We Provide Integration Support for All Newcomers to Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie and Area ‘LIP’ was established in 2009, under the stewardship of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Since then, LIP has engaged thousands of community members and is active partners with over 50 local and regional organizations including employers, service providers, cultural groups and key institutions in education, healthcare, housing, and economic and workforce development to attract, support and retain newcomers, immigrants and refugees within the community.
What is “LIP”?
A Local Immigration Partnership (or a “LIP”) brings together service providers, settlement agencies, community groups, employers and other key organizations across the municipality to create a welcoming and inclusive community for newcomers.
LIP conducts research to identify potential barriers for newcomers and then works through its partnership to remove them so newcomers can fully participate in the economic, social, cultural, and recreational life of the community. The goal is for newcomers to enjoy a smooth and worry-free transition throughout their settlement experience.
LIP develops relationships and innovative linkages between organizations to encourage intentional collaboration in an effort to share knowledge and build on each other’s strengths. This makes it easier for organizations to successfully serve, hire and interact with newcomers, while feeling more connected to the overall community vision.
Funded by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Local Immigration Partnerships are part of a Canada-wide project to increase the engagement of newcomers at the local level.
LIPs across Canada are helping municipalities take a greater role in planning for and guiding immigration and settlement in support of a two-way process of integration.
01.
— Partnerships
Our robust partnership network is our greatest strength. We wish to recognize the tremendous work done by our partners in help creating a welcoming and inclusive community.
02.
— Sponsorships
Through event and project sponsorships LIP supports, engages and collaborates with local organizations, stakeholders, volunteer groups and partners to meet our shared objectives. If you have a community project, event or idea that we could support, connect with us via discoverthesault@cityssm.on.ca.
03.
— Committees
Newcomers Advisory Committee (NAC)
In March 2019, SSMLIP created the Newcomer Advisory Roundtable in response to the growing need to have the representation and input of Sault Ste. Marie’s immigrants and refugees included in its research and planning processes.
The Roundtable provides an opportunity for the direct participation of newcomers in SSMLIP’s operations, thereby increasing a collaboration base of organizations and individuals on overlapping issues related to diversity, inclusion and immigration. The Roundtable also serves to provide newcomers, refugees and members of racialized or religious minority communities in Sault Ste. Marie with a leadership role within SSMLIP’s governance structure.
Within SSML LIP, The Newcomer Advisory Roundtable plays three key roles:
- To represent authentic voices of newcomer residents in SSMLIP’s strategic planning processes;
- To help increase awareness of and engagement in intercultural issues and activities;
- To reach out to other newcomers from ethnic, cultural or faith communities in Sault Ste. Marie to share information with them and encourage their participation in SSMLIP’s ongoing work in the community.
Our Team
Mary Ogenyi
SSM LIP COORDINATOR
Mary Ogenyi is the Coordinator at the Sault Ste. Marie and Area Local Immigration Partnership, with the responsibility to facilitate the growth and engagement of stakeholders from all areas of the community to attract, support and retain newcomers to the city, a task she does not take lightly, as she engages the instruments of government along with her capacity to collaborate and catalyze relationships with partners.
Christiane Facey
ADMINISTRATIVE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Christiane Facey is the Administrative Research Assistant with the responsibility to provide administrative and research support to the Local Immigration Partnership Division.