When a family arrives in Canada as refugees, everything is new at once. A new language. A new bus system. New schools for the kids. New forms to fill out. Many have left home because of war, persecution, or disasters. They may have waited months—or years—for a safe path. Starting again is hard, even when people are strong and determined.
The first weeks are the toughest. Finding a place to stay, getting kids registered for school, and seeing a doctor all take time. Some adults were engineers, nurses, or teachers back home, but their credentials aren’t accepted right away. Others are learning English or French from scratch. It can be lonely too, because friends and family are far away.
But there’s real hope. Across Canada, settlement agencies and community groups welcome newcomers every day. They help with housing searches, language classes, job coaching, childcare, and legal information. Volunteers run conversation circles and homework clubs. Landlords give a chance to first‑time renters. Employers open doors to people with skills and motivation. You don’t have to fix everything to help. One practical step—a ride to an appointment, a donated stroller, a friendly mentor—can make a big difference.
Below are trusted organizations doing this work on the ground. I’ve listed their official websites so you can look them up yourself.
Canadian Council for Refugees: National Network and Rights
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) brings together organizations across the country that work with refugees and other newcomers. They focus on rights, protection, sponsorship, and settlement. CCR shares tools and research, hosts national meetings, and makes sure policies reflect real needs from coast to coast to coast.
Ending confusion saves time. When frontline agencies share what works, families get help faster. Supporting CCR strengthens the whole system—so local groups aren’t alone and the national conversation includes people with lived experience.
MOSAIC (BC): Settlement, Language, and Employment
MOSAIC is one of British Columbia’s largest newcomer‑serving organizations. They offer settlement counselling, English classes, employment services, and legal information clinics. They also provide interpretation and translation services, which can be the difference between “I think I understand” and “I truly get it.”
Learning the language and finding work are the keys to stability. MOSAIC meets people where they are—newcomers who just landed and those who are ready for the next step.
ISANS (Nova Scotia): A Landing Place in Atlantic Canada
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is a leading settlement agency in Atlantic Canada. They help with everything from finding a family doctor and registering for school to job readiness, entrepreneurship, and language training. ISANS is known for employer partnerships that connect newcomers to real jobs, not just job postings.
Smaller provinces welcome many newcomers now. Agencies like ISANS make sure people can build a future outside the biggest cities, with clear steps and local support.
COSTI Immigrant Services (GTA): A Big Network for First Steps
COSTI serves newcomers across Toronto, York Region, and Peel with settlement help, language classes, employment services, and refugee‑specific programs. Their staff speak many languages. They can help with housing searches, school registration, benefits, and the small details that fill the first months in a new country.
Big city systems can be confusing. COSTI guides families through the maze so people don’t have to tell their story again and again at every office.
Jumpstart Refugee Talent: Careers That Match Skills
Jumpstart Refugee Talent is focused on employment that matches a person’s experience. They help with career mapping, résumés, interview prep, mentorships, and direct connections to employers. Their message is simple: if you give newcomers a fair shot, they’ll bring energy, skill, and loyalty to your team.
Many refugees were professionals before they fled. Good jobs mean dignity, income, and stability for the whole family. Jumpstart speeds up that first breakthrough.
Romero House (Toronto): Community, Housing, and Accompaniment
Romero House is a small community in Toronto that welcomes refugee claimants with transitional housing and hands‑on support. Staff and volunteers help with legal paperwork, school registration, clinics, and day‑to‑day needs. They don’t just “provide services.” They build relationships—walking with families through the first year so people don’t feel alone.
The first address in Canada matters. Safe housing and a caring community help families focus on the next step: work, school, and healing.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Donate what you can. Monthly gifts help agencies plan. Even small amounts matter because organizations can buy exactly what’s needed—bus passes for job interviews, children’s winter boots, translators for appointments, or short‑term childcare so a parent can attend a class. If you’re choosing where to give, pick one national group (like a council or network) and one local agency in your city or province.
Be a neighbour. Welcome kits are simple but powerful: laundry soap, dish soap, a few spices, cooking oil, rice, a kettle, and a set of dishes. If you’re part of a school or faith group, run a drive for items families actually use. Ask the agency first so you bring the right sizes and types.
Volunteer with purpose. Conversation circles help people practice English or French without fear. Tutoring students after school builds skills fast. If you have time during the day, offer to accompany someone to a medical appointment or a housing viewing. Agencies often need help with childcare during workshops too.
Help with jobs. If you’re an employer—or your family runs a small business—consider paid placements or interviews for refugee candidates. Be clear about the job tasks and training offered. If the person’s degree isn’t recognized yet, look for related roles they can start now while they work on licensing.
Know the basics. Keep a short list on your phone: your local settlement agency, a legal clinic that serves refugees, the library’s newcomer desk, and the public health unit. Add “211”—you can dial 2‑1‑1 in most of Canada to find local services in many languages. It’s free and confidential. Share this list with your class, team, or club so everyone has it.
Be respectful. Ask before giving advice. Don’t share someone’s story without permission. Avoid “saviour” language; you’re not rescuing people—you’re walking alongside new neighbours who bring their own strength and skills.
Fight myths with facts. If someone spreads false claims about refugees, keep it calm and simple. Point them to the official government site for immigration and refugee information. Facts won’t change every mind, but they help quiet rumours and fear.
Final Thoughts
Refugees aren’t strangers for long. They become classmates, coworkers, neighbours, and friends. Given a fair chance, families rebuild fast: kids catch up at school; parents learn the bus routes, pass their language tests, and land jobs that match their skills. It doesn’t happen in one day, but it happens faster when communities are ready.
You don’t need a special title to make a difference. You can welcome with a smile on the first day of class. You can donate winter gear. You can share the number for 211. You can help someone find the right bus, the right clinic, or the right school door. Small, steady actions—done by a lot of us—turn a tough landing into a fresh start.
