COVID-19 Updates

July 5, 2022

MNLCT is continuing to follow up-to-date public health guidelines to ensure client and staff safety.

Limited in-person appointments are available now in our Finch office on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Also, we continue to offer services via phone, email or online and are happy to help you with your settlement needs.

December 16, 2021 

MNLCT is continuing to follow up-to-date public health guidelines to ensure client and staff safety. Due to concerns around the COVID-19 Omicron variant, we are not booking any new in-person appointments. We continue to be available online and by phone and are happy to help you with your settlement needs.

September 15, 2021

After 5 years at Victoria Park and McNicoll Ave, we have said goodbye to our Victoria Park office but look forward to continuing to serve clients online. All services are offered virtually.

Our Finch office will be open starting Sept. 22, 2021 for limited in-person appointments:

1122 Finch Ave. West, Unit 1
North York, ON
647-812-1332 | info@mnlct.org

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8:30am – 4pm

January 13, 2021

Our physical offices remain closed to comply with the provincial emergency declared on January 14. Staff are working online and by phone and are happy to help you with your settlement needs. Anyone with changes to their appointments or classes will be notified.

December 15, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we too are continuing to follow updated public health guidelines to ensure client and staff safety.

Our physical offices are closed, but we offer nearly all of our newcomer settlement and integration services virtually.

• Settlement and mental health counselling are available via phone and through secure, confidential online video sessions
• Language classes are online, including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes, Care for Newcomer Children (CNC), Language Instruction Giving Hope to Trauma Survivors (LIGHTS), and English Conversation Groups
• Bridging programs in mental health (BREM) and media and communications (BEMC) are online and on schedule

The wellbeing and safety of our clients, volunteers, and team members remain our top priority, and our Centre has been taking all the necessary protective measures from the onset of this pandemic.

We are always here to answer any of your questions and welcome any suggestions that would help us better serve the community.

We can be reached at info@mnlct.org, 647-776-2057, or 416-291-3248.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit: 

• Government of Canada Public Health Information
• Province of Ontario 
• Toronto Public Health

March 31, 2020, 5:30pm

In response to the Ontario government’s announcement of extending emergency measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have extended the closure of all our offices until further notice. We will reopen when it is safe to do so, as per directions of local authorities. 

The well-being and safety of our clients, volunteers, and team members remain our top priority, and our Centre has been taking all the necessary protective measures from the onset of this pandemic.  

Thanks to our team’s resilience, we have leveraged our digital tools to continue offering our diverse services to vulnerable newcomers while engaging with clients on multiple levels. Our bridging programs in mental health (BREM) and media and communications (BEMC) are on schedule, LINC classes are being set up to be hosted online, and our mental health counsellors and settlement teams have been working diligently to assist highly stressed individuals and groups who are in desperate need of help during these challenging times.  

We realize the increasing level of humanitarian demand during this period and our full team is employed to cater to our clients’ needs.  We thank you for your patience and perseverance, and we encourage you to keep monitoring updates of the COVID-19 situation and follow closely the directives of your local public health authority.  

We are always here to answer any of your questions and welcome any suggestions that would help us better serve the community.  We can be reached at info@mnlct.org or 647-776-2057. 

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit:  

Government of Canada Public Health Information   
Province of Ontario 
Toronto Public Health

March 16, 2020, 5:30pm

On Friday, the Centre communicated that we would be modifying our operations but keeping our offices open. However, there have been many developments over the last 72 hours that have encouraged us to rethink our approach.

Following the lead of provincial health authorities and city officials, we will be suspending in-person services for the period of Wednesday March 18 to Sunday April 5, 2020.

We will continue to offer services online, via email, or over the phone where possible and appropriate. Clients with existing appointments, classes, or group sessions will be notified of any changes.

Please take special note of the following:

• Individual Counselling will take place via email, phone or online
• LINC and Childminding, which are currently closed for March Break, will remain closed until April 5
• Bridging Program (BREM & BEMC) activities, including information sessions, will be delivered online
• Seniors’ group sessions will be postponed until the end of April 2020
• Some classes and group sessions will move to online delivery

Tomorrow (Tuesday March 17) will be a period of transition for our Keele, Queen, and Victoria Park offices as we ramp down in-person services and equip staff to be able to work from home; Finch is fully transitioned already so the physical office is closed.

We hope that this type of arrangement supports COVID-19 containment efforts by keeping staff and clients connected without in-person interactions and by keeping people off public transit where social distancing is not always possible. We encourage everyone to adhere to advice about social distancing and effective hygiene practices.

We thank you all in advance for your cooperation and wish you and your loved ones the best during these challenging times.

March 13, 2020, 1:00pm

On Wednesday March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 crisis a global pandemic. Following this announcement, on Thursday March 12, 2020, the Province of Ontario announced that it would be closing schools for two weeks after March Break. This means that publicly funded schools in Ontario will be closed from March 14 to April 5, 2020.

Toronto Public Health and Public Health Ontario have described the increase in COVID-19 cases as being a result of imported cases – ones that are related to travel outside of Canada, including the United States. As such, these health authorities are resolutely asking the public to “practice good infection prevention and control activities, such as vigilant hand washing, as an important way for you to do your part in delaying the onset of community spread”. While there are concerns of potential local spread, local authorities are acting by promoting social distancing and other such measures. Please see Toronto Public Health’s “Update on COVID-19 for Thursday March 12, 2020” for further details.

Based upon the new recommendations from Toronto Public Health and other authorities in the Settlement and Human Services Sector, MNLCT is modifying services to reduce close interpersonal contact for groups who are most at risk, and engaging in the practice of social distancing – an imperative preventative measure for containing COVID-19 spread. In addition to prevention measures previously announced, MNLCT will be making the following Service Modifications as of Monday, March 16, 2020.

MNLCT Service Modifications

Individual Counselling Services

At this time, MNLCT will be modifying access to services for individual counselling by requiring participants to respond to a symptom screening questionnaire (Active Screening). Clients who would like to have their appointment either via the telephone or an online connection are advised to call the office to request that these arrangements be made.

Group Services for Seniors

All seniors’ group sessions and workshops will be suspended until May 1, 2020. If services can be offered via online methods, MNLCT will endeavour to provide our senior clients with modified services online.

Settlement Workshops and Group Gatherings of Greater than 25 People

MNLCT will cancel all events, group activities, or similar gatherings of 25 people or more until social distancing measures are lifted by local health authorities.

LINC Classes and Childminding

LINC Classes and Childminding are regularly scheduled to close during March Break (Monday March 16 to Friday March 20, 2020). MNLCT will continue to monitor the directions and guidelines of municipal, provincial, and federal health authorities as well as local school boards to determine the need to close LINC Classes and Childminding beyond March Break. We are also presently seeking direction directly from IRCC, the LINC and Childminding funder.

An announcement for LINC and Childminding participants will be posted on our website by Friday, March 20, 2020 at noon regarding the status of LINC Classes and Childminding for March 21 to April 5, 2020. We will also contact participants directly should changes need to be communicated.

MNLCT may be able to offer classes via Zoom classroom or other online methods. The IT Team will be working directly with program staff to determine the best delivery methods available.

Information Sessions for Program Recruitment

MNLCT programs such as Settlement and Bridging offer group information sessions to potential participants (i.e. BREM, BEMC, and WCC). All in-person sessions are to be replaced with online information sessions for the purposes of recruitment.

Moving Forward

As the response to COVID-19 evolves, MNLCT will continue to monitor the situation with the guidance of our funders, sector partners, and health authorities. and will assess, on a weekly basis, the possibility of returning to regular services. We will announce any changes on our website and social media.

Thank you for your understanding, patience,  and compassion. By working together, we endeavour to maintain essential services and collaboratively minimize risk for everyone in our immediate and extended community.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit:

• Government of Canada Public Health Information
• Province of Ontario
• Toronto Public Health

March 11, 2020

As more cases of the coronavirus are reported, we’re offering precautions you can take, but there is no need to panic.

Myths about the COVID-19 virus that are spreading online are causing people to panic unnecessarily. If you are not actually at risk, there is no need to worry. Canadian health officials say that the public health risk for Canada is low and there is no widespread transmission of the virus in Canada.

However, adopting protective measures is crucial to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all. The health and safety of our clients and staff remains a top priority for everyone at MNLCT. Following the directions of public health authorities (including Public Health Ontario & Toronto Public Health), transmission prevention protocols are in place at all of our locations. Before coming in to the office or upon arrival, you will be asked a set of questions for the safety and protection of yourself and others.

In Canada

At this time, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for the general population in Canada but this could change rapidly. There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:

• aged 65 and over
• with compromised immune systems
• with underlying medical conditions

While a COVID-19 outbreak is not unexpected in Canada, our public health system is prepared to respond. PHAC, along with provincial, territorial and community partners, continues to reassess the public health risk, based on the best available evidence as the situation evolves.

Travelling Abroad

The risk to Canadian travellers abroad will vary depending on the destination, as well as the person’s age and health status. There are some destinations where the Government of Canada recommends avoiding all travel or all non-essential travel. Check the latest travel health notices often before travelling.

As well, the risk for COVID-19 may be increased for certain settings such as:

• cruise ships
• heavily affected areas
• international conferences and other large gatherings in enclosed spaces

It is important for all travellers to:

• self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or difficulty breathing) for 14 days after returning to Canada
• avoid places where you cannot easily separate yourself from others if you become ill

If you have travelled internationally to affected areas and develop symptoms of COVID-19 infection, contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 or your local public health unit or call your primary care provider’s office.

More Information

For up-to-date information, please visit:
www.toronto.ca/coronavirus
www.ontario.ca/coronavirus
www.canada.ca/covid19

The Ministry of Health has developed an information sheet about COVID-19 to inform Ontarians about the virus, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they think they have contracted it.

For a printable version of this information, download a PDF here