Holiday Smiles

CultureLink Settlement in the Community News, SWIS News

CultureLink’s Youth and Children Centre was the location of our latest indoor event, one of the very few we have been able to host this year for our newcomer clients. Following health guidelines and protocols, the reception area was turned into an elf-workshop where our staff worked hard to sort and pack dozens of presents for families and children in …

Not a success story, but a cautionary tale…

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News

A newcomer client who was befriended by someone through Facebook was scammed for $17,000 via a fraudulent Bitcoin app. One of our program workers with the Library Settlement Partnership assisted the client to report the fraud to the police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) online reporting system. Although the client is currently aware that it is unlikely to get …

This Is Our Shot

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News

“THIS IS OUR SHOT” is a campaign launched by the coalition of COVID-19 task forces and doctors serving ethnic communities across Canada and aiming to replace vaccine hesitancy with confidence so that we can protect ourselves and end the pandemic. Doctors, athletes, celebrities, astronauts, front-line professionals have banded together to tackle vaccine hesitancy, to deliver the public health message to …

Settlement Workers at the libraries: Service update

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News

Toronto Public Library posted LSP Service update for newcomer clients on TPL website. Due to the Grey-Lockdown category restrictions, settlement services at the libraries are unavailable. Settlement agencies continue to offer services by email or telephone, working from home. Connect over the phone or online with a settlement worker who can help you get started in Toronto and Canada. This …

Empathy in action

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal”. This quote has always motivated Shakira Quraishi in her work helping disadvantaged clients to improve their living. Hamida, like many CultureLink clients, came to Canada as a Government-assisted refugee. She has been living with mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder for years, after suffering a head injury …

Social Assistance for Newcomers

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

Our settlement program workers receive many requests from clients who urgently need financial help, especially now during COVID-19 pandemic. Ontario Works (OW) provides temporary assistance towards the costs of housing and basic expenses for those who are not working or earning a very low income. It offers Financial assistance, Employment assistance and Emergency assistance available to people who are in …

Canadian Citizenship application updates

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

The immigration tests and citizenship ceremonies were put on hold in March 2020 to protect the health and safety of staff and clients, although new citizenship applications are still accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Citizenship comes with the right to vote and apply for a Canadian passport. Despite global travel restrictions, some people may still need to …

LSP: Successful Digital Transformation

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

With the library branches closed since the middle of March, our Library Settlement Partnerships (LSP) program workers have been working remotely. The team had to switch to digital service delivery and develop creative ideas to design new webinars and pieces of training for their clients, adding them to their everyday one-on-one settlement assistance. LSP program presented the current and upcoming …

Virtual Tax Clinic

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

Our Volunteer Tax Clinic at Culturelink has been serving clients in person during the tax season for many years. But this year due to concerns surrounding COVID-19 pandemic and isolation the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has allowed community organizations to host free Virtual Tax Clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) while respecting physical distancing guidelines. LSP program …

Go Digital with LSP: clients learn how to use e-resources

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

Our Library Settlement Partnerships program started to deliver the programs online. The first step of this initiative for LSP Settlement Worker Stanley Teo was to organize ZOOM lessons for his clients. An online workshop was conducted on May 1 with the TPL Outreach Service Specialist, who showed the clients how to use the most popular e-resources: RBDigital and Flipster for …

Citizenship Test Preparation: Virtual Training series

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

On April 21, 2020 all 54 participants of our first Virtual Training for Citizenship Test Preparation were awarded with certificates of completion. The five days training was organized by Library Settlement Partnerships program worker Claudia Montoya in collaboration with Learning Enrichment Foundation. Online model of Citizenship Test Preparation provided a broad scope of interest and participation, with a post reach …

CultureLink Post Banner Wellness During Quarantine

Wellness During Quarantine

CultureLink Settlement in the Community News

In February 2020, CultureLink proudly launched the Newcomer Mental Health Program. The goal of this new program is to welcome newcomers and provide a range of wellness workshops to support a positive settlement experience. In an environment of wellness together, the Newcomer Mental Health Program helps newcomers to learn new ways of coping, connecting and sharing with a like-minded community …

The libraries and community centers are temporarily closed. We are working remotely to serve you better.

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News

We keep working providing telephone and virtual support to all our clients, delivering settlement services to the newcomers regardless of the immigration status. To find COVID-19 community resources updates click COVID-19 Community Resources Learn what financial, social, mental health and other supports are available during COVID-19 in Ontario: COVID-19 Support Available We will keep you updated on the current events …

Japanese delegation makes a visit to Lillian H. Smith Library

Rakesh Bhardwaj News, Settlement in the Community News

A Japanese delegation of Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly visited our LSP program at Lillian H. Smith Library on February 15, 2020. The Assembly learned about a vast array of the services LSP and TPL (Toronto Public Library) provide for the community. The delegation members were impressed with the quality service delivered by the library daily and the support for newcomers provided …

Holiday Season celebration at Mimico Centennial Library

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News

The Christmas celebration organized by Library Settlement Partnerships Program at Mimico Centennial Library was a great success and fun for newcomer families who enjoyed the holiday spirit in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. About 200 newcomers including 90 children from toddlers to teenagers came to celebrate Holiday Season together at the decorated party space with amazing gingerbread house and …

New Partnership with Harbourfront Centre

Yan Gu Settlement in the Community News

In our mission to facilitate the active participation and integration of newcomers, we are committed to providing innovative programs that meet the changing needs of our clients. With that in mind, and looking at the popularity of our Artegration program (connecting newcomers with Arts and Cultural Organizations), we reached out to Saskia Rinkoff, from Harbourfront Centre, and discussed the possibility …

Newcomer families field trip to Ontario Place

Rakesh Bhardwaj Health and Recreation News, Mentorship News, Settlement in the Community News

The heat and humidity outside maybe skyrocketing, but that did not deter the LSP clients from coming out for a field trip to Ontario Place on Canada Day.  Prior to that, they had already gathered in the cool basement of the Lillian H. Smith Library for an orientation session on the history, design and facilities of Ontario Place. On the day itself, the clients were shown how to …

Spring brings Newcomers together at Mimico Centennial Library

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News, Workshops and Group Sessions

The neighbourhood public library is a critical resource for newcomers to Canada. The Library Settlement Partnership (LSP) program established in 2008, brought CultureLink settlement workers to work in the libraries assisting newcomer clients regardless of their immigration status and engaging them in all aspects of Canadian life. Variety of information sessions based on the needs of the newcomer community were …

5th Annual Toronto Newcomer Day

Rakesh Bhardwaj Settlement in the Community News

CultureLink participated in the 5th annual Toronto Newcomer Day held at Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall on May 16. Toronto Newcomer Day is an annual celebration to officially welcome newcomers to Toronto, celebrate and acknowledge their contributions to the city. The one-day event included a formal stage program, an information fair, a citizenship ceremony, and many other interactive activities. …

Networking / Mentoring event on Saturday, February 16th

Yan Gu Settlement in the Community News

CCMP (Community Connections Mentorship Program) had a very successful Networking / Mentoring event over the weekend in Scarborough. Participating mentors represented a vast array of industries, such as Mining, Accounting, Information Technology, Architecture, Law, Aeronautical Design,  Nursing, Real Estate, Business Administration, E-commerce, Executive Coaching and Retail participated in the event. Their experiences ranged from managers to business owners to vice-president …

Black History Month

Kristin Settlement in the Community News, Staff, Syrian-related News, Uncategorised, Youth News, Youth Zone

Black History Month is about celebrating a history of humanity. CultureLink, recognizes the history, struggles and achievement of our communities. Celebrate Black History Month with us, and learn how our country played a role in assisting the slaves to safety and ending the slavery. Click on the image to watch the video! Learn more about how slaves used songs as coping mechanisms …