Canada is the second largest country in the world. It is a collection of ten fairly large provinces and three territories. The total area of Canada is 9,984,670 square kilometers. Initially Canada was a colony of the United Kingdom but today it is a free nation.
Where is Ottawa?
Ottawa lies in northeast North America, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, while the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal meander north to south through the city. Directly across the Ottawa River are the City of Gatineau and the picturesque Outaouais region in the Province of Québec.
Finding a Place to Stay:
You may need to stay somewhere while you look for a place to live. You can look for an apartment hotel, a travel hostel, or a student residence in a university or college. These are often places where you can stay for days, weeks, or months for a low cost.
Identification:
You do not need your passport if you travel inside of Canada. People often carry two pieces of identification with them. The most common identification is a Driver’s License. It is not required that you carry all your identification with you, but two pieces are often helpful. The most accepted form of identity papers are the following:
Finding a Family Doctor
Ask for help from an Immigrant Settlement Agency or Community Health Centre (Click Here).
For all health visits, you must present your Health Card (OHIP). If you do not have a health card, you may be required to pay for medical care. Contact a Community Health Centre for more information on what to do in this situation.
Contact any of the Immigrant Settlement Agencies for help. OCISO has a special Multicultural Liaison Program in most of Ottawa’s schools to help new parents and students.
We encourage you to ask for help from any Immigrant Settlement Agency . OCISO in partnership with World Skills has a Job Search Program. We also have an Employment Mentoring Program for internationally trained professionals.
Housing:
Rent Contracts
There are many types of rental accommodation available, such as houses, townhouses, apartments, and rooms. By law, landlords cannot discriminate because of your race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, marital status, ethnic origin. If you are renting a house or apartment, you will have a rental contract or lease. Contract conditions can be very different. For example, some contract agreements include heat and electricity charges and some do not. You will have both responsibilities and rights when renting any place. Before signing any contract, please ask for Housing Help at any of the Immigrant Settlement Agencies. You can also contact: