Quick References
This reference guide is entirely free of charge. No –cost information can be obtained in the following categories:
- 211 : This is a great resource for community, social, health and government within Toronto. Services are available in many different languages. You can also visit 211Toronto.ca to access information on their website.
- 311 – This is the best place to call for information on City of Toronto services such as hydro, water, sewage, animal control, and other city-run services in Toronto. You can also access information by visiting 311 Toronto online.
- 911 – This is an urgent dialing system to be used strictly for emergency services within Toronto: Ambulance, Police, and Fire will be immediately connected. You call dial 911 from any telephone, and you don’t need a coin when using a public telephone.
** For the above services, all you need to do is dial the 3 digits, followed by the ‘call’ or ‘send’ button on your phone. No other dialing is required to be connected to these service providers.
Basic Documents
- Birth, death or marriage certificates – Government of Ontario
– Birth certificate
– Marriage
– Online application for birth, death and marriage certificates - Driver’s license – Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Passport / Travel documents – Passport Canada
- Social Insurance Number – Service Canada
- Health card
- Ontario Government Online services
Citizenship
- Apply for citizenship
- Citizenship Test – Toronto Public Library
- Prepare for the citizenship test – CIC website
Community Safety
- Preparing for emergencies
– Emergency Management Ontario
– Public Safety Canada - The Little Black book of Scam
Employment
- Working in Canada – job search in Canada
- Employment Ontario
- Foreign Credential Assessment
- Information Centre for Foreign Credentials
- Foreign Credential Referral office
- Job and Labour Market information
- Job Bank & Job Search
- Service Canada
- Charity Village
- Business start-up assistant – Canada Business
Education
- Education – Government of Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities
- Student loans – Ontario Students Assistance program
- The Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)
- The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Scholarship (SSHRC)
- Welcome to Education – Program and resources for newcomer student sucess – New !
Financial Assistance/ Services
- Universal Child Care Benefit, Child tax benefit, Child disability benefit: Canada Revenue Agency
- Employment insurance benefits – Service Canada
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Handbook
- Social Assistance
- Maternity and parental benefits – Service Canada
Government Services
- Ontario Immigration
- Newcomer Settlement Program
- Service Canada – Federal services
- Service Ontario – Provincial services
- Services for Newcomers
Health
- City of Toronto health services and information
- Health care programs and services for newcomers to Ontario
- Services and information related to health services:
– Ministry of Health and Long term care
– Govt. on Ontario - Community Health resources
- Navigating Mental Health Services in Toronto – A guide for newcomers community
- Finding mental health services in Toronto:
– Canadian mental Health Association
– City of Toronto
Housing
- Ontario Residents – provincial resident online resource
- Housing for Newcomers – newcomer housing resources
- Information Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act (available in different languages)
- Rent increase guideline
Buying a home:
Immigration
- Ontario Immigration.ca – provincial immigration online resource
- CIC – federal immigration website
- MCI – provincial immigration website
- Immigration and Settlement Guide
Language
- Language Assessment and Referral Centre
- Learn Speak Live – language and newcomer services resources
- Improve your language skills
- Learning French online
Legal Services
Recreation
Settlement
- A Guide to Programs and Services for Newcomers to Ontario
- Newcomer Settlement Agencies by Location
- Settlement.org – newcomer services in different languages
- Services for people with disabilities
– Service Canada
– Persons with Disabilities online
– Disability Accessibility
Volunteering
- Volunteer Toronto – volunteering and mentorship opportunities
- Volunteer Opportunity at Toronto Public Library
Youth Services
- After School Newcomer Hubs at Toronto Public Library
- Frontline partners w/ youth network
- Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE)
- Services for Youth – Government of Canada
- Services for Youth and Students – Service Canada
Others
- OCASI’s Migrant Worker Guides inform Temporary Foreign Workers – New !
- Toronto Community Resource Guide for not status immigrants – (in different languages)