Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Name

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Legal name

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization

Website

https://ociso.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF)

Keywords

• Immigrant settlement services
• Refugee integration support
• English language training
• Employment support services
• Newcomer counselling programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: OCISO operates as a non-profit organization relying on funding from Canadian funding sources at the federal, provincial, and municipal level. Major funders include Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Status of Women Canada, City of Ottawa, and United Way/Centraide Ottawa.
2. Test Fee Revenue: OCISO serves as an official CELPIP Test Centre, charging CAD $295 plus applicable taxes for English proficiency testing services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OCISO is a non-profit settlement agency that provides free, multilingual settlement, language instruction (LINC), employment, counselling, youth, and community integration services to immigrants and refugees in Ottawa. Service delivery is conducted in person at four Ottawa locations, virtually, and on-site at partner schools and community sites, supported by IRCC, provincial, and municipal funding. The portfolio also includes the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund and a CELPIP Test Centre.

Product overview

OCISO is a non-profit service organization (not a technology company) offering a comprehensive portfolio of immigrant and refugee settlement services through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Settlement and Integration Program (SIP) providing multilingual support for newcomers; Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) offering free English classes from Literacy to CLB 4; and the Community Economic Development (CED) Program suite including Career Mentorship, RAISE, Job Search Workshops, Credential Recognition, and the Tri-Provincial Health Care Professional Program for employment support. The Counselling Program provides clinical mental health services including Short Term, Family, and Child and Youth counselling, plus Mental Health Workshops. YOCISO Youth Services offers Homework Club, Afterschool Programs, and My Wellness for immigrant youth ages 13-24. Additional services include Legal Services, Income Tax Clinic, Senior Services (DSSS), CELPIP Testing Centre, the MILO Project for inmate reintegration, and the Community Reintegration Project. OCISO also delivers specialized initiatives like the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings Training Project and administers the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund for post-secondary education support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YOCISO: Youth Programming at OCISO - programs specifically designed to assist immigrant youth, ages 13 to 24, with their settlement and integration process.

Products and services

• Settlement and Integration Program (SIP) Multilingual and multicultural settlement services facilitating successful adaptation and integration for immigrants and refugees, including needs assessment, settlement planning, referrals, and information on immigration and citizenship procedures. Available in person at four Ottawa locations, virtually, and on-site at community sites.
• Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Free English language instruction for adult landed immigrants, permanent residents, and convention refugees, from Literacy to CLB 4 levels, including full-time classes, childcare, and conversation circles. Delivered at OCISO LINC program locations in Ottawa.
• Community Economic Development (CED) Program Career mentoring and networking programs supporting newcomers to obtain employment, develop understanding of Canadian workplace culture, and build professional networks. Encompasses Career Mentorship, RAISE, Job Search Workshops, Credential Recognition, and the Tri-Provincial Health Care Professional Program.
• Career Mentorship Program Matches Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) with volunteer mentors in the same field to obtain employment, providing guidance on career objectives, Canadian workplace culture, and networking.
• RAISE Program Supports refugees with limited English proficiency (CLB 3–5) to obtain and retain employment in construction, trades, hospitality, sales, childcare, health services, and manufacturing through pre/post-employment counselling and work placements with employer partners.
• Job Search Workshops Week-long half-day workshop series preparing newcomers for the Canadian job market, covering resumes, cover letters, networking, and interview skills. Offered online in English and French.
• CED Credential Recognition Program Assists newcomers in having their skills, education, and experience assessed against Canadian standards, helping regulated-profession applicants understand licensing requirements and connecting them with mentorship and partner agencies such as Ottawa Community Loan Fund, LASSA, and World Skills Employment Centre.
• Tri-Provincial Health Care Professional Canadian Work Experience & Wage Subsidy Program Provides Canadian work experience and wage subsidy for internationally educated health professionals in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, supporting credential recognition and inter-provincial mobility.
• Counselling Program Clinical counselling services for culturally diverse clients with migration- and culture-related issues, including survivors of war, torture, trauma, political persecution, and imprisonment. Services available in multiple languages and include Short Term, Family, and Child and Youth counselling tracks.
• Mental Health Workshops Workshops covering strength and resilience, healthy relationships, parenting, self-care, and mental well-being promotion for newcomers to Canada.
• Community Reintegration Project (CRP) Support services for newcomer and immigrant adults impacted by the criminal justice system, providing education, employment, housing, counselling, family reunification, and mentorship support.
• YOCISO Youth Services Programs designed to assist immigrant youth ages 13–24 with settlement and integration, including academic support, life skills, counselling, arts-based activities, and leadership development at the Newcomer Youth Centre (1800 Bank Street, 3rd floor).
• YOCISO Homework Club / Tutoring Academic support through virtual or in-person homework club and tutoring sessions for youth ages 12–24, delivered by multilingual tutors.
• Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) Program Settlement services delivered on-site at schools to newly arrived children, youth, and their parents, in partnership with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). The model was adopted nationally by IRCC as the SWIS program.
• Legal Services Free legal advice and information for refugee, immigration, and family law issues, facilitated through pro-bono lawyers via Connecting Ottawa for clients facing language barriers.
• CELPIP Test Centre Official CELPIP Test Centre offering computer-based English language proficiency testing for permanent residency, citizenship, and professional certification applications. Test fee CAD $295 plus applicable taxes; the CELPIP General Test is accepted by IRCC and recognized by professional and licensing organizations.
• Multicultural Inmate Liaison Officer (MILO) Project Supportive counselling to inmates at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, including one-on-one sessions and weekly group topics on addiction, anger management, and community reintegration.
• Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings and Retrofits Training Project Free 9-week training program (5 weeks online plus 4 weeks practicum) providing a micro-credential and associate certificate in Green Buildings and Retrofitting for equity-deserving groups. Funded by the Government of Canada's Sustainable Jobs Training Fund; delivered with PICS Society, Assiniboine College, and seven other service delivery partners (April 2025–March 2028).
• Senior Services (Diverse Seniors Support Services – DSSS) Helps seniors from diverse communities reduce isolation and enhance quality of life through health workshops, fitness activities, volunteer visits, language classes, and transportation for medical appointments. Delivered in collaboration with Jewish Family Services of Ottawa.
• Income Tax Clinic Seasonal free tax clinics (February–April) run through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), helping clients with modest income and simple tax situations file returns.
• Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund (MDSF) Scholarship program providing $1,500 awards to up to three immigrant and refugee youth annually for post-secondary education in the National Capital Region. Established in 2009 and named in honor of Marion Dewar.

Quantifiable outcome

• OCISO directly serves approximately 10,000-12,000 immigrants and refugees annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025PICS is the lead organization for the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project: Coast to Coast to Coast. OCISO is one of 8 service delivery partners in this Government of Canada-funded initiative running April 2025 to March 2028.
• Assiniboine CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining institution partner for the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project, providing the microcredential and associate certificate curriculum.
• Centre for Newcomers (Calgary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• NWT Literacy CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• Saskatchewan Open Door SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• Westman Immigrant Services SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• Bridges NiagaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• The Saint John Newcomers CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService delivery partner in the Intercultural Pan-Canadian Green Buildings & Retrofits Training Project.
• Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Credential Recognition Program, providing financing up to $30,000 in low-interest financing to assist clients in paying for credential assessment activities or training for a new career.
• Lebanese and Arab Social Service Agency (LASSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Credential Recognition Program, providing credential assessment support and guidance in the Canadian credentialing process.
• World Skills Employment CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Credential Recognition Program, providing career counselling, guidance on licensing for regulated professions, and assistance with Skilled Trades requirements.
• YMCA/YWCA of the National Capital RegioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides language assessment services for LINC class placement. Clients must be assessed by YMCA/YWCA Language Assessment and Resource Centre before placement at OCISO LINC.
• Connecting OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides pro-bono lawyers for legal consultations. OCISO Settlement Counselors facilitate sessions to improve access to justice for linguistic minorities.
• Jewish Family Services of Ottawa (JFS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative work with JFS on Diverse Seniors Support Service (DSSS) program.
• Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) program providing settlement services in schools. MLO program success led to IRCC adopting the model nationally as SWIS program.
• Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving immigrants in Ottawa.
• Carleton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SDI WLT Innovation Project - Applied Linguistics Research team developing innovative workplace language curriculum.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Calgary-based refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization offering settlement, language, employment, and integration programming. Highly comparable to OCISO in mission, programming structure, and reliance on IRCC and provincial funding.
• Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS): Nova Scotia's leading immigrant-serving organization offering settlement, language, employment, and credential recognition services. Comparable to OCISO in programming structure, funder base (IRCC + provincial), and one-stop-shop model, though serving the Atlantic region.
• Saskatchewan Open Door Society: Saskatoon-based settlement and integration organization serving immigrants and refugees with programming parallel to OCISO. SODS is also a partner alongside OCISO in the Pan-Canadian Green Buildings Training Project, indicating direct operational comparability.
• Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC): Toronto-focused council that brings employers and immigrant-serving organizations together to improve newcomer employment outcomes. Comparable to OCISO's RAISE and employer partnership programs in mission focus on immigrant employment integration.
• Manitoba Start: Winnipeg-based immigrant employment and settlement services organization. Comparable to OCISO's CED program suite (mentorship, job search, employer connections), though narrower in scope than OCISO's full settlement-counselling-youth portfolio.
• World Skills Employment Centre: Ottawa-based employment services organization specifically focused on newcomer employment, skills training, and credential recognition. Direct peer to OCISO's CED program and a current partner in OCISO's Credential Recognition Program.
• Centre for Newcomers (Calgary): Calgary-based settlement organization offering language, employment, and integration services to immigrants and refugees. Also a partner with OCISO in the Pan-Canadian Green Buildings Training Project, demonstrating comparable service design and funder mix.
• Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI): Ottawa-based immigrant settlement organization providing settlement, language, employment, and refugee resettlement services. CCI is OCISO's most direct local competitor, serving overlapping newcomer populations in Ottawa and competing for the same IRCC and municipal funding pools.

Broad incumbents

• COSTI Immigrant Services: One of Canada's largest immigrant services organizations, headquartered in Toronto with broad programming across settlement, language training, employment, and mental health. Highly comparable to OCISO in service mix but at significantly greater scale and broader geographic reach across Ontario.

Regional players

• Affiliated Services for Newcomers (ASSIST): Ottawa-based bilingual (English-French) settlement and language services organization serving francophone newcomers. Comparable to OCISO in local settlement programming and shares the Ottawa IRCC funding environment, though focused on the francophone segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ottawaociso
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ociso
• Facebookfacebook.com/OttawaOCISO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ottawaociso
• Instagraminstagram.com/ociso_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization