In 2020, the federal government proclaimed February 22nd as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada. The crime of Trafficking in Persons was added to the Canadian Criminal Code in 2005, less than 20 years ago. The law criminalizes forced organ removal, forced marriage, indentured servitude, labour exploitation, and sexual exploitation. These crimes are commonly…
New research shows that employer discrimination, unsafe working conditions and gaps in government policy put migrant workers at risk of being exploited once they arrive in Canada. FCJ Refugee Centre and the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking’s newly released report, It Happens Here: Labour Exploitation Among Migrant Workers During the Pandemic, reveals that migrant…
The FCJ Refugee Centre, together with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO), is organizing monthly virtual information sessions for migrant workers. In these sessions you will learn important infomation on issues like: What are your labour rights in Canada? What is labour exploitation and human trafficking? Immigration remedies such as…
Toronto Public Health (TPH) worked with FCJ Refugee Centre, Access Alliance, and Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture to help people without OHIP cards get their COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine certificates. If you used this service, look out for an email from TPH with a survey link and share your experience. The survey does NOT…
The FCJ Refugee Centre community received with deep sadness the passing of Nell Toussaint, a giant defender of a basic human right: access to health care. For more than 2 decades, she was fighting for the right to life and non-discrimination under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. FCJ Refugee Centre stands in solidarity…
The FCJ Youth Network doesn’t stop for the winter! There is still time to register for our activities: Free music classes for kids As a part of our Uprooted Junior Program, FCJ Refugee Centre and Musicbox Children’s Charity are offering free music classes. Come build musical foundations through fun, educational and engaging activities. Classes are…
A message from Loly Rico, Executive Director of the FCJ Refugee Centre.
* Registration for this program is now closed, as the maximum number of places has been reached. As a part of our Uprooted Junior Program, FCJ Refugee Centre and Musicbox Children’s Charity are offering free music classes. Where: In-person at the FCJ Refugee Centre’s Great Hall (208 Oakwood Ave., Toronto, ON M6E 2V4) When: Fridays…
In 2020, as he did every year, our beloved late director Francisco Rico-Martínez adopted for the last time the role of Santa Claus, to bring joy, hope and gifts to the children of refugees, immigrants and undocumented people during the holiday season. The FCJ Refugee Centre’s Francisco Rico-Martínez Endowment Fund, created in Francisco’s memory, seeks…
Our Fall 2022 Newsletter is ready! Check it out to find information about this Season of Giving and the different ways you can contribute to keep refugee help in refugee hands, including our new Francisco-Rico Martinez Endowment Fund. Learn also how you can support your community with initiatives like Bag of Toronto, and read about…
During this holiday season when you support local business you are supporting us! Bag of Toronto sells neighborhood-themed gift bags filled with goods from small businesses. During these holidays if you buy a bag of goods, proceeds will be donated to FCJ Refugee Centre! Thanks to Bag of Toronto for choosing FCJ Refugee Centre…
The FCJ Youth Network invites you to read the Summer 2022 Edition of our Bestie Book! As both a recap of our past couple of months, and a celebration of the members of our network, the Bestie Book is a space to amplify the voices of all migrant youth. So we want to hear from…
Migrant workers work essential jobs and contribute to our communities. But many are denied their fundamental and basic human right to change employers freely. There is no debate, employer-specific work permits put migrant workers at a higher risk of abuse and mistreatment. Enough is enough, it is time for Canada to end this unjust and…
FCJ Refugee Centre is making a call to everyone during this season to reflect on generosity and support the work the Centre does in making society a better place for vulnerable populations. This year on November 29, just after Black Friday kicked off the holiday shopping season, Giving Tuesday will be the opening day for…
The Migrant Women’s Counter Human Trafficking Alliance invites you to our bi-weekly workshops! This week we are presenting: Yoga for Beginners, and we welcome all newcomer migrant women to join! During this session we will have a short introduction to understanding and dealing with anxiety, followed by a 15 minute relaxation time and introductory yoga….
