Durham Immigration

Resettlement - Refugees and Immigrants

This webpage is a resource to help Durham residents and service providers support resettlement of refugees and immigrants in the community. This page will be updated regularly with information on the Afghan and Ukrainian situations as it becomes available.

The Government of Canada has committed to the resettlement of at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals. Most Afghan newcomers welcomed under this commitment will be government assisted or privately sponsored. Information on the number of people who have arrived in Canada can be found on the Government of Canada Key Figures webpage.

The ongoing invasion of Ukraine is seeing hundreds of thousands of residents fleeing the country. The Government of Canada has announced measures to support immigration of Ukrainians here and abroad. Many Ukrainians arriving under these measures will come via the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) as temporary residents. Permit holders will be able to access federal and provincial supports and benefits. Information on the number of people who have applied and arrived in Canada can be found on the Government of Canada’s Key Figures webpage.

We can expect that increased numbers of Ukrainian immigrants and Afghan refugees will arrive in Durham Region. This is in addition to immigrants and refugees from across the globe that arrive in the Region on an ongoing basis.

Services and supports in Durham Region

Settlement and community services in Durham Region provide support to all residents, including refugees and immigrants.

The Durham Welcome Centres - Immigrant Services located in Ajax and in Pickering, serve all of Durham Region. COFRD provides settlement services to Francophone refugees and immigrants in Durham Region.

The Durham Immigration Portal is a searchable site full of information on settling, living and working in Durham Region.

• Learn more about settlement and other community services in Durham.
• Click here to watch a webinar covering local settlement services delivered by the Durham Welcome Centres and on Refugee Private Sponsorship.

The local Ukrainian community has organized to support Ukrainian newcomers fleeing war and arriving in Durham Region. Click here to learn more.

• If you would like to connect with this group, please contact the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Durham Chapter at durham@ucc.ca.  
• If you’re a Durham resident who wishes to support this work, please complete the UCC Volunteer/Assistance Form. 
• If you wish to donate money, a local monetary fund has been created to support Ukrainian newcomers in Durham Region.
• Physical donations can be referred to the UCC using the Volunteer/Assistance Form.

Immigrants and refugees experiencing food insecurity are encouraged to contact Feed the Need in Durham at 905-571-3863.

Local Ukrainian Churches

• St. John’s the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church
• St. George the Great Martyr Ukrainian Catholic Church

How can community members, organizations and business help?

Some ways to help:

1. Provide affordable housing. Landlords and property managers who can provide affordable and flexible housing solutions for families of different sizes should please email LDIPC@durham.ca. 
2. Provide primary care. Members of the medical community who can take on new clients, including immigrants and refugees, should please email LDIPC@durham.ca.
3. Hire newcomers. Immigrants and refugees are skilled and talented. If you are an employer, connect with local Welcome Centre employment services to reach newcomers.
   • Learn more about how to hire, onboard and retain newcomers in the workplace here. 
   • If you’re a Ukrainian job seeker or a local employer interested in hiring Ukrainian immigrants, visit Job Bank – Jobs for Ukraine. This program will match employers and Ukrainian newcomers arriving in Canada as a result of the war in Ukraine.
4. Sponsor refugees and support family reunification efforts. In Canada, there are various ways to privately sponsor refugees. Click here to learn more about sponsorship.
   • Note: At this time, the most efficient route for Ukrainians fleeing war to enter Canada are the special immigration pathways administered by the Government of Canada (see above).
5. Volunteer to assist refugee resettlement. Click here to learn more.
6. Make monetary donations: Click here to learn more about other organizations accepting donations in support of the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.
7. Be a welcoming and inclusive community member. Arriving in a new community having fled war and crisis can be extremely stressful. Being friendly and welcoming can help make the newest residents feel good and feel that they can belong as they get to know their new community, make friends and start their new life. Click here to learn more about Canada’s Values, about Integration, and about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Attend a virtual information session - Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency

Learn about programs and services for refugees and other newcomers at a virtual information session with Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency. These sessions will provide a brief overview of all Service Canada programs and services, as well as information about benefits available through filing taxes (Canada Child Benefit, GST/HST, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit).

Click here to access a schedule of virtual information sessions.

Updated: April 27, 2022

Durham Immigration and Inclusion Community Plan 2020 - 2024

The Regional Municipality of Durham Diversity and Immigration Program and the Durham Local Immigration Partnership (DLIP) Council is pleased to present the 2020-2024 Immigration and Inclusion Community Plan.

Durham has long been a community of choice for immigrants to Canada. Immigrants bring skills, experience and access to global markets – contributing to the social and cultural richness of the Region and to our shared economic prosperity. It is important that all residents, including newcomers, see a place for themselves in Durham’s communities. Everyone should feel they belong by encouraging, making space for, and valuing each person’s participation in the community and the economy.

The DLIP, together with partners and stakeholders, aims to mobilize Durham’s assets – our diverse population, our economic strength and a robust network of partners to support and promote the great economic, social and cultural benefits that newcomers bring to our communities. The Community Plan outlines priorities and actions for making that happen.

   Read the Durham Immigration and Inclusion Community Plan 2020-2024