Newcomer Services

English Language Learners

We offer a wide variety of language learning materials for English Language Learners. Each branch has a fully stocked language section, including dictionaries, style guides, grammar books and language tests. We also have the online resource Mango Languages which is a free online resource that you can use from home to learn a wide variety of languages.

Newcomer Information

New to the community? Get a library card to access many free services.

The Library Settlement Partnership coordinates information sessions for newcomers regarding a wide range of settlement topics at York Region libraries. Check out the Library Settlement Partnership website to see what upcoming sessions are available.

New to Canada

  • Welcome Centre Immigration Services - National 
    Provides multiple services under one roof, designed to guide and support immigrants through the maze of information and resources in York Region. They will meet with clients one-on-one at the Holland Landing branch by appointment.
  • Citizen Practice Test - National
    Prepare for the citizenship test and then use this site to see how well you know the answers!
  • Official Canadian Citizenship Test Study Guide
    Prepare for the citizenship test with the official study guide provided by the Government of Canada: Discover Canada - The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship!

New to Ontario

New to the Region

York Region Supports

Newcomer Services

Within York Region, many partners work together to provide programs and services to people who have recently arrived in Canada, Ontario, and York Region. York Region’s Newcomer Services website includes information about:

  • Community partner services and supports
  • Information to help individuals and families settle in York Region quickly and easily

Newcomer Guide

York Region has developed a Newcomer Guide in several languages (English/French/Ukrainian) that provides useful information to help you and your family settle in York Region quickly and easily.

  • Arriving - Finding settlement programs and resources
  • Moving Around - Using public transportation
  • Living - Finding a place to stay and to live
  • Staying Healthy - Accessing health care
  • Learning - Registering children in school or finding language classes
  • Working - Finding a job and working in York Region
  • Staying Safe - Getting to know York Region’s emergency services
  • Having Fun - Enjoying the many things to see and do in York Region
  • Municipal Government - Learning more about York Region’s local government

Access York

For more information about services and supports offered by York Region, contact Access York at 1-877-464-9675, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email accessyork@york.ca. Access York also offers translation services and can help with referrals to Welcome Centres and other service organizations.

Federal Supports

Resettlement and Citizenship

Visit the government of Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to find out more about the measures and actions being taken at a federal level to support temporary resettlement. Here you will find information on:

• Canadian citizens and permanent residents
• Returning to Canada
• Bringing family members to Canada
• How you can help
• Ukrainian nationals and their family members
• Applying for the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel
• Applying to immigrate to Canada
• Travelling, testing and border information
• Extending your stay or changing your status in Canada

Provincial Supports

Immigration and Settlement Support

The Province of Ontario also provides helpful immigration and settlement support information for people affected by the conflict in Ukraine on its website.

Health Care

The Ontario Ministry of Health is providing newly arriving refugees and people arriving through other exceptional humanitarian authorizations with a toll-free, multi-lingual Refugee HealthLine. Newcomers, sponsors and settlement agencies can contact the Refugee HealthLine at 1-866-286-4770 to find a matching health care provider for services funded by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), the Interim Federal Health Program or through provincial programs, including but not limited to:

  • Primary care providers (e.g., Refugee Health Clinics, Community Health Centres, Family Health Teams, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, midwifery practices, physician practices, walk-in clinics)
  • Specialists (e.g., obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and psychiatry)
  • Mental health service providers
  • Optometrists
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Services