The County of Wellington and government of Canada held a launch ceremony on Monday to announce the county’s participation in the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP).
Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the initiative offers specialized services to new, permanent residents of Canada currently residing in the county and Guelph.
The program assists newcomers as soon as they arrive in either place. A broad range of individual services are available free of charge, including: needs assessments, community orientation, assistance with acquiring government documentation, translation and interpreting services, employment resources and more.
“Canada is an amazing country and the envy of many around the world,” said Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj. “It is an honour to be able to assist new immigrants as they adjust to their new life in our community. Canada’s diversity and acceptance are the main reasons so many individuals want to live here. We welcome our new residents.”
Wellington-Halton Hills MP Mike Chong noted his parents were both immigrants, one from China and one from Europe. He said the new service will enable newcomers to integrate into the community much more quickly, and added while immigrants change Canadian society, Canadian society also changes immigrants – both for the better.
“It’s a two-way street,” he said.
Guelph MP Frank Valeriote said it took the first wave of Italian immigrants 50 years to settle into the community, but today, those integration demands come much faster. He said education, housing, medical help and housing are “challenges that are the most important we face in our society today.”
Kehinde Olalere, manager of the Citizenship and Immigration department in Kitchener, saluted the county for its move to help immigrants.
“Helping newcomers adapt to society is a laudable goal,” he said, adding that he offers “a salute to Wellington County.”
County social services committee chairman Gord Tosh said these days more and more people are moving, and many are moving from country to country. He said he recently met a group at work, three of whom fled war-torn countries, one had an arranged marriage, another had fled an arranged marriage, and yet another came to Canada because his country lacked opportunity.
He said immigrants “will become our co-workers and our friends.”
Tosh added that Wellington County is among the first to provide such services, thanks to a grant it sought and received from the Citizenship and Immigration Department.
“I would like to thank Citizenship and Immigration Canada for sponsoring this program,” said Tosh.
“Settlement Services are essential for new residents immigrating to Canada. Many are scared and vulnerable when they arrive here,” said Eddie Alton, Social Services Administrator for the County. “Our staff is committed to helping our new residents adjust to life in our community, and aim to make this transition as comfortable as possible.”
MPP Ted Arnott was unable to attend but sent a letter read by Ross-Zuj, offering his best wishes to all.
The county applied for the grant in the spring of 2007, and there was a delay of eight to ten months before the federal government.
Sean Farrelly, the employment strategic planning and operations leader in the social services department, said that the grant will pay for three settlement workers in the county, and a clerk. The department is on Wyndham Street in the old Guelph post office, which houses the social services department shared by Wellington and Guelph.
Roger Manning, the president of the board of directors for Immigration Services of Guelph, noted that his group has been providing similar services for immigrants for 31 years.
“We are looking forward to working in partnership with Wellington County,” Manning said.
