Settlement Planning Resources

This page is intended to provide useful links and information to groups of people who are sponsoring refugees to come to Canada. Some links are federal or provincial (Ontario), but we have focused on what we know best – the Toronto area.

Becoming a sponsor

Settlement resources – Ontario and Greater Toronto Area

  • Welcome Ontario
    This comprehensive site is maintained by OCASI, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants.
    http://welcomeontario.ca
  • In My Language
    At this site you can find guides to Ontario’s education system, legal issues, health services, community services and more, in 11 languages including Arabic.
    http://inmylanguage.org
  • City of Toronto Refugee Resettlement Program
    Visit this site to find out about upcoming information fairs, and for links to agencies and organizing providing support in the areas of health, education, housing, furniture and clothing, employment, etc.
    http://toronto.ca/refugees
  • Budgeting Tools
    Sponsoring groups are encouraged to budget for a year’s expenses within Ontario Works Rates. Refugees who do not become financially self-sufficient after their 12-month sponsorship will be eligible for Ontario Works.
  • WeHost Refugees
    WeHost is a platform designed to empower Canadians to temporarily host a refugee from 1 day to 2 months by creating successful matches between refugees and Canadian hosts. http://wehostrefugees.org

English as a Second Language (ESL) for Adults (Toronto)

There are many different types of ESL classes, serving different needs, as described in this article.
http://english.inmylanguage.org/subsection.aspx?cat=ESL

Education – Elementary and Secondary (Toronto)

For an overview about registering children in public schools, visit: http://english.inmylanguage.org/article.aspx?cat=ELEMSEC&docid=2272437

Specific instructions can be found at the sites of Toronto’s four public boards of education:

Settlement Workers in Schools (Toronto)

Through the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program, information and referral specialists work in schools to support newcomer students and their families. They can be contacted through their schools, or through their home settlement service agencies. Five agencies serve different parts of Toronto, while the Centre Francophone serves students at Francophone schools:

  • North York Community House (Etobicoke and North York)
    700 Lawrence Avenue West, Suite 432
    Toronto, ON M6A 3B4
    416-781-7457 x221
    www.nych.ca
  • CultureLink (Etobicoke and southwest Toronto)
    2340 Dundas Street West, Suite 301
    Toronto, ON M6P 4A9
    416-588-6288
    www.culturelink.ca
  • Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (east Toronto)
    18 Thorncliffe Park Drive
    Toronto, ON M4H 1N7
    416-421-3054 x235
    www.thorncliffe.org
  • Catholic Crosscultural Services (Scarborough)
    55 Town Centre Court, Unit 401
    Toronto, ON M1P 4X4
    416-757-7010 x207
    www.cathcrosscultural.org
  • Centre for Immigrant and Community Services (north Scarborough)
    2330 Midland Avenue
    Toronto, ON M1S 5G5
    416-292-7510 x303
    http://www.cicscanada.com
  • Centre Francophone de Toronto (city-wide)
    20 Lower Spadina Avenue
    Toronto, ON M5G 1K2
    416-203-1220 x235
    http://www.centrofranco.org

Other Resources

Do you have resources to add to this site?  Let us know