Newcomer Support Services

LEF provides Newcomer Support Services to newcomers who reach out to us. The support services we provide include: One on One Support, Settlement discussions & Employment resources, Informational Sessions and Customized Plan for each individual based on their Newcomer Needs.

Get in Touch with Us

LEF is your bridge to getting settled in Canada. When you have a community to support you, it makes living in Canada that much easier. That’s why LEF has created so many free newcomer services. We’re here to guide you through some of the challenges you may be experiencing and answer all of the questions you are asking yourself as you build your new life in this country.


Contact info

Email: newcomers@lefca.org

For settlement services in French, please contact: 416-922-2672 or https://www.centrefranco.org/Pour des services d'établissement en français veuillez contacter: 416 922-2672 ou https://www.centrefranco.org/

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Your First Few Weeks in Canada

There are many settlement support services for newcomers to Canada. Here are some you can have access to that go through what you need to know and what you need to do during the first few weeks of your arrival to Canada:

  • Basic Needs

    We will assist you in fulfilling the basic needs you require to settle in Canada such as Furniture Bank, Food Bank, Housing, Child Care, Free English Classes, Employment & More!

    Fill out the Get In Touch Form

  • Interpretation services

    (Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Spanish, Vietnamese, Dari, Farsi, Urdu, Russian, Turkish, Pashto and Persian)

  • Daily life in Ontario

    Information about using public transportation, shopping, community recreation centres, Driver’s License, and other community resources such as public libraries and others

    Learn More

  • Social Assistance

    Connecting you to programs such as Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Service Program.

    Learn More

  • Rental Information

    Connecting you to information that addresses questions that may arise during tenancy, provide resources around the rights and responsibilities that tenants and landlords are to expect, and help with navigating the rental process.

    Learn More

  • Canadian Income Tax System

    Information and assistance to apply for tax benefits (Canada Child Tax Benefit, GST/HST)

    Learn More

  • Financial Literacy

    Learn about the banking system in Canada

    Learn More

  • Community Connections

    Connecting you to volunteering and networking opportunities and referrals to the Furniture Bank and more.

    Connect Me

First 6 Months and beyond

Here are some support services you can have access to that go through what you need to know and what you need to do during the first few weeks of your arrival to Canada:

  • Learning English

    Learning English (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), information and referrals for TOEFL, IELTS, ESL courses

    Learn more

  • Education System

    Registering children in school and childcare. Post-secondary school system and loan programs information.

    Learn More

  • Professional and Credential Support

    Supports for Internationally Trained Individuals and Foreign Credential Recognition.

    Learn more

  • Health Care System

    Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP), Family Doctor, Dental Care referrals, Immunizations

    Learn More

  • Government Forms

    Permanent Resident Card Renewal and SIN Card, Work permit and Study permit applications

    Get in Touch

  • Employment Support

    Canada's Labour Market, job search supports, resume supports, employment-related workshops, networking opportunities with professionals, referrals to skills-based training

    View Employment Services

  • Newcomer Information

    Assistance in completing Citizenship & Immigration Forms, Citizenship Preparation Classes.

    Learn More

  • Referrals to LEF Training Programs

    Early Childhood Assistant, Industrial Skills Training, Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance (BAM) Training, Alternative Careers in Health Promotion and Education Bridging Program

    View Training Programs
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Newcomer Sessions

Youth
Bike Ride Through The City: Acknowledging the Land
Grab a bike (we’ve got extras!), snap on your helmet, and join us for a chill cruise through the city streets!
Jun 27, 12:00 PM EDT
Youth
Goal Setting Workshop
Join us for a practical session designed to help you reflect, reset, and set meaningful goals.
Jun 16, 1:30 PM EDT
Youth
Career Cruising Presentation
Ready to kick-start your future? Join our hands‑on Career Exploration Workshop
Jun 17, 2:00 PM EDT
Youth
Street Life Photography
Ready to hit the colourful walls of Graffiti Alley with your camera in hand?
Jun 06, 11:00 AM EDT
View All Workshops

Related pages

  • English Classes
    LEF offers free English classes in Toronto for Newcomers. The LINC program offers settlement support with language training, childcare, and support for Newcomers & Permanent Residents.
  • Newcomers
    LEF provides Toronto Immigration and Newcomer services, including settlement support, English Classes, youth programs, and guidance to enter the force, education, and community.
  • Training
    Advance your career with LEF's skills training in Toronto. Explore hands-on courses in trades, childcare, and career development as you gain certifications and job-ready skills.
  • Internationally Trained Professionals
    For newcomers who have had a career before coming to Canada, find out how LEF can help you. Receive employment support, including assistance for internationally educated professionals with middle-management experience. Referrals to the WES Gateway Program are possible for refugees and other displaced persons with limited proof of academic achievements, or International medical graduates may thrive with the Alternative Careers in Health Promotion and Education Bridging Program (ACiHPE) and more.
  • Alternative Careers in Health Promotion and Education for Internationally Trained Physicians (ACiHPE)
    Alternative Careers in Health Promotion and Education for Internationally Trained Physicians (Ontario Bridge Training Program) or ACiHPE is a 24 week program designed to inform internationally trained physicians about Ontario's healthcare ecosystem in non-practitioner roles.
  • Youth
    Youth Program
    LEF's Youth program empowers young people in Toronto with skill-building workshops, leadership training, creative and digital literacy, and teaches Indigenous cultural activities.