Immigrant Support Program

St. Paul's offers students and newcomers to Canada a variety of support programs, including classes, a friendship program and special events with guest speakers.

Friendship Program

The Friendship Program is an opportunity for new friends at St. Paul's to be introduced to a settled Canadian family for advice, encouragement and friendship. It is a simple means of providing a newcomer with someone to turn to in the event of difficulty or distress. It is an opportunity to meet someone who is established and familiar with life in Toronto. The minimum expectations of the program are that those involved will exchange phone numbers. The host family will check in if they have not heard from the new family for the past one or two weeks. The families are encouraged to meet with each other at church and immigrant support events. The formal relationship exists for 9-12 months.

Classes

Thursday afternoons at 4.30 and Saturday afternoons at 4.00 p.m., a study is held with special regard for those new to Canada and/or learning English.

Sunday mornings at 10.30 a.m., sermon reflection groups provide the opportunity for discussion, reflection and friendship. Lunch follows every Sunday.

Monthly Dinners

A monthly dinner is sponsored, usually on the last Saturday evening of the month at 7.00 p.m. in the church hall. Guest speakers are invited to discuss subjects of interest for newcomers. Guests have included our Member of Federal Parliament, our Member of Provincial Parliament, our City Councillor, our local school board Trustee, our local City Nurse, and representatives from local immigrant services and job-finding programs.

Sunday Services

Sunday mornings there are three services in English at 8.00 a.m., 9.15 a.m., and 11.15 a.m..

At 1.15 p.m. is a Mandarin-language service.

At 3.45 p.m. is a Tamil-language service.

Resources

*Community Health Centres (who also serve people without OHIP), here.

*Finding a family doctor, here.

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