Learning and Connections Circle Become a Mentor Request a Mentor

Mentorship is a two-way partnership in which an experienced individual passes on their knowledge, experience and professional connections to help a less experienced individual.

LIP helps
newcomers settle
in rural communities.

LIP Mission

Benefits of Mentorship

  • Build community involvement
  • Develop relationships within the community
  • Make a difference and positively impact the lives of others
  • Increase intercultural perspective and competency
  • Expand personal and professional networks
  • Recognize participation with certificates of appreciation and formal acknowledgements

Why Mentor

  • Share valuable knowledge based on personal experiences
  • Work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
  • Improve personal understanding of issues and barriers affecting newcomers in Canada
  • Develop personalized coaching, communication and motivational leadership skills
  • Help others succeed

Mentor Roles and Responsibilities

  • Identify agenda and goals with the newcomer
  • Define communication expectations and methods with the newcomer
  • Agree upon appropriate timeframes of mentorship services
  • Participate in monthly check-ins with a mentor coach
  • Ensure confidentiality

Mentoring Support Resources

The Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) team will assist mentors with a variety of tasks, including:

  • Assistance pairing mentors and newcomers
  • Availability and scheduling issues
  • Beginning, pausing or ending a mentorship
  • Support and guidance through challenges
  • Addressing concerns between the mentor and newcomer
  • Inquiries of commitment renewal

Mentor Resources

The following are potential resources for mentors:

  • Online resources offering mentoring tips
  • Information about existing relevant community services and resources 
  • Methods to measuring success
  • Workshops for personal development, leadership skill building and intercultural competency training
  • Information about potential meeting spaces including coffee shops, offices, libraries, parks and online platforms

Check out the Learning and Connection Circle MentorConnect Hub

Embracing Our Values

The following are the LIP core values:

  • Caring: Have a sincere and compassionate interest in the well-being of your newcomer
  • Integrity: Believe in trust, honesty, and fairness in your relationship and transactions with your newcomer
  • Learning: Believe in the pursuit of knowledge, personal growth, and development
  • Respect: Value the dignity and uniqueness of your mentor. Value the equity and diversity in our community

The Mentorship Process

DECIDE

The first step is about deciding why and how you want to become a mentor. Why should you join? How can you help? 

APPLY

Tell us about you. Complete the interactive Mentor Application Form to the best of your ability and comfort level.

MATCH

Connect with your mentor coach for helpful tools and training. Then meet the newcomer you have been matched with.

GROW

Build community connections with your newcomer. Have fun celebrating diversity and inclusion. Share learning!

Helpful Skills of a Mentor

  • Non-judgemental mindset
  • Active listening
  • Empathy
  • Intuition
  • Passion
  • Determination
  • Kindness
  • Advocacy
  • Willingness to learn

Thoughtful Techniques

  • Respect the self-determination and autonomy of all newcomers
  • Encourage engagement
  • Ask permission to share insights
  • Ask thoughtful questions
  • Acknowledge emotions and lived experiences
  • Follow stipulated agenda
  • Practice self-care and reflection
  • Remain aware of cultural differences

Strategy for Success

  • Help identify goals and create an action plan
  • Assist in identifying and managing risks or potential barriers
  • Review and adjust goals
  • Coach, educate and inform the newcomer
  • Celebrate successes!

Helping newcomers benefit from the knowledge, experience and networks of mentors in our community.

Are you a senior looking to be a mentor? This initiative is for you! 

Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) – Lanark & Renfrew, in partnership with United Way East Ontario, is pleased to announce that we have received funding in part from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program to expand LIP-Lanark & Renfrew’s Learning and Connection Circle Mentorship Program.

This federal grants and contributions program supports projects led or inspired by seniors making a difference in the lives of others in their communities.

The funds will be used to foster intergenerational connections, celebrate diversity, and address critical priorities related to healthy aging and inclusion. Our multifaceted initiative consists of three impactful projects designed to create a network of support, engagement, and empowerment for seniors in our community.

Project #1: Training/Upskilling for Mentors

The Learning and Connections Circle is a dynamic partnership that bridges experienced mentors with newcomers, allowing for exchanging knowledge, experience, and professional networks. Seniors are invited to share their expertise, promoting social participation and inclusion while fostering mental well-being.

Project #2: Podcast Project

Our Podcast Project aims to amplify participants’ voices in the LIP Learning and Connections Circle Mentoring Program. Through engaging interviews, we delve into their personal journeys, accompanied by the selection of meaningful songs, favourite books, and more. This creative endeavour showcases the value of volunteering and mentorship and addresses seniors’ social isolation and mental health concerns.

Project #3: Tech & Educational Support for Senior Citizens

Empowering seniors as peer educators and facilitator assistants is the cornerstone of this project. The trained members of the LIP Learning and Connections Circle Mentoring Program will extend their support across Lanark and Renfrew Counties. Through in-person and online workshops, they will address a range of topics and themes, enhancing awareness of elder abuse, promoting social inclusion, and offering capital assistance for new senior-centric endeavours.

Thank you to the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for the funding support provided to LIP-Lanark & Renfrew in partnership with United Way East Ontario. It will make a significant difference in the lives of seniors in our community. For more information, visit New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects.

If you do wish to participate, we would be happy to set up a phone call or virtual meeting to share the details of this initiative.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and we are looking forward to working with you on this project!

wpChatIcon
en Englishfr Frenchaf Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutcheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sundanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu
en English