Our History
History and Growth of SWIS in Ontario
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The roots of the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program can be traced back to 1991, with the Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) program in Ottawa — a collaborative initiative between the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO), the Ottawa school board, and United Way. The success of this model demonstrated the value of placing settlement support directly within schools to help newcomer students and families feel welcomed, informed, and connected.
Building on the MLO approach, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (now Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – IRCC) began developing the SWIS model in Toronto in 1997. Early implementation involved six settlement agencies across Toronto and York Region, creating a foundation for school-based settlement services that strengthened relationships between educators, families, and communities.
Since then, SWIS has grown significantly across Ontario. What began as a small regional initiative has expanded into a province-wide network of over 40 settlement agencies delivering services in communities large and small — from major urban centres to rural and northern regions. Today, SWIS programs support newcomer students and families across Ontario, including:
Belleville/Quinte Region • Chatham-Kent • Cornwall • Durham Region • Etobicoke • Guelph/Wellington • Halton • Hamilton/Stoney Creek/Ancaster/Flamborough • Kingston • Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge/Stratford • London • Malton/Mississauga/Brampton • Mississauga/Orangeville • North Bay/Timmins • Ottawa • Owen Sound • Peel Region • Perth/Petawawa • Peterborough • Sarnia • Sault Ste. Marie • Simcoe/Muskoka • St. Catharines/Niagara Falls/Fort Erie/Thorold/Welland • St. Thomas–Elgin • Sudbury • Toronto • Windsor/Essex County • York Region.
Through decades of growth and collaboration, SWIS has evolved into a leading model of school-based settlement support from 380+ Settlement Workers — strengthening newcomer integration, fostering inclusive school communities, and supporting the success of children, youth, and families across Ontario.