The Newcomer Settlement Experience Guidelines
Housing
Securing affordable and safe housing is important to the settlement experience of newcomers to Canada. The following link provides information about population rates, employment and housing information in different Canadian cities that you may choose to settle in. The monthly expenses for residents of Ontario vary based on the city you live in, the type of housing you want and the lifestyle you live. This means that you should create a monthly budget to help manage your monthly expenses so that you can live within your means.
(http://www.cmhc.ca/en/co/buho/seca/index.cfm)
The following resources will assist you in finding a house or apartment to rent in Ontario:
Bulletin Boards: These are located in community centres, local business such as grocery stores and Laundromats. Students can also check the bulletin boards at their college and university housing services.
Classifieds: The advertisement section of major daily newspapers and weekly community newspapers have list rentals. You can read the newspaper for free at public libraries. Many newspapers let you search their classifieds ads online for free.
Family and Friends: Many people find places to rent through personal contacts. Ask your friends, family, co-workers and others if they know of any places that are available.
Rental Guides: These guides are free. Look for them in boxes on street corners or in store entrances.
Rental Listing Websites: There are many websites that list rentals. Here are some examples and you can use a search engine to find others.
* These listings are for your information only. Settlement.Org does not recommend or endorse any particular listing.
Craigslist (http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca)
GottaRent.com (http://www.gottarent.com/)
GSC Rentals (http://www.gscrentals.com/)
Yellow Pages – NextHome (http://nexthome.yp.ca/)
Kijiji (http://www.kijiji.ca/)
PadMapper (https://www.padmapper.com/)
Rent Compass (http://www.rentcompass.com/)
RentSeeker (http://www.rentseeker.ca/)
Viewit.ca (http://www.viewit.ca/)
Education
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are designed for specific skill levels, groups of learners, and specific purposes. There are many different kinds of ESL programs. They are designed for people with different goals and levels of English. Before you sign up for a language program, make sure it is the right one for you. Find out what type of program it is and if you have to pay a fee. Some of the programs have eligibility requirements related to residency in Canada and immigration status.
(http://settlement.org/findhelp/ontario/)
Financial assistance
There are different types of financial institutions, such as banks, trust companies and credit unions. All financial institutions provide free information about their services, including account types and features, and debit and credit cards. Just walk into or call any bank and ask about their services. Most financial institutions charge fees for their services and pay interest on the funds they hold. It’s always a good idea to compare prices before making a decision.
Banks collect money through deposits their clients make. Then they lend money to borrowers through loans. Banks in Canada are federally regulated.
(http://www.cba.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=61%3Abanks-operating-in-canada&Itemid=54&lang=en)
Credit unions and caisses populaires are deposit-taking financial institutions that also provide many products and services. Credit unions operate under provincial legislation and regulations.
(http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/creditunions/Pages/default.aspx)
Trust companies also are deposit-taking institutions and, like banks, offer many products and services, such as mortgages, chequing accounts and loans, as well as investments. Unlike banks, credit unions and caisses populaires, trust companies can act as ‘trustees’ – someone who manages assets of other people and organizations.
(http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/loantrust/Pages/default.aspx)
Childcare
In Ontario there are three basic types of childcare; licensed home, childcare centres and unlicensed child care. Childcare services in Ontario are in high demand and have long waiting lists. You may not get a spot right away. It is important to plan ahead if you need childcare. Childcare can be very expensive and costs vary quite a bit, depending on the type of care provided. Infants are generally more expensive than older children.
Common questions to ask a Childcare Provider:
(https://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/4875/questions-to-ask-a-child-care-provider.pdf)
Community
Joining a local community group is a good way to feel more comfortable in Canada. You can also meet people with shared backgrounds, traditions and languages. Community groups often have interesting activities for you to join, such as choirs, bands, dance groups and book clubs. You can also volunteer in your local or cultural community.
To find an association or group, you can:
- Look in local or ethnocultural media. (http://settlement.org/ontario/daily-life/communication/ethnic-and-cultural-media/where-can-i-find-ethnocultural-and-community-media/)
- Contact an ethnocultural organization or a place of worship.
- Talk to people in your community
Employment
To apply for a job in Canada, usually you have to send a cover letter and a résumé to the employer. Depending on the job, the employer might ask you for a portfolio or sample of your work, too.
(http://settlement.org/ontario/employment/#FAJ)
Your cover letter and résumé are very important, because they create the employer’s first impression of you. Everything matters, including spelling and formatting. Most résumés look similar, so the cover letter is a good opportunity for the employer to get a feel for who you are. The main purpose of your résumé and cover letter is to get you a job interview.
Many communities offer free employment services to help you look for a job, plan your career or start your own business. Assisted services include workshops and one-on-one counselling on various topics, such as:
• Local labour market information
• Career planning and career counseling
• Job search techniques
• Interview skills and résumés
• Job matching and placement
• Job retention
You may need to register for workshops and set up an appointment with an employment counsellor. You may also use self-service tools and resources:
• Computers to work on your résumé and cover letter
• Internet access to check job listings
• Daily newspapers and job postings
• Photocopiers and fax machines
• Business directories
• Job search material
*More information on the above service can be found here: (http://settlement.org/)
For references used to create this guide, please click click here.
**DISCLAIMER** This guide is intended solely as a general guidance tool. This document has been prepared by Mohanza Kelly, an Immigration and Settlement Studies (ISS) graduate student and Ryerson University-Placement student. The information contained within has been compiled from a variety of sources. Turkish Society of Canada is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the guide. While the information contained within the guide is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this guide is correct, complete, and up-to-date. Although this guide may include links providing direct access to other Internet resources, including websites, Turkish Society of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information contained in these sites.