International students:
Become an RECE
International students bring special skills to the RECE field that are highly respected.
And you are welcome in Chatham-Kent!
As Early Childhood Educators, you bring a level of professionalism that is essential to working with young children and families.
You belong in Chatham-Kent.
To support your well-being and establish your life and career here in C-K, we welcome you to access these supports:
Finding Housing
- Settlement.org’s Rent a House section offers information to understand your rights when renting in Ontario.
- Check out the Moving to CK page on the living CK website for information on Finding a home.
- If you’re getting stuck, Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji are great options to find shared housing and newer listings.
Immigration Information and Support
- The International Student Connect program includes both online and in-person support for international students in Ontario.
- Adult Language and Learning’s Youth Program aims to equip newcomers (between 13-24) with skills, information, and strategies to aid in their integration and adaptation journey in Canada.
- To better understand how to stay in Ontario after you graduate check out: Information for Foreign Students – Settlement.Org
- For information on the ‘Express Entry’ program into Canada: How Express Entry Works – Government of Canada website
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (ONIP) Information Video
Before you Arrive
- The Moving to CK page on the living CK website offers great resources for newcomers, with information on Immigrating to CK, Finding a home, and a Moving to CK Checklist.
- Get a copy of the LivingCK New Resident Guide
Legal Services
- If you do not have a lawyer and require legal advice, contact Legal Aid Ontario for assistance in over 200 languages call: 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free).
- The Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic offers a variety of legal services to low-income residents of Chatham-Kent. They are located at 455 Grand Avenue East in Chatham and can be contacted by phone at 519-351-6771.
Language Learning and English as a Second Language
- The Chatham-Kent Public Library has tons of language learning resources that are free to access with your library card. Their online catalogue has resources on language learning, English as a Second Language (ESL), and more. CKPL also offers books in 19 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.
- Queen’s School of English offers a free online English course with various tools and activities in theme-based modules and free weekly drop-in session with a native English speaker.
- Contact Tri County Literacy Network for additional support in accessing the programs offered in CK.
Safety and Emergency Resources
- Chatham-Kent is a 911 community. In case of emergency, dial 911.
- For non emergencies, both CK Fire & Rescue and CKPS can be contacted at 519-352-1234.
- Chatham-Kent Victim Services assists victims of crime and tragedy. You can find them through their website of by calling 519-436-6630
- Chatham-Kent Victim Services also has a Hate Reporting Tool to report a hate-motivated act or to request support.
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
- The Be Safe App is a free mobile app designed to support young people in reaching out during a crisis. It is available on both Apple and Android devices, just download and look for Chatham-Kent.
- The Chatham-Kent Youth Wellness Hub is a safe, welcoming space for integrated youth services for young people all across Chatham-Kent aged 12 to 25 and their families who are looking for mental health and substance use support. No health card is required to access their services. They are located at 140 King St W in Chatham and can be contacted by phone at 519-437-6329 or by email at ck@youthhubs.ca.
- MobileCare Chatham-Kent is a clinic on wheels providing free walk-in service for those in need of mental health and addictions care, as well as primary care. No health card is required.
Coming with Children
- The Child Care page of the Municipal website offers a list of the licenced child care locations in Chatham Kent, as well as information on our Child Care Subsidy Program that can help eligible families with the cost of child care.
- EarlyOn Centres throughout Chatham-Kent offer free safe and welcoming programming for children 0-6 years.
- The Chatham-Kent Child Care Registry helps families find and apply for space with licensed Child Care Providers.
- The First Five Program provides preventative and health promotion services to children aged 0-5 who do not have a primary care doctor or nurse practitioner.
- The A.L.L. (Activities, Lessons, and Leisure) for Kids Program helps cover the cost of recreational activities for children whose parents could otherwise not afford it.
Getting Around/ Transportation
- Driving
- If you’re going to drive in Chatham-Kent, you’ll need an Ontario’s Driver’s License. Find Service Ontario locations locally to get started. If you have an International Driver’s License, you have up to 60 days to get your license. You can also apply for an International Driver’s Permit, which is only valid for a year.
- If you are interested in buying or leasing a vehicle, you can use the business directory to look for local retailers or find used vehicles on Autotrader.ca.
- Public transportation
- Ride CK, Chatham-Kent’s public transit service, provides safe, affordable, reliable, and accessible public transit services within Chatham central and connecting Chatham Kent’s communities.
- In addition to traditional bus stops, Ride CK offers OnRequest Transit from virtual bus stops allowing for more convenient locations close to riders.
- FlixBus, an intercity mobility provider, offers transportation services from Windsor, Chatham-Kent, London, Hamilton, Toronto, and Scarborough.
- The VIA Rail station is centrally located in Chatham, making travel outside the community easy and convenient for those weekends away.
- Biking
- Biking is a great way to get around Chatham Kent. The Chatham Kent Cycling Map and Chatham Kent Trails are excellent resources to get to know the many bike routes in CK.
- Looking to buy a bike? Walmart, Canadian Tire, Kijiji all stock bikes and biking equipment year-round. Also check out local bike shops like Smith Cycle, a one-stop-shop for all your bike and repair needs.
- Bike Repair Stations can be found in front of libraries, arenas, and parks across Chatham-Kent with equipment to help with everything from inflating tires to fixing a dropped bike chain.
- The Chatham-Kent Police Service has an online bicycle registry to help protect bicycles owned by residents of Chatham-Kent.
- Taxis and Ride Shares
- Chatham Kent is also home to a number of excellent taxis and ride share services, such as URide, Courtesy Cab, and Blu Light Taxi Ltd.
Work While Studying/ Employment Supports
- Make sure to look at the Government of Canada website for the rules and regulations surrounding working off campus as an international student.
- CKJobs.ca has great resources for job seekers, offering job search assistance, resume support, skills development and more.
- Check the community job board, indeed, and LinkedIn for updated job opportunities around Chatham-Kent.
- Struggling with resumes? Check out this article from Settlement.Org on writing a Canadian resume or try out the Canadian Job Bank’s resume builder tool.
Working After Graduation
- Check out the Government of Canada website for information on getting a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- The Chatham-Kent Workforce Planning Board has in-depth Labour Market Data if you want to see what industries are most in need of workers.
- CKJobs.ca has great resources for job seekers, offering job search assistance, resume support, skills development and more.
- Check the community job board, indeed, and LinkedIn for updated job opportunities around Chatham-Kent.
- Struggling with resumes? Check out this article from Settlement.Org on writing a Canadian resume or try out the Canadian Job Bank’s resume builder tool.
Culture and Community
- Chatham-Kent is home to a wide-variety of ethno-cultural communities that can be found on our Ethno-cultural Community Contact List.
- Visit our Places of Worship page for a list of some of the faith-based communities in Chatham-Kent to help you get settled when you arrive.
Things to Do
- Check out the Things to Do page on the LivingCK website for a wide range of year-round options for entertainment and recreation in Chatham-Kent.
- The VisitCK Event Calendar features upcoming tourism events and festivals offered in CK year-round.
- Visit a brochure rack at your local municipal centre or library for trail maps, Art and Culture event information, the CK Insider and more.
Shopping and Groceries
- Groceries
- Most stores in Chatham-Kent offer a variety of ingredients that cater to international students’ needs; however, Food Basics, Walmart, Giant Tiger, and Real Canadian Superstore are good options with solid international food sections.
- Looking for non-Canadian stores? Check out Indian Grocery Store, Super Amigo Mexican Groceries, A Taste of Britain and Newtown African Market for a number of international ingredients.
- Chatham-Kent also has a number of Farmers Markets and Roadside Stands offering locally ground produce at amazing prices.
- Shopping
- Check out the Shopping and Entertainment page on VisitCK for information on the many locally owned gems in Chatham-Kent.
- Looking for clothing or homeware on a budget? Check out one of Chatham’s many discount and second-hand stores:
St. Clair College
- If you are attending St. Clair College, your student government is here to help! TSI – Thames Student Inc is the student government at Chatham campus consisting of student leaders working to support your student life experience at St. Clair College. Follow St. Clair Thames Students Inc on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on all events and information at the college. If you have any questions or concerns regarding campus life, please visit your student body President to learn more.
