At EarlyON centres, Ontario-based parents/caregivers and their children from birth to six years of age can participate in programs to strengthen adult-child relationships, support parent education, and foster healthy child development.
Helpful resources that Welcome Group volunteers can share with refugee newcomers. Regularly updated with the latest programs, events and more!
An overview of how Welcome Group volunteers can provide refugee newcomers with effective social support during a three to six-month match.
A guide to help Welcome Group volunteers introduce newcomer parents and guardians to the Canadian school system.
A guide to help volunteers empower newcomers during their housing search in Canada.
A guide filled with practical tips to help Welcome Group volunteers as they help refugee newcomers improve their English.
A guide for Welcome Group Program volunteers who are matched with Refugee Claimants.
A guide for Welcome Group Program volunteers who are matched with Government-Assisted Refugees.
This pre-apprenticeship program is a 16-week paid training program for youth aged 18-29, using construction contracts and in-class training to prepare individuals facing barriers to employment for successful careers in the trades.
For adults seeking to start their new careers, to enter the construction or culinary sectors or to receive preparatory college courses, George Brown College has multiple courses that are completely tuition-free; registration is ongoing. They are also offering a free Transitions to Post-Secondary Education Program for those interested in honing their communication and computer skills before entering college.
Humber College offers a FREE transition program for youth between the ages of 19 and 29 who would like to make a successful transition to college, whether they have completed high school or not.
This Scarborough-based organization for intellectually delayed and physically challenged youth, adults and seniors provides programs in math, science, computer skills, money handling, physical education, arts, music, health, and more.
Through Sanctuary Scholars, students in Toronto with precarious immigration status (ie. refugee claimants) can access undergraduate degrees at domestic tuition fee rates instead of international tuition rates in nearly all departments and programs at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University. In addition, York University is offering a free academic bridging course for students with precarious immigration status who want to try a special university class designed to enhance their academic reading, writing and speaking skills.
N.E.W Venture is a 6-month intensive program that offers participants the opportunity to develop their business idea into a viable business through weekly training sessions, 1:1 mentorship, support with access to funding and ongoing networking and in-person events.
The PDSB is offering ESL, LINC, night school, summer programs, literacy, and more for adults in Mississauga.
For free Canadian Adult Education Credential and literacy programs for all English and French speaking adults.
With a variety of programs for adults in Winnipeg, the WAEC offers high school educational opportunities to adult students seeking to complete a grade 12 diploma, upgrade for post-secondary and/or strengthen employment opportunities.
With funding for most courses provided by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, courses are tuition free for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or convention refugees, or refugee claimants. Courses are located at South Hill or Gathering Place Education Centre.
Compiled to show the national spectrum of healthcare, settlement, education and public-serving sectors that are available to Afghan newcomers, this toolkit provides many helpful resources.
Farsi-speaking newcomers in the Greater Toronto Area can get free assistance with filling forms, finding housing, supportive counselling, and join free English conversation classes, youth tutoring programs for Scarborough-based youth and more.
In collaboration with Fraser Health, the Afghan Community Vancouver Foundation (ACVF) distributes booklets and brochures containing vital healthcare system information in English, Dari, and Pashto languages. These resources are designed to assist newcomers, including Afghan refugees, in navigating the complexities of healthcare access and services in Canada.
Kids Help Phone has created a search engine of physical or virtual well-being supports (e.g. programs, services, tools, etc.) available across Canada.
Many Canadian schools and libraries have settlement workers who specialize in connecting newcomer students and families with local community services, and they often speak the predominant languages of newcomers in the area.
For newcomer youth between 13-24 years old, the YMCA offers a free program for leadership opportunities, public speaking training, games, homework help, field trips, and more.
Free programs to Ontario-based parents/caregivers and their children from birth to six years of age to strengthen adult-child relationships, support parent education, and foster healthy child development.
With On Your Mark’s free tutoring for Spanish & Portuguese-speaking children in Grades 1-12, HIPPY (free education resources and support for newcomer parents/guardians of children entering kindergarten), and aid for newcomer parents to navigate the school system, Toronto’s Working Women Community Centre provides a range of programming focused on children’s educational attainment and parent/guardian engagement.
In Ontario, the Youth Job Connection program serves youth aged 15 to 29 by providing them with paid pre-employment training to promote job-readiness; free job matching and paid job placements, with placement supports for participants and hiring incentives for employers, mentorship services, education supports, and more.
With prenatal, postnatal, parenting, and family programs, there are many opportunities for newcomer parents in Moncton to get the support they need.
With free programs geared towards youth mental health, employment programs, employment, and more, YMCA BC has a plethora of opportunities for newcomer youth to connect.
Based in Winnipeg, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc. (IRCOM) has a number of free youth programs, offering tutoring, sports, arts, employment help, leadership development, mentorship, and more. These programs help newcomer youth integrate into Canadian schools and society while building confidence and community.
As a refugee-led organization that focuses on refugees seeking to restart their careers, Jumpstart Refugee Talent has many free, refugee-specific programs for mentorship, entrepreneurship, and more.
One-on-one training, group mentorship sessions, the opportunity to develop and pitch a business plan, and a $500 start-up grant upon program completion— all for youth aged 16-29 with mental health and/or addiction challenges who wish to be entrepreneurs.
WES evaluates academic credentials from institutions around the world, and through the WES Gateway program, refugees and displaced persons with limited proof of academic achievements may be eligible for an alternative credential assessment.
With free workshops geared towards careers in FinTech, retail, healthcare, and more, Achev has a wide range of virtual offerings for newcomers seeking employment in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and North York.
Women can learn about job market trends in the customer service and food service sectors, with training on cash register skills, food handling certifications, and more.
Based in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA) has Skills Launch for adults— a free pre-employability program supporting newcomers age 30+ with in-class Workplace Essential Skills (WES) training and English language support (EAL) support followed by a paid internship.
ACCES Employment has many free programs specifically for refugee newcomers, which are designed to help them build professional networks, find mentors, learn about the labour market in Canada, access real opportunities with employers, and improve their job search skills.
COSTI Employment Services provides numerous free career assessments, programs for internationally-trained newcomers, and employment programs for youth in Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, and Vaughan.
With regular free employment workshops in resume-building, interview preparations, personal finance, and LinkedIn, Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto has a spectrum of supports.
Based in Vancouver, the Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants is a free program offered by ISSofBC for newcomers. Whether you’re in construction, engineering, technology, or have a regulated or unregulated profession in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, or Cariboo North, ISSofBC is dedicated to making your transition to a Canadian career as easy as possible.
Based in Winnipeg, Immigrant Centre Manitoba specializes in assisting newcomers with beginner to intermediate English levels (CLB 1-4) to find entry-level positions.
Service providers all over Canada provide job-specific language training for newcomers seeking to continue their careers in sectors like accounting, finance, teaching, health care, IT, office administration, customer service, and more.
Throughout Canada, English courses are provided for free; participants must enrol by having an assessment to determine which language level is right for them.
Newcomers in the Greater Toronto Area who want to sign up for LINC classes with English and French must be assessed at the YMCA for free to receive a referral. YMCA provides online and in-person language assessments for government-funded programs at no cost.
In Moncton, newcomers can sign up for free English classes for a range of levels, from beginners to advanced speakers. Before registering in a LINC class you need to have your language assessed by LARCC (Language Assessment, Referral & Counselling Centre).
Newcomers in the Greater Toronto Area who want to sign up for LINC classes with English and French must be assessed at the YMCA for free to receive a referral. YMCA provides online and in-person language assessments for government-funded programs at no cost.
The TDSB Essential Skills Upgrading (ESU) program provides free adult classes in Toronto to help learners improve their English literacy, mathematics, and computer skills with non-credit classes offered both in-person and remotely in Etobicoke, downtown Toronto, Rexdale, North York and Scarborough.
Toronto’s libraries provide free access to ESL E-books, Mango Languages, the Road to IELTS, and more. And for those seeking in-person help, all across Toronto, libraries have free programs for newcomers to practice their English; check out the list of libraries with English Conversation Circles here.
Through Vancouver’s Immigrant Services Society of BC’s Language and Career College, newcomers can learn basic and intermediate-level English at affordable prices. There are remote and in-person classes, and some are geared towards certain careers such as tourism and marketing.
MANSO has compiled a list of informal language training resources from our members & community organizations in Winnipeg
Created by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, this app gives newcomers aged 18 and up who have become permanent residents in the last 5 years access to free and discounted entry to 1400+ galleries, museums, science centres, historic sites, family activities across Canada.
Through Mississauga Cycles, newcomers to Mississauga receive a free bike loan, accessories, and safety training as well as volunteer mentors who commute regularly by bike! Together, mentors and newcomer participants organize and participate in a variety of group activities throughout the city.
Get a free list of Moncton events which promotes newcomer fairs, arts events, cultural shows, and more.
Toronto’s CultureLink Bike Host program matches up newcomers who are open to cycling with mentors to practice communication skills while exploring Toronto by bike.
In Toronto, library card holders can access the tpl:map pass for free tickets to dance, music, film, and theatre performances.
Through the Fair Pass Transit Discount Program, low-income Toronto residents aged 20-64 may be eligible for a discount on adult single ride fares and adult monthly passes.
In Toronto and Vancouver, Parkbus connects people to nature through accessible transportation with bus services to national and provincial parks, group hikes, and NatureLink, a newcomer-specific program.
Get a free list of Winnipeg events at Winnipeg For Free, which promotes newcomer fairs, arts events, cultural shows, and more.
The Canada Disability Benefit provides financial support of up to $200 per month to eligible people between 18-64 with disabilities and low income. Administered by Service Canada, the payments will start the month after an application is received and approved.
This free questionnaire allows people to find out which benefits they may be eligible for from federal, provincial or territorial governments.
Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible parents and guardians to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
For Ontario residents facing crises like leaving an abusive household or being evicted, short-term financial support for essentials like food and housing may be available.
Many Canadian community organizations are hosting free tax clinics, with taxes completed by videoconference, phone, or through a drop-off clinic.
Prosper Canada has created a free questionnaire for households to find out which Canadian benefits they are eligible for, and shows users where their closest income tax clinics are located.
As a national charity, Windmill Microlending, in partnership with the Canadian government and banks, offers affordable loans of up to $15,000 to help foreign-trained immigrants and refugees pay for the costs of Canadian accreditation, training and career development.
This free, Canada-wide app partners with cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, hotel kitchens, and more to combat food waste by offering bags of food at low cost.
With multiple food banks available, the Mississauga Food Bank has an online food bank locator to help Mississauga clients find the food bank that is closest to them.
With monthly food hampers, grocery support, cooked meals assistance, clothing assistance, and more, Moncton Cares collaborates with local food banks, restaurants, and community partners to distribute groceries and cooked meals, ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food options.
Created by the Food Security Team at Agincourt Community Service, this map has up-to-date information on food banks, free and low cost meals, delivery services, and supermarkets in Toronto.
The Daily Bread Food Bank can make referrals to food banks throughout East York, and also Etobicoke, downtown Toronto, and Scarborough.
GLOW (Gently Loved Outfits to Wear) is Toronto’s largest free clothing program, offering clean, contemporary clothing in a retail-style setting, by appointment only.
With a number of food banks under their jurisdiction, North York Harvest provides referrals to help clients in North York to find the food bank that is most convenient for them.
Each month, Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society works to provide healthy food to individuals and families in need through direct distribution across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore, and more.
Use this food asset maps to find out where people can grow, prepare, share, buy, receive or learn about food in different sites, like community organizations and schools.
The City of Vancouver has a list of free clothing providers that is updated on a regular basis, in March, July and November.
Winnipeg newcomers can make a free appointment to find out how Harvest Manitoba can address their needs.
Use this detailed list of resources to find essential services for those in need, from food and hygiene kits and more in Winnipeg.
Kids Help Phone has created a search engine of physical or virtual well-being supports (e.g. programs, services, tools, etc.) available across Canada.
Launched by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Care Connect helps Ontario residents find a family healthcare provider in their community.
Administered by the Ministry of Health, Healthy Smiles Ontario offers free dental care including free teeth cleaning and check-ups for children 17 years and younger for Ontario residents from lower-income households.
Free, confidential health information delivered over the phone by registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in over 300 languages.
This Moncton-based clinic provides primary health care to newcomers to Canada who have arrived as refugees. They believe that easy, early access to primary health care can help facilitate adaptation to life in Canada as well as help detect health problems that require prompt assessment and intervention.
At Toronto’s Women’s College Hospital, this clinic serves newly-arrived refugees who are living in shelters and have Interim Federal Health Program coverage and have concerns like chronic diseases, primary care for children, immunizations, pregnancy care, family planning advice, health exams, sleep disorders, anxiety, and more.
This network supports people in the Greater Toronto Area find healthcare services, regardless of insurance or immigration status, such as free eyeglasses, sexual health clinics, low-cost and free dental services, emergency healthcare, and more.
For Toronto residents 14 years of age and older, The Access Point can help individuals access a range of free mental health programs delivered by over 50 agencies across the city.
This North York clinic offers free dental services for refugees in Toronto and surrounding areas with free emergency dental care, root canal therapy, oral surgery, and more.
Free, culturally sensitive mental health counselling and advice available in Vancouver and Surrey.
With helplines and services offering confidential assistance in multiple languages, MANSO has a host of free resources for mental health support in Winnipeg.
Peel Region has various types of housing options available, and to help refugee newcomers see which resources are right for them, they have created a free guide to housing subsidies, shelters, and more.
Moncton Cares is a community-driven not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting asylum seekers and refugee claimants. Clients can access free temporary shelter referrals, help with finding long-term housing, and more.
For emergency shelter referrals, the City of Toronto’s Central Intake line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 311, which offers referrals to emergency shelter and other overnight accommodation, and information about homelessness services.
Toronto’s Furniture Bank supports newcomers, refugees, women and children leaving shelters, and people transitioning from homelessness after they have received a referral from one of Furniture Bank’s agency and shelter partners.
With Canada’s first Rent Bank program, various energy assistance programs for low-income households, and their Housing Trusteeship Program for individuals to manage their rent and bills, Neighbourhood Information Post (NIP) has a spectrum of programs that are geared towards homelessness prevention.
For Muslim women experiencing homelessness due to immigration issues, abuse, and poverty, Sakeenah Homes has safe homes and caseworkers to provide counselling services and find secure housing in Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, London and Montreal.
A list of housing and support resources to women in crisis that involves a network of emergency beds and longer-term housing, including Amelie House, Elisa House, and Mary’s Home.
Refugee Housing Canada connects refugees with homeowners in Toronto and Vancouver who have spare rooms in their homes and are committed to helping those in need.
New Journey Housing provides resources to train, assist, and support newcomers to Canada, and those who support them, through the process of attaining and retaining decent affordable housing in Manitoba.
With Steps to Justice, CLEO has created free tip sheets that can help refugee claimants before and after their refugee hearing in Canada.
For eligible refugee claimants, Legal Aid may pay for a lawyer to prepare their Basis of Claim paperwork, represent them at the hearing, and more.
Created by immigration advocates, frontline workers, and Kinbrace, this free website has valuable, clear, up-to-date information about Canada’s refugee protection process available in different languages.
With valuable information to prepare claimants in multiple languages, this free resource educates, guides, and supports refugee claimants who are preparing for their hearings, along with a virtual “READY” tour to help with hearing preparations.
NBRC prepares and represents refugee claimants who cannot afford a private lawyer before the Immigration and Refugee Board. The NBRC trains law students, lawyer volunteers and others to conduct all aspects of refugee claims and humanitarian-based immigration applications.
Free legal services for 1) children aged 18 and under, and 2) homeless youth under 25 in Ontario.
With free legal clinics and free hearing preparation programs for 2SLGBTQ+ refugee claimants, this community centre has a long history of serving vulnerable populations.
In community partnership with Legal Aid Manitoba, Welcome Place offers free help with training on the refugee claim process and cultural adaptation and preparing refugee claimants for their immigration hearing.
The Immigration and Refugee Legal Clinic provides free legal advice and representation for low-income people across BC. We focus on assisting individuals and families whose immigration or refugee legal issues are not covered or easy to serve in the traditional legal aid system.
At EarlyON centres, Ontario-based parents/caregivers and their children from birth to six years of age can participate in programs to strengthen adult-child relationships, support parent education, and foster healthy child development.
Moncton Headstart provides essential services to children and families in support of early childhood development, health, and well-being.
Toronto-based infants aged 0-6 months old may be eligible for a baby bundle of new baby necessities and car seats, carriers, strollers, and transportation to doctor’s appointments.
The Diaper Bank provides free diapers to low-income households in Toronto through existing service providers, including local food banks, daycare centres, social service agencies and shelters.
The Building Blocks Vancouver program helps first-time parents who experience medium to low risk factors and don’t have other local support. You can get support and guidance from Family Support Home Visitors in consultation with Nurse and Social worker Consultants.
Winnipeg’s West Central Women’s Centre offers programs for children, youth & families.
Cyber Seniors provides senior citizens across North America with free, online tech training using an intergenerational volunteer model.
Explore the programs and services available to adults aged 55 and older in Mississauga, and find important information for older adults living in the City.
A list of New Brunswick-based programs and services geared to help seniors stay as independent and healthy as possible. Government and community organizations offer these supports to help individuals age well.
A resource to access Toronto-based senior recreational programs, housing, health and homeware services, and more.
City of Vancouver Council and staff collaborated with the community and all levels of government to provide a range of programs and facilities that keep seniors active, engaged, and connected to the health services they need.
The Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care and United Way Winnipeg created the Manitoba Seniors Guide. This guide lists a wide range of community, health, and government programs in place to assist older adults.
Computer equipment, training and technical support for charities, non-profits and households in Toronto and Peel Region with limited access to technology.
Through their Outreach programs in Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa, and St. Catherines, Renewed Computer Technology provides affordable renewed computers, software and learning modules; applicants can apply for 2 computers per household per year.
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Bring Your Own Device program is for students in grades 9 to 12. A laptop or tablet is a required tool to support learning in these grades. This program will allow for more personalized learning opportunities to help better prepare students for post-secondary education and the workplace.
Old electronics and computers are refurbished and sold at a discount to increase access to affordable technology across Toronto.
At select branches including Fort York, North York Central, St. Lawrence, Mount Dennis, Scarborough Civic Centre, and Jane/Sheppard, Toronto residents can sign up for a library card and borrow a laptop for free for in-branch use, and Toronto residents can also borrow a wifi hotspot.
Refurbished computers and laptops are provided to BC-based low-income individuals who need access to affordable technology.
Computers for Schools Manitoba provides affordable refurbished computers and related equipment to eligible clients.
Did you know that with the free Google Translate phone app, you can take a picture of any text that you’d like to translate? Try it out!
Use My Refugee Claim, a free website, to learn about how to work with an interpreter during a refugee claim hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board.
This resource is a free database which will show newcomers how to access translation services for written documents or oral interpretation services in Ontario.