Alone in Canada — Conclusion: Where to get help or more information

^{From: Alone in Canada: 21 Ways to Make it Better (© 2001, 2011 CAMH)}

As a newcomer, you are probably experiencing one of the most exciting and difficult times in your life. We hope that the stories, tips and exercises in this book will help you as you build your new life here. Many newcomers have made Canada their home. It takes time, but perhaps one day you may be part of a group that helps other newcomers to settle down. We hope that this book helps you to feel that others understand what you are going through. We are glad that you came to join us here.

Welcome.

There are many places and organizations that can help you adjust to life in Canada. You may first want to call or visit the immigrant and settlement organizations. These are specifically for newcomers, and have many services and resources that can help you.

Here is a list of organizations that are found in most communities. You can find their telephone numbers in your local telephone directory:

• Telehealth Ontario: free health advice from a nurse. The service is open 24 hours, seven days a week. Service is provided in English and French, with translation support for other languages. You can call them for free at  1 866 797-0000.
• Many major cities in Canada and the U.S. offer free and confidential multilingual help in finding community, social or government services by dialing 211, and will respond to non-emergency municipal questions and concerns by dialing 311.
• Libraries: Public libraries are excellent sources for low- or no-fee borrowing of books, CDs, videos, newspapers and magazines, as well as access to computers and the Internet.
• Community recreation centres: Fitness and sport activities, arts and crafts programs.
• Community information centres: General information and advice on legal, social and education issues.
• Community health centres: Medical and counselling services.
• The book of community services: This list of community agencies for your area may be available in the library or on the library’s website.
• Public health unit: You can find health information and education in many languages here; health screening and immunization programs; nurses who work in the community.
• YMCA or YWCA: Sports and recreational activities; programs that help you find a job, train for a new career or even start your own business.

Web sites

www.settlement.org
General information on migration and settlement issues

www.etablissement.org
French-language general information on migration and settlement issues

www.ocasi.org
This is the website of The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. It has a great deal of information for immigrants and refugees, including links to many newcomer issues that are covered in the media.

www.inmylanguage.org
Information about housing, employment, immigration, and day-to-day life for newcomers to Ontario, in many, many languages. Funded by the Government of Canada.

www.charityvillage.com
Database of jobs in community and social services.

www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
Government information on employment, also a database of jobs.

www.legalaid.on.ca/en/
Legal Aid Ontario gives low-income people access to a range of legal services.

www.camh.net
Information on addiction and mental health including information in different languages
Information about posttraumatic stress disorder for people who have experienced war, political conflict or disasters. 

www.nimh.nih.gov
Self-help information on a large number of mental health topics.

www.selfhelp.on.ca
Guide to starting or joining a self-help group.

www.crct.org/lanresources/
Community Resource Connections of Toronto (CRCT) provides information of all kinds, including a book Navigating Mental Health Services in Toronto: A Guide for Newcomer Communities, available in a number of languages, that you can download for free.

www.housinghelpcentre.org/
Housing Help Centre & ID Clinic’s site provides a listing of housing help services in the Greater Toronto Area and across Ontario.

www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/hco/
Your Health Care Options website lists and explains different health care choices available to you in your community.

www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ms/healthcareconnect/public/
Health Care Connect helps Ontarians find a family doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in your community.

 

In Alone in Canada

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Living in a new culture
• Making friends
• Learning Canadian English
• Helping yourself by helping others
• Cooking and “potluck” meals
• Writing for yourself and to friends and family
• Celebrating the holidays
• Learning the unwritten rules of Canadian manners
• Building a new identity
• Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Exercising for fun and health
• Coping with stress
• Thinking about the past, present and future
• Asking for help when things are not right
• Managing your money
• Enjoying the weather
• Setting personal goals
• Developing your routine
• Coping with discrimination
• Your own community
• Celebrating your achievements
• Conclusion – Where to get help or more information

This book is also available in the following different languages: Amharic,  Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Twi, Urdu, Vietnamese.

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