Immigrant Services

Connecting Global Talent to Local Opportunity

KEYS has specialized services for immigrants and newcomers  to help you settle and integrate into your new community with an emphasis on supporting your job and career search, English language acquisition and settlement in Kingston and Canada.

Our services are available in English, French, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish and Kirundi.

Services include:

• Employment Services for Immigrants
• English Language Classes
• The Professional Mentoring Partnership
• Refugee Resettlement Services

We are also working on several unique projects:

Diversity Works is an annual 1-day symposium about immigrant employment for local immigrants and the business community. This symposium takes place each  year in Kingston. Check our website in the fall for more information.

Hire Smart is a series of workshops available to employers promoting and providing strategies for immigrant recruitment and retention. Contact us today for more information.

The Immigrant-led Working Group (ILWG) brings together local immigrants and newcomers, regardless of status, and local allies to promote a vision of inclusion where every person can be their authentic self and can thrive in a vibrant Kingston community. The work of the ILWG revolves around three key areas:

• Advocating for improved labour market outcomes for newcomers and immigrants, such as new employment programs, stronger union support, and increased understanding of labour rights.
• Enhancing public awareness of the economic, social and cultural contributions we bring to Kingston.
• Sharing our stories of struggle and success and supporting each other during the different stages of our immigration pathways.

Newcomers Facing Labour Struggles is a comic book illustrating the story of four newcomers and their employment struggles pursuing employment justice. Collectively, they learn about workers’ rights and entitlements with the assistance of an employment agency.  The comic was produced by KEYS as part of a legal education and training project funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario and supported by OPSEU and Windmill Microlending. It is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Kirundi and Mandarin. Please contact us to order printed copies.