Ottawa Through the Lens of Refugees, Immigrants and Newcomers | Summer-Fall 2017

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that there are over 16 million refugees globally. Over 55,000 refugees came to live in Canada last year and immigrants and their children make up nearly half of the population of Ottawa. In the past year and a half alone our city welcomed more than 2,100 Syrians and several hundred refugees from other nations. Refugees, immigrants and newcomers are valued members of our communities, individuals with their own stories and unique perspectives on Canada and the city we all call home.

This summer, One World Arts is pleased to announce the launch of Ottawa Through the Lens of Refugees, Immigrants and Newcomers. This initiative will provide immigrants, refugees, and newcomers with access to the tools and training to produce short documentaries that look at Ottawa from their points of view.

This exciting new project has been made possible, in part, by funding from the Ottawa Community Foundation, a local non-profit organization. Established in 1987, the Ottawa Community Foundation is an organization created by and for the people of Ottawa and is as neutral broker in support of all charitable causes that contribute to the community’s quality of life. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. For more information, visit www.ocf-fco.ca.

To find out more about Ottawa Through the Lens of Refugees, Immigrants and Newcomers and how you can be involved and/or support it, contact Project Manager Sabastien Callender at a.s.callender[at]oneworldarts[dot]ca and One World Film Festival Coordinator Zoe Mallett at oneworldfilmfestival[at]oneworldarts[dot]ca.

We are currently looking for refugees, immigrants and newcomers who are interested in participating in the project, as well as mentors, with experience in filmmaking and video production and other relevant expertise, to provide support throughout the project.