OCISO Newcomer News - August/September 2020 

Message from Leslie Emory,
Executive Director

Dear friends,

As I write this, a glorious first day of fall is upon us. We continue to adjust to the “new normal” under COVID-19 and appreciate more than ever the ongoing support of community partners, funders and collaborators.

In August, we implemented phase two of our return-to-work plan, which saw most OCISO employees returning to the workplace on a part-time and rotational basis.  It has been wonderful to connect in-person again, as we navigate toward the resumption of face-to-face service delivery, while ensuring safety for OCISO employees and clients alike. Our intention is to engage in a hybrid model of service delivery, with services delivered on-line and in-person, through to the end of 2020. This plan is, of course, subject to redirection based on the ever-changing community context and any new direction from the public health authorities.

After an eight-month leave, I am beyond pleased to be back at OCISO, continuing our vital work with colleagues and partners. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Karyn Steer, who took on the position of Interim Executive Director and Agnes Wedrychowicz who assumed the position of Deputy Director, during my time away. Together, Karyn and Agnes successfully navigated the organization through an unprecedented set of circumstances requiring tremendous leadership, innovation and resilience. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to our funders, the OCISO board, management team, employees and volunteers – all of whom continued to rally behind the agency and the communities we serve, despite significant disruption to their work and personal lives. 

Please enjoy this newsletter that highlights some of our current activities and consider joining us at our AGM on October 22, where we will update you on some of our accomplishments of the past year. Now more than ever, we encourage you to become an OCISO member, as a way to show your support and have a say in our ongoing work in the community.

In solidarity and with gratitude,

Leslie Emory
Executive Director, OCISO

OCISO Annual General Meeting 

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place this year in a virtual format on October 22 at 6:00 pm. More details on the AGM can be found here. 

Become an OCISO member today!

We encourage you to become more involved in our programs and activities by becoming an OCISO member. OCISO members can vote at our AGM and engage in other key events throughout the year. 

Musical Performance Brightens a Summer Day for Newcomer Families

On a warm Sunday afternoon in August, OCISO clients were treated to a wonderful outdoor concert, the first event hosted by the Friends of the Family program since COVID-19.

Mentee Profile:  Adam Berrada

When Adam Berrada immigrated to Canada last year, he was matched with an OCISO mentor who helped him to obtain a position in his field.

Community Steps up to Help YOCISO Provide School Supplies to Newcomers

During the first week of September, YOCISO, our youth program, distributed school supplies to 106 newcomer youth, thanks to the support of two local companies and several community partners.

Future editions of OCISO Newcomer News

If you have suggestions for news items or stories that might be highlighted in future editions of this newsletter, please contact Suzanne Charest at scharest@ociso.org.

Thanks for making newcomers to Ottawa feel welcome!