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COSTI Immigrant services
Who We Are

Quick Facts

COSTI Background Information

Established in 1952, COSTI is a community-based multicultural agency, providing employment, educational, settlement and social services to all immigrant communities and individuals in need of assistance. COSTI annually serves a total of 42,000 individuals from a very diverse population, ensuring that individuals from every corner of the world are provided with equal access to our services. Operating from 14 locations in Toronto, York Region and Peel, COSTI is one of Canada's most culturally diverse agencies, with over 60 languages spoken by staff.

  • 42,000 clients, over 80,000 client contacts/services
  • 200 full-time staff
  • 14 locations
  • 170 volunteers contribute a total of 15,000 hours each year and are involved primarily in administrative work, special events, fundraising, advisory committees and promotion/o utreach activities.
  • Total annual budget: $18 million

Clients from Canada and Around the World

84% of the clients that come to COSTI, come from elsewhere in the world:

  • 14% South Asian
  • 12.1% Hispanic
  • 10% Eastern European
  • 9.0% Chinese
  • 6.0% African
  • 5.9% Italian
  • 4.2% Iranian
  • 3.3% Caribbean
  • 1.4% Philipino
  • 1.1% Other European
  • 17% are from other parts of the world not identified above.

The thousands of individuals that come through COSTI each year are extremely diverse yet they have one thing in common - they share a dream to make new and prosperous lives for themselves in Canada. With the help of COSTI's Settlement Counsellors and Employment Consultants, they do just that.

  • 64.4% are between the ages of 25 and 54
  • 32.5% are youth - 16 to 25 years
  • 2.9% are children age 0 - 15
  • .2% of our clients are seniors over the age of 55

Allocating Resources to Direct Service

COSTI has been successful in achieving its goals through the generous financial support of private donations, federal, provincial and municipal government sources, as well as United Ways of Greater Toronto and York Region. COSTI's total annual budget is approximately $18 million.

  • 7% is committed to Employment Services for internationally trained professionals; youth and adult employment planning, preparation and placement services; small business development; and apprenticeship and trades programs.

  • 25% of agency revenue is reserved for Family and Mental Health Services, rehabilitation, and settlement counselling, seniors, and housing help services.

  • 2% is allocated to Community Development & Public Education. Services include: problem gambling programs, services for women who have been abused, and support for community-based agencies providing job search workshops for new immigrants.
  • 6% goes towards providing English language instruction, childcare services, computer and skills training, and citizenship preparation classes.

Programs and Services

Employment Services

COSTI has provided employment services in Toronto for over 45 years, and currently operates a broad range of services which include both generally-accessible services as well as special targeted services for specific populations. Services include:

  • Assessment Centres: Employment and Career Assessment and Counselling
  • Centre for Foreign Trained Professionals and Tradespeople
  • Employment Assistance Services (OUTLET)
  • Employment Resource Centres
  • Job Connect, employment planning and preparation for youth, adults, and the internationally trained
  • Job Placement Services
  • Kickstart, youth life skills and pre-employment project
  • Mentoring Partnership in Toronto and York Region, an alliance of community agencies offering occupation specific mentoring to skilled immigrants, sponsored by TRIEC
  • Ontario Works Employment Placement Services
  • Ontario Works Newcomer Professionals Program
  • Pre-Apprenticeship in Horticultural Technician (in partnership with Humber College)
  • Pre-employment Training workshops
  • Pro Connect, specifically for internationally trained professionals: recruitment matching, and monitoring
  • Pro Link, a mentoring project, specifically for internationally trained professionals
  • Sector-specific Information, Terminology and Counselling
  • Summer Jobs Service
  • Job Search Workshops Program - Province-wide

Language and Skills Training Services

Newcomers and their families frequently access COSTI's Language and Skills Training Services through five service locations. Services include:

  • Academic Assessment and Testing
  • ASPECTS Online - Online learning support for unemployed and under-employed immigrant professionals
  • Computer and Skills Training Courses: Word, Access, AccPac, Excel, Word
  • ESL for Visitors
  • Foreign Language Courses - French and Spanish
  • Home Childcare Program
  • Language training: LINC, ESL, ESL/Computer, TSE, TOEFL

Social Services

COSTI's social services have developed over the years in response to the changing needs of the most vulnerable populations. Services include:

  • Orientation, information, counselling and cultural interpretation for recently arrived immigrants
  • Post-settlement support for settled immigrants who continue to require social and government services
  • Housing and settlement services for government-sponsored refugees
  • Family counselling and mental health services
  • Housing support for families facing eviction, or those marginally housed
  • Rehabilitation services for workers who have mental and physical challenges
  • Help for immigrant women to overcome barriers in their lives and to access opportunities
  • Services specific to the needs of seniors to help them lead a satisfying and dignified life
  • Translation and interpretation services
  • Women's programs

Did You Know...

  • Half of COSTI's clients are female.
  • COSTI has been a United Way member agency since 1968.
  • Within the last year:
  • 10,994 individuals accessed COSTI's English as a Second Language classes, LINC, and accreditation courses.
  • 12,893 clients received services from COSTI's Housing Help program.
  • 1,784 individuals came to COSTI for counselling and mental health services
  • Over 684 seniors accessed our seniors' programs.
  • 12,011 clients received assistance with documentation, information, referral, counselling, interpretation and advocacy.
  • COSTI connected 9,524 unemployed individuals with over 1,800 employers.
  • 1,631 youth were successful in finding employment.
  • COSTI has a broad network of formal and informal partnerships, alliances and connections with over 93 organizations at many different levels across Canada and Ontario.
  • We have an abundance of learning resources across Toronto, York Region, and Peel. Clients have access to books, periodicals, COSTI publications and technical journals at all COSTI locations.
  • COSTI has developed a website for employers to access internationally trained professionals according to occupation and/or specific skill set. Visit www.cftpt.org.
  • Produced by COSTI, a training video for community agencies is available to assist newcomers in their work search and interviewing activities: Meaning Business - What Employers Expect.
  • COSTI produced a video directed at employers to raise their awareness of the benefits of hiring foreign trained professionals: Meaning Business - Benefits of Hiring Newcomers.