On this year’s Giving Tuesday (December 3), help us make the holiday season brighter for the families who need it the most.

Donate non-perishable food at our Holiday Food Drive:

• When: Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1
• Time: 9am to 3pm
• Where: Luciano’s No Frill, 243 Alberta Ave, Toronto, Ontario M6C 3X4

For this Holiday Food Drive, we are raising funds to support 150 families in need. Each $200 donation helps us fill a hamper with food for a family.

You can make your donation here.

Join us in making a difference this Giving Tuesday!

Our Fall 2024 Newsletter is here! Have a look and find out everything we’ve been up to over the past few months, as well as all the upcoming events you can’t miss!

In this edition you’ll find all the information about our first Winter Fundraising Party, a very special event we’re hosting on December 6th, and about another event we have organized to express appreciation for the Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant support.

The newsletter also include articles about our new video series In A Nutshell, and about the 2024 Stay Awake Campaign, by the FCJ Youth Alliance Against Human Trafficking. You’ll find as well information featuring the activities of the The Migrant Women’s Alliance and the Youth Network, a client testimonial, updates on our programs, lots of pictures, and much more.

On December 6, 2024, the FCJ Refugee Centre is hosting its first Winter Fundraising Party, an event that will bring together our community of staff, volunteers, board members, long-time supporters, and neighbors. The event is not just about raising money; it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable future for refugees and newcomers in Canada. “All proceeds from this event will go towards the Loly and Francisco Rico Endowment Fund, which is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our work, especially in uncertain times,” says Tsering Lhamo, Co-Executive Director of the FCJ Refugee Centre.

The endowment fund will serve as a financial resource to help sustain the Centre’s core programs, which support refugees, immigrants, and other vulnerable communities. “By growing this fund, we will be in a better position to respond to community needs, support our core programs, and manage financial fluctuations in our sector,” says Tsering.

The work of the FCJ Refugee Centre is diverse. Some of the Centre’s core programs include transitional housing, legal assistance for refugees navigating immigration challenges, anti-human trafficking programs, and capacity building for newcomers. Currently, FCJ Refugee Centre have four houses and are providing housing for around 30 to 35 individuals. “Our transitional housing program provides temporary shelter for newly arrived refugees, especially single women and single mothers,” says Tsering.

FCJ Refugee Centre has a protection and immigration program that helps clients with the legal challenges they face, including finding lawyers and filing claims when they are unable to afford legal fees. The Centre has constantly adapted to the evolving needs of the people it serves. As Tsering recalls, FCJ was one of the few organizations that remained open for the majority of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tsering Lhamo, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Co-Executive Director, at the centre’s office. Photo: FCJ Refugee Centre

FCJ Refugee Centre has been vocal in advocating for better shelter options for refugees, especially as the housing crisis in Canada has worsened in recent years. “The lack of shelter space for refugees has been a major challenge in the last two years, and we have responded to the needs of the time and advocated. We’ve seen some positive changes now, and we continue to push for more resources for the needs of newcomers,” says Tsering. But employment is still a major barrier for many of the newcomers.

In addition to financial donations, there are many ways for community members to contribute to FCJ Refugee Centre’s mission. Volunteers, helping with event organization, and monthly donors play a vital role in supporting the Centre’s work year-round.

Tsering believes that every newcomer has a unique strength and resilience that they bring to their new communities, not only through cultural diversity but also in terms of economic contributions to the workforce. “Canada is so diverse, which is something to be celebrated. Refugees also fill the important gaps in the workforce, and they play a role in building a strong and close-knit society.”

Purchase tickets for this event and support our core programs here.

Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden

We are proud to announce that Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Youth and Access to Education Coordinator, is one of the recipients of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) 2024 Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards, in the category of Young Leader.

The Awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing and fostering human rights culture across Ontario. Named after Dr. Daniel G. Hill, the OHRC’s first director and first Black chairperson, the awards commemorate the legacy of OHRC’s trailblazer like Dr. Hill and are bestowed on an individual nominated and supported by the community members.

In the announcement of the Awards, the OHRC states that “Stefan is committed to advocating for the human rights of all. Stefan engages in this advocacy through the lens of recognizing the inequitable barriers experienced by queer and trans communities, racialized youth, and those who hold precarious immigration status.”

“As the Youth and Access to Education Coordinator at FCJ Refugee Centre, Stefan has made impactful contributions through mentoring, English as a second language (ESL) teaching and advocacy at various levels of government. Stefan’s work has resulted in higher school enrollment rates for precarious youth and children, along with substantial policy initiatives to create a bridging program for them,” it adds.

The other recipients of the Award are Lorin MacDonald, in the catgory of Distinguished Service; and Rosemary Sadlier, for Lifetime Achievement.

Lorin MacDonald is a human rights lawyer and a disability/accessibility advocate and educator. Born with profound hearing loss, Lorin has dedicated her life, education and career to advocating for people with disabilities. Her work has resulted in a long list of transformative systemic changes, most notably having a key advocacy role in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), becoming law in June 2005.

Rosemary Sadlier is an advocate for social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion consultant, historian, author, educator, and “an indomitable, empowering changemaker.” Sadlier’s greatest accomplishment to date has been working to effect the formal proclamations of August 1st as Emancipation Day and Black History Month in Canada at all three levels of government.

“Extremely honoured”

“I am extremely honoured to be awarded the 2024 Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Award as a Young Leader,” said Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden. “It is humbling that my many peers, mentors, nominator and endorsers view my commitment to human rights and equity for all as something to be highlighted,” he added.

“It is definitely a celebratory milestone to be recognized in this manner, and as a community worker with strong roots in equity based public education for self-advocacy, youth rights and education access, I view this as a small step in a journey of a bigger picture where the contributions we as a collective community can bring about is something to work towards diligently,” he said.

Stefan also noted that “I am self-aware of my social location and the ways I do benefit from it and the times I need to lean on the people around me when morale is low and burnout is on the horizon. Human Rights are universal and inalienable, indivisible and interdependent; and equal and nondiscriminating, and until they are established pragmatic standards without exceptions, there will always be work to do.”

“Thank you to everyone that believes in me and have been strong pillars of support that have made the conditions for me to be a vocal advocate possible. Let us continue to shake the system and make equity a reality,” added Stefan.

Can I go to school if I am a refugee claimant? Do I have labour rights if I am an undocumented worker? What will happen to international students? Can visitors still apply for work permits within Canada? Where can I find a food bank? What is a humanitarian and compassionate application? How can I get healthcare?

To provide clear, direct and accurate answers to these and many other questions, FCJ Refugee Centre presents In A Nutshell, a new series of short videos focused on social media, which we will begin to publish periodically in the coming days.

Our main goal is to fight the growing misinformation on refugee and immigration issues that exists on the internet, especially on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

Through these videos we will try to offer specific, reliable and to-the-point answers to the questions most frequently asked by immigrants, refugee claimants, people without status and newcomers in general, as well as information about the key topics of our programs.

Stay tuned!

Ride for Refuge was a huge success! We walked and biked and had fun, and the weather was just wonderful! Thank you all for joining, for your support, and for your generous donations. With a special thanks to all the volunteers who helped us out. And remember, you can still donate until the end of October! You will be supporting our core programs and helping us to keep walking with refugees and uprooted people.

Gallery:

As a part of our Uprooted Junior Program, FCJ Refugee Centre and Musicbox Children’s Charity are offering a new season of free music classes.

Come build musical foundations through fun, educational and engaging activities!

Open to kids 6-12.

• Where:
  In-person at the FCJ Refugee Centre
  208 Oakwood Ave.
  Toronto, ON M6E 2V4
• When:
  Wednesdays 5:00-6:00 pm
  (private lessons)
  Thursdays 4:00-5:00 pm
  (group lessons)
• From October 23 & 24 2024 to April 2025

Hosted by skilled volunteers that speak several languages:

• Private lessons: English, French, Tagalog, Spanish
• Group lessons: English, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese

For more information, please contact Stefan:
uprooted@fcjrefugeecentre.org

We’re happy to announce the launching of a new semester of Uprooted U, a program that targets post-secondary education access for youth and newcomers facing barriers, with a focus on expanding our post-secondary offerings.

The program will run four semesters of three months each, starting in October 2024, covering various topical areas. Classes are online, on Zoom.

As part of our in-house Access to Education program, Uprooted U provides a non-accredited experience that mirrors the Canadian post-secondary education system. This initiative aims to expose participants to the system, particularly those unable to access post-secondary education due to factors like immigration status, finances, or language requirements.

The first term will run from October 2024 to December 2024. You have to register for a minimum of 3 courses and a maximum of 5 courses. Attendance at all 8 scheduled classes + 1 big assignment/exam class per course is mandatory.

Important dates

• Last day to register: Monday, September 30, 2024 at 5pm
• Mandatory orientation: Wednesday, October 2, 2024; 11am-12pm
• First day of classes: Wednesday, October 9, 2024

It is the responsibility of the student to refer to the calendar and attend every class as scheduled and on time.

Want to know what we’ve been up to these past few months, and the upcoming events you can’t miss? Our Summer 2024 Newsletter is ready!

In this edition you’ll find everything you need to know about Ride for Refuge, our biggest fundraising event of the year, which is just around the corner.

Read also all the information about the important proclamation of Toronto Undocumented Residents Day, and check the articles and photos we have featuring our great Art Show, this year’s street party, the launching of the report by the FCJ Youth Network about the access to education challenges for newcomer children and youth; the inauguration of our new space, Francisco’s Dream Room; testimonials from our placement students, and much more.

Don’t miss it!

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration department of the federal government, has announced that it has ended the “temporary” public policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada.

IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.

Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.

While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC said that it’s ending the policy now “as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system.”

IRCC also said that it will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024 under the policy.

Read the official announcement here.

August 24th is now officially Undocumented Residents Day in Toronto. It was proclaimed today at City Hall by Toronto Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, in a moving event hosted in partnership with FCJ Refugee Centre and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).

The event included remarks from the City of Toronto, the powerful testimony of an undocumented person and allies, and a panel discussion featuring Executive Director of OCASI, Debbie Douglas; Founder of FCJ Refugee Centre, Loly Rico; Executive Director at Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Syed Hussan; and City of Toronto Social Development, Finance & Administration Executive Director, Denise Andrea Campbell.

The panelists talked about the hard realities and important contributions of undocumented residents, about the need for a broad and inclusive Regularization Program, and about the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment.

Among other things, the participants highlighted the contradictions of a system that considers many of the jobs that immigrants do as essential, while treating the migrants who do those jobs as disposable.

The proclamation of Undocumented Residents Day is an important step on the long road that still needs to be traveled towards a more inclusive, welcoming and fair Toronto.

On the third anniversary of the passing of our beloved Co-Director Francisco Rico-Martínez, we gathered to remember him and his extraordinary legacy, and we officially inaugurated the FCJ Refugee Centre’s new room, called, in his honour, “Francisco’s Dream Room.”

In Francisco’s own words, “I am just a dreamer that, since that time of arrival, keep looking for soulmates to make it possible.”

Gallery:

Our annual street party is always full of fun, amazing talent, delicious food and, especially, a great sense of community. It’s the perfect occasion to celebrate our diversity, and this year was no exception. Thank you to the staff, volunteers, neighbours, friends, and everyone who made it possible. Enjoy the best moments in this video!

‘Migrant Spring’ March in Toronto, on March 2024. Picture by FCJ Refugee Centre

By Debbie Douglas, Amy Go, Samina Sami, Samya Hasan*
Originally published in The Hill Times on July 3, 2024

As leaders of immigrant and diaspora organizations across Canada, we want to address recent statements from Immigration Minister Marc Miller about the supposed lack of consensus on the regularization of undocumented people. This hesitancy ignores the moral and economic imperatives at stake. Canada has a responsibility to offer protection and stability to those who have long contributed to our society from the shadows. Contrary to concerns expressed by some about “queue jumping,” many Canadians—especially within immigrant communities—support regularization. Here’s why.

A matter of justice and solidarity

Many immigrants—like other Canadian citizens—personally know non-status people. Undocumented people are our friends, partners, neighbours, family, and coworkers. They care for our children, build our homes, and deliver our food. Their lack of status makes them vulnerable to exploitation, from unfair wages to denial of health care.

Many have fled war, persecution, or severe economic hardship, only to face a precarious existence due to barriers to legal status. Immigrant communities overwhelmingly support regularization because we understand these hardships, and empathize with those trapped by the unforgiving web of the immigration system.

Understanding the path to becoming undocumented

It’s crucial to dispel the myth that undocumented immigrants are “queue jumpers.” Becoming undocumented is not a choice but often a consequence of an opaque and unfair immigration system. Many arrived legally as refugees or migrant workers, but faced insurmountable obstacles in renewing their status or obtaining permanent residency.

Immigrants know—through personal experience or those of our parents and grandparents—that access to permanent residency is fraught with high fees, long waits, and complex requirements that many cannot meet. Thousands fall through the cracks not because they are trying to subvert the system, but because the system fails to provide fair options. When immigrants see undocumented people, they know it could be them. Regularization is not about rewarding lawbreakers; it’s about rectifying systemic failings that leave many vulnerable and uncertain.

Regularization: a pathway, not a shortcut

The idea that regularizing undocumented people amounts to “jumping the queue” is a misconception. Regularization does not mean granting immediate permanent residency without scrutiny. It means allowing individuals to apply for permanent resident status, subject to the same assessments as any other applicant. This would place them in the queue where they belong, acknowledging their long-term contributions and connections to Canada.

Regularization programs can ensure fairness and integrity, offering a transparent process where individuals must meet specific criteria, such as proving residence in Canada. This is not about creating shortcuts but about integrating those already part of our communities into the legal framework, enabling them to contribute more fully to society.

Economic and social benefits

Regularizing undocumented immigrants is not just a humanitarian gesture; it’s an economic boon. These individuals are already contributing significantly to our economy, often in sectors facing severe shortages. By bringing them out of the shadows, we can enhance their wages, productivity, purchasing power, and tax contributions. According to research done on France applied to Canada, regularization would grow the economy by more than $28-billion, and as Miller said, that’s more than the economic growth from multiple oil and gas pipelines. This growth will fund public infrastructure and services, which will result in improving the working and living conditions of all Canadians including recent immigrants.

Regularization promotes social cohesion and stability, and reduces exploitative labour practices. When people live without fear of deportation, they are more likely to invest in their communities, seek education for their children, and pursue opportunities. This leads to stronger, more integrated communities where everyone has a stake in our collective success. Undocumented people already live here, regularization is about including them in the family of rights.

The time is now

Canada has welcomed diverse communities of newcomers over the years. This has strengthened us. We cannot let fears and misconceptions dictate policies that leave hundreds of thousands in a perpetual state of limbo and fear. The decision to regularize undocumented immigrants aligns with our values of fairness, compassion, and inclusivity. The time for change is now. Immigrants are ready to support this initiative.

* Debbie Douglas is executive director of OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants; Amy Go is president of Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice; Samina Sami is executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services; Samya Hasan is executive director of Council of Agencies Serving South Asians. This is the shared opinion of multiple immigrant groups we are in touch with in the country.

The Uprooted Jr. series is hosting weekly art and reading Summer classes with volunteers and members of the FCJ Refugee Centre Youth Network as teachers.

The classes are free and open to all newcomer children ages 6 to 12. They will learn new skills creating art and reading together, while developing their interpersonal confidence.

When:

• July 9 to August 24, 2024 (except July 30)
• Every Tuesday, 2 PM to 4 PM

Where:

• FCJ Refugee Centre
• 208 Oakwood Ave, Toronto, ON M6E 2V4

For more informationn, please contact Stefan:
stefanjk@fcjrefugeecentre.org

To register, please fill out and send the following form:

Child Name *

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The ‘Art For Everyone, Status For All’ Art Show & Benefit was a big success! Thank you so much to John Gross, Susan Chernin, the York Heritage Quilters Guild, the Marvellous Madison Makers, the Quaker Committee for Refugees, and all the FCJ Refugee Centre staff and volunteers who made possible this amazing two-day event for refugees!

We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada.
Nous reconnaissons l’appui [financier] du gouvernement du Canada.