Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington (formerly known as Guelph & District Multicultural Centre), a community-based organization, facilitates integration and settlement of newcomers who have chosen Guelph as their new home by enabling them to participate in all aspects of life in Guelph. We are pleased to report that we have received our charitable status. To find out what this means to our organization, go here.
We believe that a key to a prosperous Guelph is to provide an intercultural, welcoming environment for immigrants and refugees. We are committed to being responsive to immigrants' needs and to maximizing the benefits of their participation and contribution to Canadian society.
IS-GW's services are designed to be culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate, anti-racist and empowering. Empowering the immigrant and refugee population to participate and contribute to their communities in Guelph is one of our goals. To enable their participation, we provide settlement services which not only address their needs through our own services, but also improve their access to and knowledge of other services and opportunities in Guelph.
Through its various programs, IS-GW serves more than 2000 immigrants and refugees each year from diverse backgrounds. It is present on various committees including the Guelph Inclusiveness Alliance, and is a member of several associations including the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
We seek to:
- Improve the quality, availability, and accessibility of services that improve the social and economic situation of newcomers
- Promote strong links and collaboration between settlement and other services
- Find new and innovative ways of meeting existing and emerging needs by filling service gaps
- Promote equality, mutual respect, and empowerment
