The Migrant Women’s Counter Human Trafficking Alliance would like to thank artist Carolina Gajardo for facilitating a wonderful and inspiring art session on our Meditative Art Virtual Workshop.

A few comments from the participants who joined us:

Thanks for the first session of Meditative art through FCJ last Tuesday, we really enjoyed it, it was beautiful, energetic, and peaceful.

Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us!

Carolina is a wonderful, warm, encouraging teacher and I was amazed at how much could be conveyed by her and absorbed by us during an online session. This was a really magical hour we spent together and I felt very unified with the group even though we were physically separated. I did not know how it would be possible to do art therapy over Zoom, yet this was a beautiful and deeply enriching session.

Thank you all for joining this session and creating such beautiful art!

The FCJ Refugee Centre is hosting a new COVID-19 vaccination clinic for residents of Toronto Without OHIP Card, on February 4th, from 1 PM to 5 PM.

• Children aged 5 to 11 (born 2019-2016) can receive their 1st or 2nd dose
• 1st and 2nd doses available
• Boosters for anyone 18+ years of age
• PFIZER will be given to anyone 29 years and younger
• MODERNA will be given to anyone 30+

To get assistance booking a vaccination appointment, please send an email to vaccine@fcjrefugeecentre.org including:

• Complete Name
• Local Phone Number
• Date of Birth
• Which dose you are getting (First / Second / Booster)

Or just fill out and submit the following form:

A message from Diana Gallego, Interim Director FCJ, Refugee Centre:

This year FCJ Refugee Centre has been celebrating a milestone of 30 years of continued work with refugees and precarious migrants.

2021 has been a challenging year; we experienced a great loss and many members of our community faced great challenges.

Our resilience resides on our purpose on walking shoulder to shoulder with our clients.

Thank you for trusting us with your migrant journey in Canada. Today more than ever we need to be a place of welcoming and open doors.

Wishing you and your loved ones happy holidays.

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Great turn out at the Status For All rally organized by Migrant Rights Network, a national coalition of organizations working on migrant rights in Canada. The event is part of the current National Campaign to advocate for Full Status for all migrants in Canada.

FCJ Refugee Centre is proudly part of the organizing committee through the Migrant Rights Network.

Today, November 25th, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Violence against women is any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, which can severely impact a woman at all stages of her life.

According to the United Nations (2021), “violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and remains largely unreported due to impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”

Furthermore, 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often by an intimate partner. However, less than 40 percent of women and girls who experience violence seek help (United Nations, 2021).

The theme this year is “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!,” in which orange symbolizes a brighter future free of violence against women and girls.

At FCJ Refugee Centre we mark this day as a day to raise awareness on violence against women and girls, and to honour all victims and survivors.

We encourage everyone to continue raising their voice because we all have a role to play in eliminating the existence of a culture that continues to perpetuate violence against women and girls. You can do so by speaking out, educating others, and most importantly supporting survivors in their journey to justice.

A woman’s place is everywhere, and in every space she has the right to feel safe and welcomed.

Our Fall 2021 Newsletter is ready! Check it out and find information about the Anti-Human Trafficking Forum and the Migrant Women’s Counter Human Trafficking Alliance, the new activities of the The FCJ Youth Network and the Youth Alliance, our music classes, the Uprooted U program, all the upcoming events, and much more.

Click here to access the document if you can’t see it in this page.

Thanks to Día de los Muertos Collective for include our beloved Co- Director Francisco Rico-Martínez in the beautiful altar at Union Station.

Created by the Día de los Muertos Collective, and coordinated by Jess De Vitt, Jesús Mora, and Luis Rojas, this community-based and participatory ofrenda, or altar, fosters a space for public mourning in the midst of a global pandemic.

Bearing witness to all of the injustices that have impacted various communities, this sculpture carves spaces for collective loss and care—where feelings of celebration, grief, anger, and reflection can co-exist in remembrance.

Beyond showcasing the tradition and art of the Day of the Dead, this altar weaves together the longstanding celebration hosted by the Día De Los Muertos Collective in Wychwood Barns for over 12 years, gathering community through ritual, performance, music, visual arts, vending, and food.

The Día de Los Muertos Collective is a non-profit that coordinates the efforts of communities in T’karonto to create a celebration that honors the dead, delights the living, promotes artistic creation, and fosters community development through tradition.

We invite you to visit the installation at Union Station:

• Oct 31, 2021 – Feb 20, 2022
• Collective Remembrance: El Duelo
• ArtworxTO Hub SOUTH | Union Station
• 61 Front St W, Toronto, ON

And in the following images you can see also the Día de Muertos Altar we had at the FCJ Refugee Centre:

There is a growing concern among community stakeholders, advocacy groups, service providers, and other community agencies that the ease of the new Canada Refugee Protection web portal can inadvertently enable clients to start an irrevocable immigration process that can jeopardize the wellbeing of clients and their families. When providing orientations regarding this portal please make sure clients are aware of the risks associated with this process.

The consequences of initiating a refugee claim through the new portal are the following:

• You are providing your contact information to Immigration Canada
• Your current immigration status (Visitor, Student, Worker) is modified to Refugee Claimant.
• If you fail to provide necessary documents, forms, or information on time your refugee claim will be considered withdrawn or abandoned and you will receive a deportation order.
• If you miss your refugee hearing dates and deadlines your refugee claim will be considered withdrawn/abandoned and you will receive a deportation order.
• If your claim receives a negative decision and fail to provide a notice of appeal on time your refugee claim will be considered withdrawn/abandoned and you will receive a deportation order.

Because of these risks, we advise that clients speak with our organization, other refugee organizations, or immigration lawyers before providing any of the their personal information to this client portal.

For 30 years, we at the FCJ Refugee Centre have been walking with uprooted people. We remain unwavering, and relentless in our commitment to walk with people who have faced and continue to experience exclusion, marginalization and oppression. Today and every day we stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across this country.

Canada’s history begins with the colonization of Indigenous land, upon which we have built a foundation of false hopes and empty promises to all First Nations people.

While our country mourns together over the ongoing discoveries of the remains of Indigenous children on multiple sites of residential schools, we must not forget that anti-Indigenous racism and prejudice is not just in Canada’s past. It is very much a part of our society today. While this may be shocking to some, to far too many others it is a daily reminder of Canada’s gross mistreatment, abuse, and exploitation of Indigenous peoples, their land, and their communities.

We stand in grief and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples across Canada who were forcibly sent to residential schools. We stand with them, as they face the trauma caused by the church and the Canadian government alike, through residential schools, and many other forms of systematic and ongoing racism. We acknowledge the impact that colonialism, systemic racism, and violence have on members of this community. Although many in our community have been displaced by similar forces of racism, neocolonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, the rise of fascist movements, and unfettered commercial exploitation in our countries of origin, we recognize that our organization is not free of racism, and pledge to take an active part in decolonization and reconciliation.

We recognize how we have profited from Canada’s colonialism, and we at the FCJ Refugee Centre would like to acknowledge the land on which its establishment is housed, and where staff, volunteers and members alike gather. This land is the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations.

We urge the Canadian government to continue to investigate all 130+ residential school burial sites and bring justice to the families. Our elected officials must work with Indigenous leaders, allow room for self-autonomy and must always prioritize the best interest of indigenous children and their communities. As a community we must also educate ourselves with the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to create change and work with indigenous communities.

This time demands from us thoughtful consideration of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Report. We must demand action from our elected officials.

We must demand that all children are taught the true history of the land upon which we live.

We commit ourselves to participate in active reflection, and reconciliation of the true and terrible foundation upon which Canada was built.

On stolen land.

With stolen sons and daughters.

As we approach the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation we commit unwavering support and solidarity. Together we will reflect. We will continue to learn. And we will teach our sons and daughters the truth of our history, so it shall never be repeated again.

We honour the victims, survivors, and all families impacted by the trauma inflicted upon generations of Indigenous communities through action, not simply words.

Please join us, and join the calls to action.

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The Migrant Women’s Counter Human Trafficking Alliance is a regional project that aims to enhance capacity and knowledge regarding the specific barriers and challenges presented in international cases where women have been victimized and marginalized by Human Trafficking.

At FCJ Refugee Centre we are committed to approaching women through a peer led model that will provide them with holistic information and access to wrap around services and support.

The goal of our weekly sessions will be for participants to engage in community building and social connection. Sessions will provide a safe space and tight knit community for migrant women. This will allow the opportunity to form friendships, encourage healing, build awareness and promote resilience.

Weekly sessions will include a number of planned workshops such as: utilizing art therapy to deal with anxiety, self-care tips, how to protect your mental wellbeing and group therapy sessions.

The sessions are starting on October 2021, please contact Isabella Eldeib at isabella.eldeib@fcjrefugeecentre.org for further information.

Special program for vulnerable Afghans

The government announced on August 13 an expanded resettlement program, intended to resettle 20,000 Afghan refugees. See web page (which is being updated).

This program includes:

• A previously announced and active program for Afghans who worked for the Canadian government (“Special program for Afghans who assisted Canada”). These people can be inside or outside Afghanistan.
• A promise of a program for Afghans outside Afghanistan to be resettled (see below).

Resettlement program

The details are not yet finalized but it is expected that the program will be implemented quite soon. The government is seeking input from organizations, including the CCR. The plan is to have more flexibility than with normal resettlement programs (for example, flexibility on definitions and inclusion of extended families).

The program will resettle 8,000 Government Assisted Refugees (these are new places, additional to what was already in the immigration levels), as well as Privately Sponsored Refugees.

Family reunification

The special program covers also family reunification applications (either Family Class sponsorships or family members of accepted refugees included on their permanent residence application – the latter category was eliminated in the 19 August update of the web page, but apparently that is an error).

IRCC says they will “prioritize the processing” of the family reunification applications.

CCR has been advocating for the government to issue Temporary Residence Permits to family members of accepted refugees and to evacuate them. A group of Afghans in this situation has formed to do advocacy and give mutual support. (Email afghanfamily.evacuation@gmail.com).

Refugee claimants

The IRB is taking measures to expedite all Afghan files. This includes reviewing refugee claims to see if they can be accepted on paper or referred to a short hearing. See IRB Afghan measures.

Evacuation from Kabul

The government is trying to move as many people as possible, but there is limited capacity. The priorities are Canadian citizens and permanent residents and Afghans who assisted the Government of Canada.

Canadian Council for Refugees, Updated 20 August 2021

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Special program for Afghans – Summary of CCR recommendations

In response to the crisis in Afghanistan and the government’s August 13 announcement of an expanded resettlement program for Afghans, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR( has been making the following recommendations to the government.

1. Family members of Protected Persons (accepted refugees) in Canada

• CCR is asking that the government issue Temporary Residence Permits to family members of accepted refugees and include them among the priorities for evacuation out of Kabul.

2. Afghan resettlement should be additional to existing spaces

• The commitment to 20,000 places is good, but the numbers should be additional to places already committed in the immigration levels. The government should not count applications of Afghans who were already in process.
• This commitment should not result in delays for applicants of other nationalities.

3. Facilitating private sponsorship

• The requirement for a Refugee Status Determination document (for Group of Five and Community Sponsors) should be waived (since most Afghan refugees will likely be unable to obtain it).
• Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) need additional allocation spaces to allow them to sponsor Afghans.
• The government should alleviate the burdens of the pending Program Integrity Framework (PIF) which will compromise SAH capacity. Many SAHs may hesitate to take on new commitments due to concerns about what PIF will mean.
• The door needs to be opened to private sponsorship in Quebec (currently no new private sponsorship applications can be submitted in Quebec).

4. Family reunification

• We welcome the inclusion of family reunification immigration channels in the special measures. However, there need to be concrete commitments to expedite processing and to remove barriers.

Canadian Council for Refugees, Updated 23 August 2021

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Q&A

1. Who qualifies for this support?

Afghan citizens outside of Canada who are immediate family members (spouse, dependent child or grandchild) of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons applying for permanent residence, or resettled Afghan refugees.

2. What type of applications can receive support?

Permanent residence applications being processed or future permanent residence applications and Temporary Residence (TRV) applications being processed or will be submitted.

3. How to request priority processing for PR applications?

a. Existing Applications:

• By Paper: If you already have an application number (through application acknowledgement letter) please email via the dedicated inbox (IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca) with the subject “Afghan Special Measures 2021”. Please see emailing instructions below.

b. New Applications:

• By Paper: Applicants submitting a family class paper-based application must label the envelope with “Urgent – Afghanistan priority” to ensure officers process their application on a priority basis.
• Online Applications: Although IRCC staff is instructed to flag online applications received from Afghani clients. Applicants can also submit priority processing via the dedicated inbox (IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca) with the subject “Afghan Special Measures 2021”. Please see emailing instructions below.

4. Email Instructions for Priority Email to make sure the application is flagged as a priority

The email should include

• their name and date of birth, UCI Number, Application number
• the email address used for the Permanent Residence Portal submission or Generic Form
• the documentation for Afghan citizens wishing to come to Canada should prove their residence, their relationship with family members, their family members’ Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent resident status

Please be advised that admissibility issues are still in effect. The only exception is that medical examinations can be conducted upon arrival in Canada if it they are not possible to complete abroad.

You can find the official guide here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/afghanistan.html#s4

FCJ Refugee Centre, Updated 25 August 2021

As a part of its 30th anniversary initiatives, the FCJ Refugee Centre is joining the Toronto For All campaign (#TorontoForAll), launched by the City of Toronto and with this year’s focus being Undocumented Residents.

The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, on behalf of Toronto City Council, has proclaimed August 24, 2021 as Undocumented Residents Day in the City of Toronto. The proclamation reads as follows:

Whereas thousands of undocumented residents living in Toronto make important contributions to our city, with many experiencing tremendous hardships while living in fear due to their lack of immigration status.

Undocumented residents are an important part of our city. While that reality is often unknown to us, these fellow residents are our neighbours, frontline workers and contribute to the cultural fabric of our city. As a result of their undocumented status, they often live in fear while being unseen, unheard and unrecognized.

Undocumented residents have language and identification barriers and lack access to safe and secure housing, health care, and education for themselves and their children. The COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified the vast challenges they continue to face. Although the City of Toronto’s Access to City Services for Undocumented Torontonians policy strives to ensure access to all City services regardless of immigration status, the reality is that undocumented residents continue to face barriers in their communities.

We are all encouraged to be allies of undocumented residents by staying informed about issues relating to them and learning how we can offer our support.

Now therefore, I, Mayor John Tory, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim August 24, 2021 as Undocumented Residents Day in the City of Toronto.