Settling in Canada

Moving to Canada is an exciting opportunity but also a great challenge. Find what to expect in your first few weeks of coming to Canada and learn how to:

• find a place to live,
• get around your new city,
• work and go to school and
• connect with your community

You will also find information on Canadian laws, health care and how to get help settling in Canada.
You can get started here.

The Living in Canada Online tool will also assist you in many areas of planning for, or adjusting to life in Canada. Topics covered in the tool include:

• Language training
• Finding work
• Finding newcomer services in your area
• Finding a place to live
• Getting to know Canada
• Adjusting to life in Canada
• Locating Government and community services
• Educational needs

Please click here to access the tool.

Settling in Smiths Falls

The Smiths Falls Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)

The LIP is one of 35 partnerships across Ontario designed to provide a collaborative framework to facilitate the development and implementation of sustainable solutions for the successful integration of newcomers, immigrants and refugees to Ontario that are local and regional in scope.

This Partnership meets regularly with community partners to examine services available, examine how the delivery could be enhanced, modified, or expanded to promote the long-term settlement and integration of newcomers, immigrants and refugees into the Smiths Falls area.

Objectives

The partnership works to:

• Enhance the towns image and capacity as a welcoming community for newcomers, immigrants and refugees
• To strengthened local awareness and capacity to successfully integrate and retain newcomers, immigrants and refugees
• To improve access to and coordination of integration services (Education, Health, Language training, Employment, settlement and labour market integration)
• To improve labour market outcomes for newcomers, immigrants and refugees.  This may include initiatives such as engagement of local employers or partnerships with local employment services
• Foster a community where the education, skills and experience of newcomers, immigrants and refugees are fully engaged to make the community economically and socially vibrant
  Support the municipalities efforts to attract, hire and retain newcomers, immigrants and refugees as valued members of the local economy

The Smiths Falls LIP is fully funded by the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRRC)

Housing

Smiths Falls is one of the most affordable housing markets in Lanark County.  Have a look at some of our local real estate listings.

Century 21 Explorer Realtu Inc.
Website: http://www.century21.ca/explorerrealty/

RE/MAX Affiliates Realty Ltd., Brokerage
Website: http://www.remaxaffiliates.ca/

Royal LePage Pauline Aunger Real Estate Brokerage
Website: http://www.aungerteam.com/

Education

You will find we offer a variety of education opportunities for children and adults.  In Canada kids start in kindergarten, progress through elementary, to high school, and then off to college or university. There are also a number of alternatives options as well, explore what Smiths Falls has to offer here.

Banking

To welcome newcomers to Canada, many banks offer special banking packages, visit our local branches to learn more:

BMO Bank of Montreal
25 Beckwith St. South
613-283-4292

CIBC
51 Beckwith St. North
613-283-3584

RBC
31 Beckwith St. North
613-283-7660

Scotiabank
94 Lombard St
613-284-4111

TD Canada Trust
15 Beckwith St. North
613-283-0956

Health Care

Smiths Falls offers state of the art health care facilities. Learn more about the services offered in our town.

ESL (English as a Second Language)

Those wanting to improve their skills in written and spoken English are able to do so through ESL (English as a Second Language) classes taking place at the Smiths Falls Public Library. Classes our offered based on need through a partnership between the Town of Smiths Falls and TR Leger School of Adult, Alternative & Continuing Education. All classes are free and funded through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Further information on the classes is available by contacting:
Tania Stover,
Secondary Vice Principal for TR Leger
tania.stover@ucdsb.on.ca

Contacts:

Local Immigration Partnership

Kara Turner
Project and Community Engagement Coordinator, Local Immigration Partnership
Phone: 613.283.4124 ex 1151
Email: kturner@smithsfalls.ca