Date/Time
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
5:00 pm

• Other

On this International Migrants Day (December 18th), join the A Day Without Migrants Campaign to show how much migrants in Canada contribute to our society and economy, and what would happen if migrants across Canada didn’t go to work, didn’t send money overseas and didn’t buy any goods, even if just for one day.

In Toronto, on Wednesday at 5pm, there will be a demonstration at the Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial (9 Blue Jays Way).

People are also encouraged to take photos with placards that say

• “Without me…”
  • Example: “Without me, you wouldn’t eat peaches.”
  • Example: “Without me, you wouldn’t get food delivered.”
• If you’re not a migrant: Write: “Without migrants…”
• You don’t have to show your face.
• Download a printable placard here: bit.ly/Dec18Placard
• Send your photo or video to imacanada@imacimamail.com to be posted on social media.

Proclaimed by the United Nations to celebrate the contributions of migrants worldwide, International Migrants Day gives us a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It’s also a day for us to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs. Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity.

According to United Nations, this past year we saw “record levels of internal displacement, rising humanitarian needs across ongoing and new crises, and, tragically, the highest-ever death toll of migrants in transit. Yet, alongside these challenges, are stories of resilience, progress and hope.”

Migrants play critical roles in labour markets, filling skills gaps, driving innovation and entrepreneurship, and addressing demographic challenges in aging societies. Migrants boost economic growth and provide a lifeline to families and communities back home, driving development.