Resources
Verified links and useful starting points for the Nepali community in Thunder Bay.
The links and information on this page are a general starting point. NEST is a volunteer-run community organization. We do not create, maintain, or verify the content of external websites. Always check official sources directly for the most current information. If there is ever a conflict between this page and an official source, follow the official source. NEST does not provide legal, immigration, medical, financial, housing, employment, or professional advice. For urgent needs, contact the appropriate official service or call 911.
🚨 Emergency and Safety
- ▸ Emergency (Police / Fire / Ambulance), 911
- ▸ Thunder Bay Police (non-emergency), 807-684-1200
- ▸ Crisis Line (mental health), 807-346-8282
- ▸ Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario), call 811 or 1-866-797-0000
- ▸ 211 Ontario (community services), 211 or 211ontario.ca
🏙️ City of Thunder Bay
- ▸ City of Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca
- ▸ Thunder Bay Transit, thunderbay.ca/transit
- ▸ City services, garbage, permits, parks, recreation
- ▸ Parking and winter road maintenance information
🍁 Government of Canada
- ▸ Government of Canada, canada.ca
- ▸ Service Canada, canada.ca/service-canada
- ▸ Social Insurance Number (SIN), canada.ca/sin
- ▸ Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) / Tax, canada.ca/cra
- ▸ Employment Insurance (EI), canada.ca
- ▸ Canada Child Benefit (CCB), canada.ca
🇨🇦 Immigration / IRCC
- ▸ Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, ircc.canada.ca
- ▸ Study permits, work permits, permanent residence, citizenship, ircc.canada.ca
- ▸ Passport renewal (Canadian), canada.ca/passport
For Nepali passport renewal: contact the Embassy of Nepal in Ottawa or the nearest Consulate. NEST has previously helped coordinate passport renewal information sessions, watch @tbaynepali for announcements.
🏛️ Ontario Government
- ▸ Ontario government, ontario.ca
- ▸ ServiceOntario (health card, driver's licence, vehicle registration, certificates), ontario.ca/serviceontario
- ▸ Ontario Works, ontario.ca/social-assistance
- ▸ Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), ontario.ca/oinp
🏥 Health Care
- ▸ Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), ontario.ca/ohip
- ▸ Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, tbrhsc.net
- ▸ Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario), call 811 or 1-866-797-0000 (24/7 nurse advice line)
- ▸ Lakehead University Student Health and Wellness Centre
- ▸ Confederation College Health Services
🏫 Schools and Children
- ▸ Lakehead District School Board, lakeheadschools.ca
- ▸ Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, tbaycatholic.on.ca
- ▸ ESL / ELL programs, contact school boards directly
- ▸ Lakehead University, lakeheadu.ca
- ▸ Confederation College, confederationcollege.ca
🏠 Housing
- ▸ Landlord and Tenant Board, ltb.gov.on.ca
- ▸ Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, ontario.ca
- ▸ Thunder Bay District Social Services
- ▸ 211 Ontario for housing resources, 211ontario.ca
NEST does not provide housing placement. These links point to official and community sources only.
🚌 Transportation
- ▸ Thunder Bay Transit, thunderbay.ca/transit
- ▸ Ontario driver's licence, ontario.ca/driveON
- ▸ Foreign driver's licence exchange (Ontario), ontario.ca
- ▸ Thunder Bay Airport, thunderbay.ca/airport
💰 Banking and Money
- ▸ Major banks: TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, Northern Credit Union
- ▸ Canada Revenue Agency (tax filing), canada.ca/cra
- ▸ Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (newcomer banking guide), canada.ca/fcac
💼 Employment & Major Employers
Job listings change often. Always open the employer's own careers page (linked below) for current openings, requirements, and how to apply. Treat the list below as a starting point, not a guarantee of openings.
Some of the largest employers in Thunder Bay and their careers pages:
- ▸ Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (hospital): tbrhsc.net/careers
- ▸ St. Joseph's Care Group (health & long-term care): sjcg.net/careers
- ▸ City of Thunder Bay (municipal government): thunderbay.ca careers
- ▸ Lakehead University: lakeheadu.ca careers
- ▸ Confederation College: confederationcollege.ca careers
- ▸ Lakehead District School Board: lakeheadschools.ca
- ▸ Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board: tbcdsb.on.ca
- ▸ Resolute Forest Products (Thunder Bay pulp & paper): resolutefp.com/careers
- ▸ Alstom (mass-transit manufacturing): alstom.com/careers
- ▸ TBaytel (telecommunications): tbaytel.com careers
- ▸ Ontario Public Service (provincial government jobs): gojobs.gov.on.ca
- ▸ CN (Canadian National Railway): cn.ca/careers
General employment & job-search help:
- ▸ Ontario Works: ontario.ca
- ▸ Service Canada Job Bank (federal listings): jobbank.gc.ca
- ▸ Credential recognition for internationally trained professionals: canada.ca
- ▸ Lakehead University Career Services and Confederation College Employment Services (for students)
- ▸ Northwestern Ontario major-employers directory: movetonwontario.ca
A tip from our community. Beyond websites, watch the community job boards (at grocery stores, the library, community centres, Lakehead University, and Confederation College), and do not underestimate walking in and dropping off your resume in person. Many of our community members have found jobs that way: a friendly face and a printed resume still go a long way in Thunder Bay.
NEST does not place people in jobs and is not affiliated with these employers. Company names, ownership, and links can change, so always confirm details on the provider's own website.
🎓 Student Support
- ▸ Lakehead University International Student Centre, lakeheadu.ca
- ▸ Confederation College International, confederationcollege.ca
- ▸ Student visa conditions, ircc.canada.ca
- ▸ Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), ontario.ca/osap
🤝 Settlement Support
- ▸ Thunder Bay Multicultural Association (TBMA), settlement, language, newcomer support
- ▸ 211 Ontario, 211 or 211ontario.ca
- ▸ IRCC settlement programs, ircc.canada.ca
🧠 Mental Well-Being
- ▸ Canadian Mental Health Association, Thunder Bay
- ▸ Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario), call 811 or 1-866-797-0000
- ▸ Crisis Line, 807-346-8282
- ▸ ConnexOntario, connexontario.ca
Adjusting to life in a new country is genuinely hard. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength.
⚖️ Legal and Professional Help
- ▸ Law Society of Ontario (find a lawyer), lso.ca
- ▸ Legal Aid Ontario, legalaid.on.ca
- ▸ Community Legal Clinic (Thunder Bay area)
NEST does not provide legal advice. Please consult a qualified legal professional.
🌏 Community and Culture
- ▸ NEST events, follow @tbaynepali on Instagram
- ▸ Himalayan Thunders (Nepali football club in Thunder Bay)
- ▸ Thunder Bay Multicultural Association
- ▸ City of Thunder Bay recreation programs, thunderbay.ca
Nepal-Related
- ▸ Embassy of Nepal in Ottawa
- ▸ Nepali passport renewal, contact the Embassy of Nepal
- ▸ Nepal tourism and government information
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