE HOURS and LOCATION

Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon)

800 King Street West, 3rd floor

Kitchener, ON  N2G 1E8

Phone: 519-579-9622

The ISAP PROGRAM is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada

ISAP Program - Links:

Immigration/Settlement

•  http://www.settlement.org

•  http://www.cic.gc.ca

•  http://www.directioncanada.gc.ca

Employment

  Employment related requirements

•  http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/generic/nocsearch.shtml

  Labour Market Information

•  http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/jobfutures/

Local Community Information

•  http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca

•  http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca

•  http://www.therecord.com - Local newspaper

Government Information sites  

•  http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Community Legal Education

•  http://www.cleo.on.ca

Education

•  http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/

•  http://www.wrdsb.on.ca/

Accrediting degrees

•  http://www.icascanada.ca/English/main.html

•  http://www.cicic.ca/factsheets/factsheet1eng.stm

•  http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/ces/

•  http://www.wes.org/ca/

Human Rights

  Canadian Human Rights Commission

•  http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca

Le Programme d’Adaptation &

d’Établissement pour les Immigré(e)s

(«ISAP»)

Le Programme d’Adaptation et d’Établissement pour les Immigré(e)s aide les immigrés à s’adapter à la société canadienne en leur procurant les services essentiels au bon déroulement de leur première année à l’étranger.

Le Programme est destiné premièrement aux immigrés nouvellement arrivés, bien que toutes les personnes le désirant peuvent bénéficier des services du programme «ISAP» à n’importe quel moment après leur arrivée au Canada.

Les Services

Infomation, accès aux Resources Communautaire, orientation, interprétation, avocats et conseillers (soutiens et avis, pas de services professionels). L’assistance sur l’emploi est offerte pour aider les nouveaux canadiens dans leurs décisions de carrière et le développement de celle-ci. Les services sont disponibles dans plusieurs langues et sont gratuits.

Le Programme d’Orientation à la Communauté

Le Programme d’Orientation à la Communauté fait parti du programme «ISAP» et donne des séances d’orientation de groupe aux nouveaux canadiens. Sont inclus les thèmes du logement, de l’emploi, la loi, le système de santé et autres sujets identifiés au cours des discussions. Des invités sont choisis dans la communauté. Les séances sont en anglais de base. Un agenda des séances est disponible. Pour plus d’information téléphoner au 519-579-9622.

Le Programme de la Citoyenneté Canadienne

Services de ce programme: information sur le processus d’inscription, tarifs, examen, disponibilité des cours et assistance avec le formulaire d’application. Des séances d’information en groupe sont aussi disponibles.

Updated in January, 2008