Getting Help
- Information and referral services for newcomers
- Settlement services for newcomers
- Places of worship
- Multicultural services offered at Peel libraries
- Resources
Moving to a new country is an exciting adventure.There’s a lot to look forward to in your new home and so much to learn. Of course, you must expect many differences from your home country. Schools, healthcare, jobs, laws of the new country may all seem very different.
Finding your way in Peel Region may take some time, but there are plenty of resources and information available to help you adjust to your new home easily and comfortably.
As soon as you arrive, you will need to find a place to live, get enrolled in the Public Health Care System, get a job, sign up for English classes and find child care or a school in your neighbourhood.
Information and referral services for newcomers
Perhaps the first contact you should make is with the Peel Newcomer Information Centre (NIC) close to where you live. Friendly, multilingual staff provide up-to-date information and can refer you to various programs and services for newcomers in Peel Region.The NICs offer extended hours of service and appointments are not necessary.They also have libraries and computer labs that are available for your use.
In Caledon, contact:
- Caledon Community Services
Royal Courtyards, Upper Level
18 King Street East,
Bolton, ON L7E 1E8
www.caledoncommunityservices.org
Tel: 905-951-2300 or 905-584-9460
Toll-free: 1-800-985-2471
Settlement services for newcomers
There are a variety of Settlement Service Organizations in Peel Region that can help you when you first arrive.
These organizations provide services designed to help newcomers adjust to a new life. They provide culturally sensitive programs in many languages and help you with all your needs during the process of settling into your new community.
Settlement services are often free, offered in many languages other than English (some centres have French speaking staff), and are always confidential.
Although services may be slightly different at each settlement service organization, most will help with documents, refer you to other social service agencies, offer emotional support and provide assistance for all newcomers.
Types of settlement services available include:
- Interpretation and translation of documents
- English language classes
- Help with finding a job or training
- Short-term counselling
- Assistance with filling out forms
- Direction towards other helpful resources such as ethnic grocery stores, faith groups, shopping on a limited budget
These services are your first and best link to the community, as well as an excellent starting point to find out more about the immigration process, whether it be sponsoring a family member or understanding communication from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
- Find a Settlement Service Organization in Peel near you.
Places of worship
You may want to build a social network with people from your country of origin or who speak the same language by visiting places of worship.Multicultural services offered at Peel libraries
Designed to assist newcomers, the Mississauga Library and the Brampton Library offer free multi-cultural programming for adults. Registration is required and can be done by phone or in person by visiting any branch.
- See public libraries
Resources
- Call 2-1-1 -
Available in many languages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2-1-1 is a free, easy to remember telephone number that links Peel residents to a full range of non-emergency, community, social, health and government services.
Trained information and referral specialists assess caller’s needs and connect the caller to the best available information and service.
Dialling 2-1-1 for some Caledon residents may not be currently available. These residents can access the 2-1-1 Information and Referral service by using the toll-free number 1-866-573-0088.
Call 3-1-1 for access to local municipal government programs and services.
You can call 3-1-1 from anywhere in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga for information from garbage and recycling, to tax payments and water bills, to recreation programs and building permits.
3-1-1 is not yet available in Caledon.
For more information about 3-1-1, please also visit:
Other resources:
- Community Information Partners Peel is a database of community resources in Peel Region
- Settlement.Org features a section called Your First Days in Ontario that has vital information for your first 2 weeks in Ontario.