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The First Days

14 things to do in your first weeks in Ontario, Canada:

  1. Apply for a Social Insurance Number. You can do this at Service Canada
  2. Apply for a health card. In Ontario, you can apply for a health card as soon as you arrive. You can do this at Service Ontario.
  3. Apply for the Canada Child benefits. It is a benefit the federal government gives to parents with children under 18 years old. Complete the Canada Child Benefits Application form to see if you are eligible. 
  4. Open a bank account. Here you can find a list of documents you will need to open a bank account. 
  5. Apply for a Driver’s license. DriveTest Centres offer driver licensing and examination services. It includes knowledge and road tests on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). 
  6. Locate a Settlement Agency. Once in Peterborough, please call the New Canadians Centre to make an appointment. 
  7. Locate the Community Health Centre near you. The Peterborough Walk-in clinic and Peterborough Regional Hospital are both located in Peterborough city. Bring your health card, private insurance card or the Interim Federal Health document. 
  8. Locate your local employment resource centre. In Peterborough, there are several centres you can visit. You can also speak with an employment counsellor at the New Canadians Centre
  9. Locate a library. The Peterborough Public Library has valuable resources for the whole family. 
  10. Get information on your rights as an employee and a tenant
  11. Get proof of your child’s immunization to register for school. 
  12. Get maps of streets and public transportation routes. Peterborough Public Transit operates. 
  13. Consider an English class for yourself. The New Canadians Centre offers free English Language Learning programs
  14. For more information on what you should do during your first two weeks in Ontario, visit Settlement.org.