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OCISO Awards Gala
OCISO Symposium

Passing of Marion Dewar

OCISO is deeply touched by the passing of Marion Dewar. OCISO President, Tyler Meredith, has prepared a statement reflecting our sadness at the loss of this Canadian visionary, leader, social justice activist and a hero to many of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time. Please download it here.

Welcome to OCISO

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization has been providing settlement and integration services to the community for 30 years. We invite you to download our guide for newcomers and immigrants, Welcome to Ottawa.

Vision of our community

OCISO envisions Ottawa as an inclusive city in which all immigrants contribute their gifts, skills, values and culture; strengthening and transforming our community life.

Mission Statement

OCISO supports immigrants through the journey of making Canada their home by providing creative and responsive programs that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, by building community through mutual respect and partnerships, and by fostering healthy and inclusive spaces for open dialogue and healing.

OCISO's Values

• We believe in everyone’s ability to enrich Canadian society through their unique contribution.
• We believe that when we work from a foundation of respect for each person and diverse cultures * we can create positive change in our communities. (* refer to the Culture of Respect policy)
• We are dedicated to being effective, adaptable and principled in our approach to people and situations.
• Our clients and our staff have a right to a safe environment that is free of harassment and discrimination and the responsibility to foster and protect such an environment*. (*refer to the policy on client and staff rights and responsibilities)
• We believe that meaningful change towards social justice is only possible through the evolution of our systems and institutions. (*refer to our community development approach policy)

Support OCISO

We are grateful to the organizations listed below for their funding support. Please go to our Funders page to find out more about these organizations.

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• City of Ottawa
• Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
• Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française du Centre-Est
• Department of Canadian Heritage
• Human Resources Development Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
• Trillium Foundation
• United Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture
• United Way/Centraide Ottawa

We also receive generous contributions and support from many local businesses, individuals and other organizations. For more information about the contributions of others or how you can help support OCISO, please visit our Support Us page. You can also donate online to OCISO through CanadaHelps.org