Great question! It is crucial to connect with local community networks upon arrival to establish a connection and opportunity for volunteering. As a starting point, reach out to a Settlement Worker who can share with you the pathway to volunteering and connecting to community organizations of your choice, and/or Volunteer Canada or Volunteer NBC for volunteer opportunities in different career fields.  

As a newcomer, you may go to www.211.ca to locate a settlement agency near you. Once you have identified a settlement agency, you may give them a call to speak to an intake worker or Settlement Worker for intake and registration, they will also discuss your needs to find out next the steps in the process.  

You can find information on obtaining a health card from the Service Ontario website: www.ontario.ca. There you can find instructions and guidelines, as well as a list of required documents needed to apply for a health card. Your Settlement Worker will be able to help you navigate the application process. Once you have received your health card, you will be able to visit your family doctor for free. For further support, contact your Settlement Worker to find a family doctor of preference in the community.  

To find out more on school registration in Ontario, go to: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/sift/. Navigating school registration can be overwhelming; you can reach out to the school or your Settlement Worker for support. 

Very good question! As a newcomer in the country, there are many services available for newcomers that you may not be aware of. This is normal when coming to a new country. The good news is, there are many free settlement related programs and services available for newcomers, which may be easily accessed online and/ or in-person through a settlement community program. You may also visit www.settlement.org to start your settlement journey.  

For many newcomers in Canada, sponsorship of family members is one of their top priorities. Immigration Canada has sponsorship guides with instructions and a required document checklist available for your reference. Visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html for assistance. For a website walkthrough, contact your Settlement Worker.  

We are glad you asked this question! We come across many newcomers who are looking for support in this area. You should contact your Settlement Worker to assess your current financial situation, identify areas of skills training, and gain referrals to community programs that will enhance your skills training.  

There are many government benefits available for newcomers based on their income and eligible criteria. Visit your nearest settlement agency to connect with a Settlement Worker for assessment and referral.  

Congratulations, you have come to a very important part of your settlement journey! For application guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html. There are many free citizenship preparation classes available at your settlement agency. For more information and support, contact your Settlement Worker.  

Finding accommodation can become a hardship for many newcomer families. Our Settlement Workers can support you by providing information on different types of housing, renting in Canada, and tenant rights and responsibilities, to help you make informed decisions. For more information on housing, go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/affordable-housing-ontario.