THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
“We believe that the preferred solution is to provide
multiple points of access to an integrated system, which,
from the client’s perspective, is seamless.”
“Through partnerships, formal or informal, organizations
can share expertise, pool resources (such as interpreters
and technology), coordinate services, provide training,
distribute legal information, and conduct outreach to
target populations.”
Karen Cohl and George Thomson: Connecting Across Language and Distance: Linguistic and Rural
Access to Legal Information and Services – The Report of the Linguistic and Rural Access to Justice
Project to the Law Foundation of Ontario, Dec. 2008
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
 A three-year Ottawa-based access to justice project,
currently funded by The Law Foundation of Ontario:
for low income individuals who do not speak English or
French
 for low income individuals with a disability which affects
their ability to communicate
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THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
 GOVERNANCE – by an Advisory Group of partner
organizations:
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Community Legal Services (Ottawa Centre)
Le Conseil Economique et Social d’Ottawa-Carleton
The In Community
Jewish Family Services
Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre
South Ottawa Community Legal Services
Social Planning Council of Ottawa
Community Information Centre Ottawa / 211
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
Current size of network: 41 organizations
17 Community Services
 10 Immigrant Services
 9 Legal Services
 4 Services for People with Disabilities
 1 Interpretation and Translation Service
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THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
THE PLAN
 Direct frontline community workers to the legal information
and legal advice needed by their clients using our websites
[connectingottawa.com ; connexionottawa.com]
 Provide cross-sectoral consultation services to frontline
workers using a lawyer and a social worker
 Develop a pool of “trusted intermediaries” trained to support
clients to connect with the legal and social services to which
they are referred
 Coordinate a program of public legal education for frontline
workers, service providers and communities
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT
THE PLAN
 Promote 211 as a coordinated hub for information,
assessment and referral services
 Subsidize the costs of connecting a client with legal and
social services: interpretation, translation and/or
transportation, when necessary
 Coordinate a sustainable network of community partners
 Share our lessons learned
THE CONNECTING OTTAWA / CONNEXION OTTAWA PROJECT

David Hole, Project Coordinator
613-816-0180
 david@connectingottawa.com
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Natalie Drolet, Lawyer
613-402-9437
 natalie@connectingottawa.com
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Marian Green, Social Worker
613-402-9376
 marian@connectingottawa.com
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www.facebook.com/connectingottawa
@connectottawa
We Thank Our
Connecting Ottawa Funders: