First Contact Ontario

A person in a Red Cross vest holding hands with a child

Established in 2001, the Canadian Red Cross First Contact Program provides an efficient and humanitarian approach to address the most pressing issues of refugee claimants and other categories of migrants. First Contact achieves these objectives by providing timely access to information on a variety of issues affecting individuals’ survival and well-being.

First Contact aims to:

Provide accurate information about emergency shelter, social services, legal and health services;
Walk through orientation and general information that includes a high-level review of the refugee determination process, Interim Federal Health, legal aid, the shelter system, social services, English classes, work permits and more;
Provide 24/7 telephone information and referral services, focused primarily on after-office-hours referrals for newly arriving refugee claimants.

Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (except on public holidays)

COVID-19 health and safety screening in place.
Pre-screening and masks are required for entry.

Contact Us
Toll-Free: 1-866-902-4993
Phone: 416-480-2500 options 1 & 1
Email: firstcontactontario@redcross.ca

Location

Etobicoke Satellite Branch
557 Dixon Road, Unit 122, Etobicoke, ON
(Dixon Road and Martin Grove Road)

Accessible by transit from:
Pearson Airport, Terminal 3 Arrivals: TTC Bus 52
Kipling Subway Station: TTC Bus 46

(see map below)