Reception House

Providing a warm welcome to our newest neighbours

Events

Reception House Waterloo Region’s Donor Appreciation Event

Feb 6th, 2025

Reception House Waterloo Region hosted an unforgettable Donor Appreciation Event to celebrate the incredible support of our donors. Held at the stunning Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, the evening was a perfect blend of art, inspiration, and community.

Guests were treated to a captivating glassmaking workshop, where they explored the artistry behind glass creations, and enjoyed delicious Food by Stone Crock. The ambiance was warm, the conversations meaningful, and the gratitude palpable.

Highlights of the Evening

  1. Insights from Andrew Thompson
    Our keynote speaker, Andrew Thompson from the Balsillie School of International Affairs, shared powerful insights into the global aspects of refugee resettlement and its impact on our region. His words reminded us of the importance of our work and the broader context in which we operate.
  2. Trami Szarabura’s Inspiring Journey
    The evening’s most moving moment came from Trami Szarabura, a former client of Reception House Waterloo Region. Trami shared her journey from being a newcomer to becoming an educator, a community leader, and an advocate. Her story is a testament to the resilience of refugees and the transformative power of support and opportunity.

Why We Do This Work

Events like these remind us why we are so passionate about what we do. Every donation, every act of support, helps refugees build new lives in Waterloo Region. It’s about more than just providing resources—it’s about fostering hope, dignity, and belonging.

A Heartfelt Thank You

A huge shoutout to all our donors who joined us and to those who continue to support us from afar. Your generosity fuels real change, and we couldn’t do this without you.

Stay tuned for more updates on our work and how you can continue to be part of this journey. Thank you for being the heart of Reception House Waterloo Region!

Open House Event

Reception House Waterloo Region Hosts Open House Event, Welcomes Community Leaders and Partners

Reception House Waterloo Region was honored to host an Open House at its new space located at 700-101 Frederick Street, welcoming distinguished guests, supporters, and community members. Among those in attendance were MP Bardish Chagger, MP Valerie Bradford, MP Mike Morrice for Kitchener Centre, representatives from Waterloo Regional Police Service, the Fairmount Foundation, Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, United College, PeaceWorks Technology Solutions, Rohingya Centre, Muslim Social Services KW, YMCA of Three Rivers – Waterloo Region, Centre for Community Based Research, Waterloo Suites Hotel, and the Centre for Peace Advancement.

The event highlighted Reception House’s dedication to creating a welcoming environment for newcomers. MPP Aislinn Clancy presented a Grand Opening Certificate, marking the occasion and recognizing Reception House’s commitment to the community.

Reception House extends its heartfelt thanks to all who attended, with special appreciation to the donors and partners whose generosity continues to drive its mission forward.

NOT ANOTHER GALA 2024

Reception House Waterloo Region is thrilled to announce that our annual fundraising event, Not Another Gala 2024, was a resounding success! The event saw an incredible turnout of 150 attendees who gathered to celebrate a night filled with joy, inspiration, and a shared commitment to our mission of welcoming and supporting refugees in our community.

The evening was highlighted by heartfelt speeches, where we proudly shared our achievements, goals, and the impact of our work over the past year. We were deeply honored to have Heather Beamish as our special guest speaker, whose words touched and inspired everyone present. A huge thank you as well to our amazing MCs, Jen Vasic and Colleen James, for guiding the evening with energy and grace.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who attended and supported Not Another Gala 2024.

A special shoutout goes to our incredible sponsors, whose support made the night possible:

  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc.
  • Centre for Community Based Research
  • United Taxi Kitchener-Waterloo
  • W.A. Ventures & Enterprise
  • Waterloo Suites Hotel
  • HIP Developments
  • PeaceWorks Technology Solutions
  • City of Waterloo

We are also immensely thankful to the many businesses and individuals who contributed to our silent auction, making it a truly memorable part of the evening. Your generosity continues to inspire us.

“Together, we are building a welcoming community for all”

Ride for Refuge 2024

Thank you to all the amazing riders, walkers, and donors who supported this year’s Ride for Refuge! A special thank you goes out to United College at University of Waterloo for hosting the Ride! We appreciate the coming together of community to support refugees making Waterloo Region their new home. The funds raised by this event will support health services at Reception House.

Annual General Meeting

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us at our Annual General Meeting on September 12, 2024. It was an inspiring opportunity to connect with our supporters and partners and funders as we celebrated our collective efforts and commitment to supporting refugees in making Waterloo Region their home.

A special thank you to Acting Mayor Debbie Chapman for bringing greetings and engaging in meaningful conversations with our attendees. We are also deeply grateful to Sue Nally for delivering the land acknowledgment and guiding us in reflecting on the importance of reconciliation as we continue to welcome newcomers to our community.

We appreciate your continued support and looking forward to our shared journey ahead.