July 15th, 2024 at 06:05 pm

Free Settlement Resources for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada 2024

Are you a foreign worker employed temporarily in Canada? Then you’re not by yourself! A lot of individuals travel to Canada for temporary employment, which may be a wonderful experience. However, getting used to a new environment can be difficult, particularly if you don’t know where to look for support.

The good news is that you may find a wealth of free tools to aid in your transition to Canadian life. These tools can help with a variety of issues, including connecting with your community, understanding your rights, finding employment, and learning English.

This post will give you an overview of five Canadian organizations that provide free settlement assistance to temporary foreign workers. For convenience, we’ll also include a table with a summary of their locations and services.

About Settlement Services

Permanent residents and protected individuals are the target audience for the majority of settlement services provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal government. However, provincial and territorial governments across Canada continue to provide temporary foreign workers with access to some useful resources.

In every province and territory, many organizations offer these resources. Regarding who can use their services and what kind of assistance they provide, each organization will have its own set of regulations.

Five Organizations Helping Temporary Foreign Workers

These are five agencies that provide valuable settlement assistance to temporary foreign workers in Canada. These services can assist with job searching, community integration, language learning, and other elements of settling in.

1. Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW)

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Bengali, Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Spanish

Helping women who are new to Toronto and the surrounding areas is NEW’s area of expertise. Among their offerings are:

• Advice regarding public services
• Lessons in English
• Workshops for preparing for the citizenship exam
• Assistance in gaining access to housing, work, healthcare, and education

2. CCI Ottawa

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario

A range of materials designed especially for temporary foreign workers are available from CCI Ottawa. Among their offerings are:

• Support in getting documentation, such as work permits and health cards
• Monthly preparation seminars for the citizenship test
• Resources and guidance to help locate homes and comprehend the rights of tenants
• Activities and workshops for young immigrants (15–25 years old)
• General guidance and details on Ottawa life

3. Mosaic British Columbia

• Locations: Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia

Under the auspices of the B.C. Settlement and Integration Services Program, Mosaic offers extensive assistance to temporary foreign workers across multiple domains. Their offerings include:

• Committed one-on-one assistance with settlement
• Recognizing and addressing problems at work
• Instructional sessions covering a range of subjects
• Conversation circles in English for language practice
• Seminars on the rights of renters, computer literacy, and obtaining healthcare and community services
• Social gatherings to make friends with other recent arrivals
• Emergency assistance in obtaining necessities such as food, toiletries, and other items (in instances of necessity)

4. Richmond Multicultural Community Services (RMCS)

• Location: Richmond, British Columbia
• Languages: Services offered in 15 different languages

In Richmond, RMCS offers a wide range of services to temporary foreign workers, including:

• Support in obtaining government services
• Assistance in creating cover letters and resumes
• Resources and information about available positions and the state of employment
• Details about medical services and how to get them
• English language instruction to enhance communication abilities
• Details on available housing and educational opportunities
• Assistance with applications for and renewals of permanent residents
• Details and advice on bringing family members to Canada with you
• Support for employment insurance and income tax applications

5. CSS Alberta

• Locations: Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta

With assistance offered in several languages, CSS Alberta offers short-term foreign workers in Alberta helpful one-on-one settlement services. Among their offerings are:

• Resources and information about housing, healthcare, and education available to children of temporary foreign workers
• Help with comprehending and filling out different government forms and applications.
• Establishing a link between immigrants and ethnic or religious groups to give them a sense of community
• Should you want to consider living permanently in Canada, here are some resources and advice to help you make that decision.

Extra Resources to Take Into Account

Although the above-mentioned organizations provide an excellent starting point, you may also find the following other resources useful:

• The official website of the Canadian government (https://www.canada.ca/en.html) offers a plethora of information on several subjects that are pertinent to temporary foreign workers, such as taxation, healthcare, and job rights.
• Directories of settlement services: A lot of the provinces and territories offer websites with listings of local suppliers of settlement services. By searching for “[Province/Territory name] settlement service directory,” you can locate these directories.
• Your company: Never be afraid to ask for advice and assistance from your employer or the human resources division. They may be connected to settlement services specifically designed for temporary foreign workers in your field, or they may have internal resources.

The Significance of Settlement Resources

Resources for settlement are crucial for temporary foreign workers employed in Canada. They can assist you:

• Learn English: To assist you in communicating successfully in Canada, several resources provide English language instruction.
• Get Employment: Several organizations offer support with creating resumes, looking for work, and being aware of your rights as an employee.
• Engage with Your Community: Relocation assistance programs can facilitate your socialization and help you feel more settled in Canada.
• Recognize Your Rights: There are resources available that can tell you about your rights in Canada as a temporary foreign worker.

Utilizing these free resources can help you live and work in Canada in a more prosperous and positive way. Recall that you are not by yourself! To assist you in settling in and making the most of your stay in Canada, a wealth of resources are at your disposal.