It’s been an unprecedented year. When I reflect back, 2020 stands out as the year of COVID19, racial and equality reckonings, and new and different challenges for those who are new to our community. At the best of times, newcomers face hardships in settling into their new communities. But imagine getting off a plane in a new country, fleeing a war or some other catastrophic experience and having to quarantine in a community where you know no one, cannot speak the language and might be experiencing PTSD or other physical or emotional and mental health issues. For some, this might feel like a holding cell. Something they may be all too familiar with.
This period of change also brings a call to action: “Build back better”. COVID19 has had a disproportionate impact on people on low income, and newcomers, many in precarious employment. There is a momentum that “going back to the way things were” is not the world we want to live in, or pass on to future generations. Together, as we move into 2021, let’s “build back better” to include prosperity, opportunities and equality for everyone.
Our Mission is to provide a warm welcome to government-assisted refugees through a number of programs and services designed to make their new life in Canada a success. ‘A warm welcome’ is what we look to you to our friends and supporters to help us with. In these exceptional times, we look to our exceptional supporters to continue to extend that warm welcome.
Together, as we move into 2021, let’s “build back better” to include prosperity, opportunities and equality for everyone.