Laura Dalton • Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Publishing date:Aug 24, 2022 • 19 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
“(CÉSOC helps refugees) navigate the reality of a new city, a new municipality, new culture, helping them navigate our healthcare, our education, our (job opportunities), and also helping them with language training. So they do a lot in facilitating the services that a person would need as they come to Canada,” Lalonde said.
The funding comes after her announcement of over $840,000 for the expansion of resettlement services in eastern Ontario to provide case management support in English and French for government-assisted refugees. The Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program, which offers direct financial support for refugees, funds service provider organizations like CÉSOC.
Firefighter McDougall from Station 94 provided Sam, a young man with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, a full truck tour using ASL sign language so he could receive the same experience as any other child who loves fire trucks. (Screen capture OFS via Twitter)
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According to a release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the financial support consists of “a one-time start-up allowance and monthly income support typically provided for up to one year or until clients can support themselves, whichever comes first.”
Lalonde said the funding was offered to CÉSOC to assist them in service delivery, saying the goal is to better integrate these individuals into Canadian society. She explained CÉSOC is growing efforts to help newcomers integrate into rural areas outside of large urban centres. According to Lalonde, the organization currently supports roughly 100 clients.
“The CÉSOC plays a key role in enhancing access to support services for refugees in smaller and rural communities, and providing newcomers with the tools needed for their long-term success,” reads a release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Lalonde explained that the extra funding will assist with settlement services like language training, job searches, finding housing, and making connections between refugees and community organizations. Another example of assistance offered includes guiding newcomers on where and how to register their children in school.
The goal of Lalonde’s visit to Cornwall was to learn more about what is happening a the new, local CÉSOC location, which opened its doors about a month ago.
“Another big piece is the employment of our newcomers,” Lalonde said. She told the Standard-Freeholder she met with representatives of Walmart Canada Logistics in Cornwall on Tuesday to discuss the willingness of employing newcomers to the area.