As part of its mission, ORAT offers a number of information sessions to educate key stakeholders, including members of the public, cosponsors, Constituent Groups, and newcomers about various aspects of refugee resettlement. The following provides a list of available information sessions, along with a description of the content covered in each session.  Clicking on the title of each Information Session will provide you with the corresponding PowerPoint presentation. With the exception of the Introduction to Resettlement, all information sessions will be pre-recorded and will be available on demand by clicking the link provided under each information session heading.

Please click on the following link to see a schedule of Information Sessions:

1. Introduction to Resettlement

This session marks the first step in initiating a refugee sponsorship application through ORAT. Potential cosponsors will learn about refugee resettlement and other various immigration options available to refugees. This live virtual session is mandatory for all cosponsors. Cosponsors who do not attend this session will NOT be able to submit a case through ORAT. 

2. IRCC Processing Time

CGs and cosponsors whose cases were submitted to Immigration Canada are strongly encouraged to attend this session. Participants learn how to follow up on their refugee sponsorship case; how to check on the status of their case online, and how to update the Canadian Visa Office on any changes to the file. Please click here to view the pre-recorded session.

3. Budgeting and Finance

In 2018, Immigration Canada introduced the new standard of financial support for sponsored refugees.  The complex Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) has been simplified in ORAT’s RAP Calculator and Budget Workbook.  Please click here to access ORAT's RAP Calculator and Budget Workbook. This information session will provide a detailed review of IRCC's financial support requirements and any adjustments that can be made to the level of financial support to be provided to sponsored newcomers. While this information session is designed for CGs that are sponsoring Project Hope cases, it is also helpful for cosponsors. Please click here to view the pre-recorded session.

4. Pre-Arrival Training

This session prepares cosponsors and CGs to welcome and journey with their sponsored refugee family. The session provides an excellent review of the responsibilities and tasks that cosponsors will need to fulfill for their sponsored refugee(s). Please click here to view the pre-recorded session.

5. Welcome Orientation

This is a mandatory session for all sponsored refugees who have arrived in Canada through ORAT. At this session, newcomers are provided with information about their legal status in Canada, a list of government documents that they should obtain and government programs that they may have access to, financial and non-financial support from sponsors that they can expect to receive, newcomer rights and responsibilities, etc. If the newcomer requires translation, the sponsor is requested to arrange for an interpreter to be present when viewing this session. Please click here to view the pre-recorded session.

6. About Parish Refugee Ministry

This presentation is intended for parishes and other communities who may be interested in developing a refugee ministry. The session provides participants with the size and scope of the global refugee crisis, and highlights the importance of getting involved in this ministry.

7. Parish CG Formation and General Training

In this session, participants will learn how best to organize their Constituent Group (CG), the key accountabilities that should be assigned, and how best to support their sponsored refugee family in their settlement to Canada.

8. About Constituent Group  Partner Organizations (CGPO)

This presentation session is intended for Christian churches (i.e., Eastern Rite Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant communities) whose communities are affected by the global refugee crisis, and who may be interested in formalizing a partnership with ORAT as a Constituent Group Partner Organization (CGPO) to establish a refugee ministry. This would assist members of the CGPO community to sponsor their relatives who are refugees and need protection to come to Canada under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program.

9. About Hosting a Ukrainian Family

Those interested in hosting a Ukrainian family that have arrived to Canada should watch this webinar. In this information session they will learn about the current  Ukrainian crisis and how Catholics are able to help those displaced by the war in Ukraine.  While ORAT does not offer its own hosting program it is able to refer interested attendees to an NGO that is offering this program. Please click here to view the pre-recorded information session.