Syrian refugees head to food banks to make ends meet

Syrian refugees head to food banks to make ends meet

OTTAWA CITIZEN (April 20, 2016) Hundreds of Syrian refugees sponsored by the Canadian government are turning to Ottawa food banks to feed their families. More than a dozen Ottawa food banks have reported an increase in demand coming from Syrian refugees. Most of the...
CCI Volunteer Anas Wess

CCI Volunteer Anas Wess

CCI Volunteer Anas Wess knows what it’s like to have dreams disrupted by the war in Syria. But his message to other Syrian newcomers is:  Canada is a place where you can rebuild your dreams. Anas was in the middle of his fourth year of his medical studies in Aleppo...
A Warm Welcome, from the Welcome Fund

A Warm Welcome, from the Welcome Fund

Ottawa’s warm welcome to Syrian refugees just got even warmer, thanks to a $450,000 donation from the Welcome Fund for Syrian Refugees.   The Catholic Centre for Immigrants is one of three local recipients of the funding, which the Community Foundation of Ottawa is...
Anas Wess Fulfills Dream for Surgery Residency in Canada

Anas Wess Fulfills Dream for Surgery Residency in Canada

CCI’s Career Transitions program helps internationally trained medical doctors and other health professionals join the Canadian workforce. Some will find alternative careers in the health care field, working in research, community health, academics or the private...
Diversity and Race Relations Training

Diversity and Race Relations Training

Why do community members from diverse communities and minority groups hesitate to call the police when they are victims or witnesses of a crime? This was one of the questions explored in an in-depth cultural awareness session at CCI last month by 22 newly recruited...
Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

CCI’s Community Connections team has begun training sessions for volunteers who will help pilot the new “Circle of Friends” program, which is designed to create support networks for refugees as they settle into their new homes in Ottawa. The trainee volunteers for the...
Welcome to Ottawa

Welcome to Ottawa

Photo (left to right): CCI staff Halima Laaroubi with recently arrived refugee Ali Al Ahmed and his children at Welcome event at Lansdowne Park On Saturday, May 28 newly arrived Syrian refugees got a warm Ottawa welcome from Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Michael...