History

How CCS Programs Have Helped Since 1954 – A Brief history

1950s: Catholic Immigration Bureau established under the Catholic Family Services of Toronto. 

1970’s: New Canadian Immigration Policy – Increasing diverse immigrant and refugee arrivals.  CIB program and services expanded.

1982: Catholic Immigration Bureau became a department of Catholic Charities, was renamed, Department of Immigrant and Refugee Services; began delivering services in Peel Region.

1984: Re-established Catholic Immigration Bureau as an independent agency.

1985: Began managing the Refugee Sponsorship Program for the Archdiocese. Increasingly diverse newcomers arriving in Canada.

1995: Name change from Catholic Immigration Bureau to Catholic Crosscultural Services.

2006: Begin period of significant expansion of programs/services/locations

2009: The agency delivered services through nine locations (including two kiosks) in Brampton, Mississauga and Scarborough, in addition to 60+ community locations in the Greater Toronto Area. The organization increased almost threefold since 2006. 

2009: The agency delivered services through nine locations (including two kiosks) in Brampton, Mississauga and Scarborough, in addition to 60+ community locations in the Greater Toronto Area. The organization increased almost threefold since 2006.

The Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership (TEQ LIP) was developed; CCS took on the role of lead agency for the program.

2011:  Due to CIC funding reduction, both mall kiosks closed.  Continue to provide services through seven office locations and over 100 community locations.

2013:  Newcomer Mental Health program launched.

2014: 18 month Culinary Training for Youth Project and one year Financial Literacy Project launched.

2015: CCS has experienced six years of funding cuts for CIC resulting in program downsizing or closures and staff lay-offs.  Many austerity measures put in place to reduce overhead and fixed costs.

2016: Demand for Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) services skyrocket in response to the growth in the interest in Private Sponsorship of Syrian refugees.

2017: RSTP trainers are now located in seven major cities: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Halifax.

CCS opened a third language (LINC) site in Peel Region, and it also started the Crisis support counselling and Financial Literacy services in Toronto.

2018: RSTP expanded its services further in Ontario region and placed trainers in Peel and Ottawa.