Navigating life as a new immigrant can be overwhelming, and we’re here to help ease the transition. On this page, you’ll discover a range of resources covering various aspects like housing, legal assistance, mental health support, community centers, and more. Take a look at the resources provided below for additional information.
Below are some resources to learnm more about different educational programs for all family and how to enrol.
Did you know that Ottawa has a wealth of resources available to help you stay healthy? From community health programs to support groups, there are plenty of ways to take charge of your well-being. You can start exploring some of the options available from this list
- Carlington Community Health Centre
- Centretown Community Health Centre
- Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre
- Lowertown Community Resource Centre
- Muslim Family Services Ottawa (MFSO)
- Nepean, Rideau & Osgoode Community Resource Centre
- Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre
- Community Support for Men and Families
- Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre
- Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre
- Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
- Somerset West Community Health Centre
- South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre (SEOCHC)
- Vanier Community Service Centre
- Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
- Family Services Ottawa
- Restore Medical Clinics
- Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario (CNEO)
If you’re facing a challenging situation or someone you care about needs help, there are crisis lines available to provide support.
- 9-8-8
- Distress Centre Ottawa and Region
- Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre Crisis Line
- YSB – 24/7 Crisis Line
- Ontario Assaulted Women’s Helpline
- Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line of Eastern Ontario
- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa
- The Mental Health Crisis Line
- Tel-Aide Outaouais
- Crisis Lines (immigrantwomenservices.com)
Looking for that extra confidence to help you excel in the world of work? Explore the following resources.
Entrepreneurship support services provide guidance in starting or growing your business as a newcomer in Canada. Looking for mentorship, funding or networking opportunities? Explore the following resources.
- BDC
- CESOC (Entrepreneurship program for francophones)
- CHNGE MKER HUB
- Futurpreneur
- Invest Ottawa
- La Cite Collegiale (Francophone Immigrants Entrepreneurs Program)
- OCISO
- Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF)
- PARO Centre For Women’s Enterprise (Womens)
- RAEM-Multicultural Entrepreneurs Action Network (Gatineau)
- Startup Canada
Check out the following resources if you are looking for support for your children and/or family members.
Access to Food is very important for wellbeing. Following are the Food banks available in different areas of the city.
- Ottawa Food Bank
- Barrhaven Food Cupboard
- Banff Community House
- Britannia Woods Food Pantry
- Caldwell Family Centre
- Care Centre Ottawa
- Caring and Sharing
- Westboro Food Bank
- Dalhousie Food Cupboard
- FAMSAC Food Cupboard
- Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard
- Heron Emergency Food Centre
- Kanata Food Cupboard
- Parkdale food Centre
- Stittsville Food Bank
- Westboro Region Food Bank
- Food Bank – CRCOC – OCCRC
Are you looking for Francophone services? Check out these links below.
Resources that can help you navigate and understand the housing system. Find resources for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention. Click the links below.
These are links to various informational topics that may be relevant to you, click on each to learn more!
Newcomer to Canada and looking for language resources in Ottawa? Explore the following options for assistance.
- LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada)
- CANAvenue English Learning
- CLB-OSA
- The CELBAN Centre
- ELTOC
- Extra Resources for English Practice
- pwc (People, Words & Change)
- YMCA- Language Assessment and Referral Services (LARC)
- YMCA – Language Resources
- Ottawa Toastmasters Club
- Speak Confident English
- Immigration and integration services – Collège Boréal (collegeboreal.ca)
- French – Adult Learning – French as a second language
- The Distance Education Program – French
- Carrefour – French Language Courses
- French workshops – Alliance Française Ottawa
If you require legal support, here are some resources where you can get more information
Mental Health is very important specially when navigating a new country. Please review the following resources and learn more about the available services that can provide you the support that you need.
- Le Cap Centre
- Counselling Connect
- Crossroads Children’s Centre
- Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
- Geriatric Psychiatry Community Services of Ottawa
- OCISO’s Counselling program
- Salus Ottawa
- Maison Fraternité
- Working Women Community Centre- Counselling (women) (multilingual)
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- The Walk-in Counseling Clinic
- Ottawa Public Health Resources
Get support services tailored for newcomers. Settlement support services offer guidance to newcomers on housing, language, employment, and more. Explore the following resources.
- Catholic Centre for Immigrants
- The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)
- Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI)
- Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO)
- Conseil Economique & Social d’Ottawa-Carleton (French)
- Jewish Family Services (JFS)
- Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre (OCCSC)
- Somali Centre for Family Services (SCFS)
- YMCA Newcomer Information Centre
- Settlement.org (Ontario-wide)
- Newcomer Info Bank
Check out these programs that various support for skills development and certifications.
These support services are available for health and well-being.
Looking for more information, as a Temporary Foreign Worker? These resources may be helpful for you to explore.
Looking for more information on Truth and Reconciliation? These resources may be helpful for you to explore.
- Indigenous Canada | Coursera
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Learning Modules – HRPA
- Education – National Centre of Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Resources – Project Learning Tree Canada (pltcanada.org)
- Homepage – Orange Shirt Society (orangeshirtday.org)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Canada.ca
- Free Indigenous reconciliation course for entrepreneurs | BDC.ca
- WEBINAR | Introduction to Reconciliation (tamarackcommunity.ca)