Khatima Louaya

Khatima Louaya

In 2019, Khatima Louaya, a community relations worker at Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), was recognized as one of the Welcoming Ambassadors for Ottawa. Khatima immigrated to Canada many years ago from Morocco where she was a lawyer, but changed careers in her new country. Once a week, Khatima visits local shelters to assess the needs of families of new arrivals. She also provides information to families on the options available for community support and services and is available to meet with students and their families at her office.

She shares her own immigration trajectory while encouraging, reassuring, and guiding new immigrants. She recalls arriving to Canada with a box but when she arrived she received a lot of help from other people. It is this kindness that she believes in passing forward.