How We Help - YMCA Cross Cultural

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Settlement Services - How We Help

We assist newcomers to Canada and immigrants in many different ways all in one place. Our services are designed to support newcomer and immigrant children, youth, adults, seniors and families.

Settlement Services
Settlement services support a newcomer's smooth transition to life in Canada by providing necessary information and services tailored to his/her specific needs. Information on language training, schooling, housing, employment, health care, immigration and citizenship, social services, legal issues and human rights, banking and budgeting, recreation and other human services are provided.

Information Resources
A large collection of resources are available for your use, including cultural profiles, employment related materials, multilingual resources and information on various settlement topics such as child care, housing, getting a driver's license and more. For your convenience we provide access to public computers with internet access.

Advocacy
When necessary we will speak on your behlaf in dealing with schools, employers, landlords, utility companies , social and government services, legal services and more. We will assist you in placing phone calls if language is a barrier to you getting service. With your permission, we can also act on your behalf when addressing particular issues with other agencies.

Solution Counselling
If you are having a hard time adjusting to your new life in Canada or have a critical situation and require support, we can help by connecting you with specialized services within our community.

Assistance with Forms
Settlement workers can assist with the completion of forms including, citizenship, health card, child tax benefits, employment forms, employment insurance, housing applications and more.

Client success story

"YMCA Cross Cultural and Immigrant Services (CCIS), is not only a great resource to get help when you are in need, it is more like a second home. I have been in Canada for 2 years now, and the first time I came to CCIS, I was a little scared because my pride was too high and I never thought I was going to get the help I received. The staff treated me like family. Putting my pride aside we worked on getting settled in Canada, and now I love every day I come to YMCA Cross Cultural and Immigrant Services. I even got myself involved in a program called " Step Up To Leadership", got my family motivated and took all I learned and now give back to the community. I have signed up to volunteer in the CCIS office. Through my current volunteer experience and volunteer work in the community, my family and I recently won the Peace Medallion which is given yearly during YMCA Peace Week. Now more than ever I give back so much more, and I am just hoping that the families I help pass it on to the next families who come." Mario Zuluaga