Settlement Services

We provide newcomers with Information and Orientation on: 

• National Information
• Provincial/Territorial Information 
• Community/Municipal Information
• Employment, Education and Finances
• Health and Wellbeing
• Francophone Communities & Opportunities
• Equity and Indigenous Peoples

Information and Orientation (group sessions) 

JFS Ottawa offers various group information sessions in English and other languages. Please see our Calendar for upcoming sessions and workshops HERE. 

Services and Support in Ottawa 

Below are a list of services and support we can help newcomers access. [Insert Excel] 

Citizenship test preparation 

Join our online sessions to review the Discover Canada booklet with explanations. Engage in interactive Q&A discussions to deepen your understanding and prepare for your citizenship journey. Calendar of events click HERE. 

• For the Tuesday afternoon session: please contact Donia (Settlement Outreach Worker) for more information and registration 
• Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• For the Thursday afternoon session: Please contact Fathia (Settlement Outreach Worker) for more information and registration.  
• Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

Free Newcomer Tax Clinic 

Free Newcomers Income Tax Return (JFS) for Permanent Residents and Convention Refugees. 

Tax return for current year & previous years. Virtual and by appointment only. Service is available all year. Services available in: English, French, Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, and German.  

Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• Please Contact Donia (Settlement Outreach Worker) for more information and registration. 

The Newcomer Today/Leader Tomorrow (NT/LT) program empowers newcomer youth (ages 13-25) to overcome integration challenges and build leadership skills. The program is delivered 8 times a year. This program is available in person and online. Key offerings include: 

• Responsibility & Personal Growth: Encouraging self-esteem, effective communication, and social skills. 

• Diversity & Inclusion: Promoting understanding and fostering cross-cultural exchanges. 

• Community Engagement: Providing volunteer opportunities to earn high school credits. 

• Job Skills: Offering resume and interview preparation. 

• Recreation: Exposure to Canadian outdoor activities and culture, such as swimming, basketball, etc. 

• Mentorship & Leadership: Participants are guided through development opportunities to explore their potential. 

NT/LT serves newcomer youth and communities in Ottawa, addressing barriers like language, job readiness, and lack of parental support. By connecting youth and parents through schools and community partners, the program ensures a welcoming, supportive environment where youth can grow and thrive. The program runs making it a trusted resource for Ottawa’s newcomer community. Calendar of events click HERE. 

Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• Please Contact Sarah (Settlement Youth Outreach Worker) for more information and registration. 

Learning Through Play (LTP): A home and community-based program supporting children and parents in navigating integration challenges. Activities include theatre, arts, and crafts to help children express emotions and cultural identity. Delivered three times a year, with a condensed summer format and online sessions available for families with mobility challenges. Key offerings include: 

• After-School Home Visits: A six-month program helping newcomer children adapt to Canadian schools and communities. Through drama, arts, and crafts, children develop communication skills, language proficiency, and emotional intelligence. 

• Life Skills Activity: A 4 to 6-session program in collaboration with schools, teaching essential skills such as listening, problem-solving, cooperation, time management, and addressing bullying. 

• Greenhouse Summer Camp: A fun and interactive camp for newcomer and refugee children to connect with peers through picnics, cooking classes, arts and crafts, and sports competitions. Families are encouraged to participate, fostering a sense of community. Calendar of events click HERE 

Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• Please Contact Liza (Child and Family Settlement Outreach Worker) for more information and registration. 

Our digital support services help newcomers access online settlement resources, overcoming barriers related to technology access and digital literacy. Tailored language, gender, and culturally specific support is available to ensure inclusive learning. Key offerings include: 

• Digital Skills to Access IRCC Settlement Services: emailing, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, submitting applications for online programs, and more. 

• Digital Skills Development for Settling in Canada: Enhance your tech skills with training in computer and smartphone use, transportation navigation, online safety, account setup, e-banking, and more. Group sessions are online; individual sessions are online or in-person. 

• Digital Device Lending: Short-term loans of tablets and Chromebooks are available for settlement use. Eligibility is based on financial need, with guidance provided on affordable device options.  

Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• Please contact Emily (Digital Skills Support) for more information and registration. 

Our programs support newcomer women in navigating life transitions and building a sense of belonging in Ottawa. Key offerings include: 

• Women’s Art for Integration Program: 
  • Empower women to share their stories through creative arts, promoting anti-oppression and well-being. 

• • Breaks social isolation and fosters a sense of community. 

• • Provides education on Canada, Indigenous culture, and cultural bridging. 
• Community Kitchen for Somali Women: 

• • Offers nutritional cooking strategies in partnership with the Ottawa Food Bank. 
• Culture-Specific Peer Support Groups: 
  • Supports integration by providing resources on education, children’s activities, and pursuing higher education. 
• Recreational & Social Gatherings: 
  • Women-only swims, cooking classes, ESL conversation groups, sewing circles, hikes, and museum trips, etc. 

These programs are designed to reduce isolation, connect newcomer women with settled immigrants, and share valuable information on topics such as career pathways, healthcare, financial literacy, and more. Family-friendly events are available on PD days, and most sessions occur on Fridays. 

Registration link: Webpage Registration Form  

• Please contact Ming (Women Peer Support Coordinator) for more information and registration. 

• Please contact Fathia (Settlement Outreach Worker) for Community Kitchen for Somali Women information and registration.  

The Counselling Group (a unit of JFS Ottawa) helps to ease the transition by offering newcomers extensive social support, counselling, advocacy and referral services that help them adjust to their new home. In addition to being culturally-responsive and providing services in multiple languages, we also have a multi-disciplinary team that includes social workers, psychotherapists, settlement workers and play therapists.

Maximizing the potential of newcomer children and youth is important to us. Among the many services we provide are play therapy, skill development programming, and school-based support. We are also able to offer counselling and therapy for those who may be dealing with past trauma or mental distress.

We want all of our city’s newcomers to be informed and empowered to make the most of their new life in a new home. This means ensuring that they feel welcomed, supported and emboldened to thrive.

Services available in: Arabic, English, French, Creole, Farsi/Dari and Spanish.

More information HERE.

Our Diverse Seniors team provides culturally and linguistically appropriate supports for vulnerable immigrant seniors in racialized communities throughout the Ottawa region. The services offered as part of this program ensure diverse seniors receive quality supports that are sensitive to their language use and cultural orientation, and meet a broad range of their daily and long term needs.

More information about our programs can be found HERE.

• Please contact Esperance Umutesi (Manager, Settlement Outreach Worker) for more information.