A lifelong process of learning about and adapting to one’s new community and culture. Settlement work can be defined as the work to support immigrants and refugees to meet their unique needs as they settle into their new communities and start their new lives. 

Details: The settlement process is usually comprised of four stages:  

• Arrival
• Acclimatization
• Adaptation
• Integration

Settlement is a period of mutual adaptation between newcomers and host society, during which immigrants and refugees need support and guidance to successfully settle and integrate into their new country. Integration is defined as a two-way process that involves commitment on the part of immigrants to adapt to life in Canada and on the part of Canada to welcome and adapt to new peoples and cultures.  

Settlement services refers to supporting immigrants and refugees during their integration process in Canada. We assist immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to their settlement process so they can participate in social, cultural, civic and economic life in Canada.

  A professional who provides support and guidance to immigrants and refugees in a formal setting. HOW?
• Assessing needs and strengths
• Advocating
• Providing information, orientation, referrals, follow up
• Supporting to filling out forms to access programs and benefits
• Empowering, encouraging, building strengths and community connections

• The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
• A choice for some people, a forced action for others
• A major crisis because it creates losses
• A learning experience (positive/negative) based on support received

Someone who has moved from their country of origin to live in Canada permanently.

• Individual born outside Canada
• Fears persecution
• At risk of harm
• Cannot get protection in their own country

• Immigrant or refugee seeking to settle in Canada
• Hass been in Canada for less than five years