It’s Library Settlement Partnership Week in Canada, and we’re proudly celebrating our 10-year anniversary in partnership with the KW Multicultural Centre and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
LSP staff meet one-on-one with clients and help them to navigate and access resources related to language learning, health, housing, education, citizenship, and more. The service is available at Central Library and at Forest Heights and Grand River community libraries.
LSP staff also hold programs and events for all ages. In 2017, that included men’s and women’s health sessions, technology help for Arabic speakers, Christmas stories in Spanish, Ramadan for children, a Syrian youth group, a tax information session in Mandarin, community programs for adults 55+ in a variety of languages, and an opportunity to meet the Iraqi ambassador.
- Combined, LSP staff speak 14 languages
- Clients speak a total of at least 38 languages, and come from 43 different countries
- In 2017, LSP staff met with about 830 clients, and 855 people attended 46 programs
- Top countries of client origin represented: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan
- Top languages spoken by clients: Tigrinya, Arabic, Amharic, Farsi, and Dari
On our 10th anniversary, we want to thank our LSP partners, and in particular the staff: Hadembes, Mira, Gina, Juan, Wasan, Omaima, Ahmed, Yoke, Fariba, Ana Luz, Feyza, and Marta.
Do you want to get involved in helping newcomers settle in Waterloo Region?
Volunteer with KW Multicultural Centre’s one-on-one English conversation program
Volunteer with one of Kitchener Public Library’s English Conversation Circles
Sign up for Waterloo Region Connectors and help a newcomer build a network
MORE INFO
ESL materials and programs, including English Conversation Circles
International language collections
Learn more about LSP services and programs