Ontario members of the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) and CAW – Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy @ Ryerson University invite you to the launch of  Migrant Workers in Ontario (and Canada)

Registration click here
WHERE:     Ryerson Student Centre (Oakham House)
Layton Room (2nd floor)
RYERSON UNIVERSITY
63 Gould Street Toronto
(Yonge and Dundas)

WHEN:       THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013
10:00 AM-12:00 NOON

Featuring: Loly Rico (President, Canadian Council for Refugees), Catherine Manuel (Caregivers Action Centre), Chris Sorio (Migrante Canada) and representatives from other migrant justice groups.

Please RSVP to amy@ocasi.org or epanlaqui@thorncliffe.org

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) issued in May 2013 a series of report cards, summarizing the approaches of the provincial and federal governments in protecting the rights of migrant workers in the “low-skilled” streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Ontario has a lot of work to do particularly in the following areas: (1) extend the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act to all migrant workers; (2) implement a registration system for employers and recruiters to better detect exploitation; (3) proactive enforcement of employment standards; (4) provide pathways to permanent residence for all migrant workers in collaboration with the federal government.

Offering Mental Health Support to Victims/Survivors of Human Trafficking: (The workshops will be available at the FCJ Refugee Centre, or we can come to your organization if there is interest.)
WORKSHOPS
For mental health professionals and support workers.
Join us to engage in an in-depth dialogue about multifaceted mental health support for survivors of human trafficking.
You can book a training at your location or either you can join us any of the following dates:
(Please confirm the day you will be able to attend)

Dates:      June 25, July 10, July 17, and July 23
Time:        From 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Place:      208 Oakwood Ave. ON. M6E 2V4   

WORKSHOP BENEFITS:
√Access to crucial training material
√Access to specialized information on mental health models
√Tools to provide better services to people who have been trafficked

For more information please contact:

Tanya Aberman  tanya.aberman@fcjrefugeecentre.org or Carolina Teves  cteves@fcjrefugeecentre.org
Phone:  416-469 -9754

Offering Mental Health Support to Victims June and July

FCJ Refugee Centre is organizing the Diverse Residents One Community Celebration where many LGBTQ newcomer artists will have the opportunity to express their talents and gain community support.

This event is possible thanks to the support of the Community festivals and Special Events of the City of Toronto, who always is looking to create spaces of non-discrimination and inclusion.All steps of this festival have been developed through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, feminist framework. Beside the City of Toronto, there are a lot of hands of volunteers from different organizations, such Sherbourne Health Centre, The 519 Community Centre, Black- CAP, and OCASI, who are helping with the promotions and preparation of the festival.

The event is going to take place at the Artscape Wychwood Barns located in 76 Wychwood Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 4C6 (Wychwood Ave and 601 Christie St.), from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

The performers of the day will put on shows such as live dance performances, singing and modelling shows. Also, with the presence of food and Art Vendors from different cultures and backgrounds is going to be a variety of food and artistic products displayed from almost all parts of the world, Spanish, Mexican, Turkish, Asian, North and South American, African and more which will suit out goal of diverse community celebration.

The coordinators of the event expect “that people who have just arrived and self-identify as members of LGBTQ communities will be able to connect with a wide arena of support – meet other people going through the same experience, and connect with community agencies that work with LGBTQ populations.”

One of the motivations on the creation of this festival is because despite the progress Canada has made in including and promoting equality for LGBTQ populations, there are multiple oppressive and homophobic systems still at play that are negatively impacting these populations.

For FCJ Refugee Centre events like this are becoming more important to offset the vast disparity that still exists, and work towards a Canada that we can be proud of – a Canada that recognizes the barriers that LGBTQ refugees face and actively welcomes communities from around the world.

For more information:
Contact: Destin Bujang
416-469-9754 ext 223
destin.bujang@fcjrefugeecentre.org
or visit our website: http://www.diversecommunity.tk/

“Access to information means access to justice; access to knowledge and the tools necessary to mobilize that knowledge and lead to integration”.

With this affirmation the co-directors of FCJ Refugee Centre received the Pioneers for Change Award in Literacy and Access to information 2013.

 During the ceremony they highlighted that access to information means access to justice; access to knowledge and the tools necessary to mobilize that knowledge and lead to integration; in only one kind of integration and is called successful integration. It means access to equity; access to civil society, wherever is defined by them; access to social services and diverse arenas of support; access to fair and sustainable housing; access to healthcare. And despite the progress that has been made in the past, avenues to access have become increasingly narrowed, particularly with the disturbing changes that have taken place over the past year.

Also they mentioned that the access to Information for the diverse populations needs to be underlined with ideas of self-determination and self-identification. Pathways to access need to be paved with anti-oppression and Positive Spaces. “ Information needs to be readily available for members of diverse communities-whether someone identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or straight, information and dissemination of information needs to reflect the multiple needs and intricate fabric of our identities” said Loly Rico during her participation at the ceremony.

Francisco Rico mentioned that as the doors close, and our society seems to be moving in retrograde, precarity increases for many newcomers. At the FCJ Refugee Centre we have always served anyone seeking assistance, regardless of their immigration status. And with recent changes, such as the addition of designated countries of origin (called by the media “safe” countries… is Mexico safe?), new gradations of status are emerging, and putting people at greater risk. And as the number of precarious migrants is steadily on the rise- we are talking about non-status people… What they called “illegals”), we need to be steadfast in our response.

They finished their participation thanking for this recognition: “we feel that this award is a symbol of the work we’re doing, and support to continue our walk with uprooted people. At moments like this, the words of Antonio Machado come to mind… “Traveller, there is no road; the road is made by walking.” Thank you for helping us make this road.”