Refugees Welcome Rally at Wpg City Hall

On Sunday, Sept 6, many gathered at City Hall to call for the opening of our doors to refugees.  Here are some pictures.

Raging Grannies

Pillows with messages:  Refugees Welcome and We Have Room

Group listening to member of Winnipeg's Syrian community

Refugee from Iran, who came at age 15 with Grade 2 education, now a law student at U of M

Noelle DePappe, who works withe refugees in Winnipeg

Candle-light vigil

Contemplative moment during vigil

Posted by Kathleen and Gareth

Refugee claims hit ‘historic low’ as Ottawa’s policy faces fresh criticism

From the Globe and Mail, written by Josh Wingrove (January 23, 2014)

The Conservatives in Ottawa are celebrating these developments, but refugee advocates say this is nothing to celebrate.  Here are two excerpts from the article.  You can read the whole article, by clicking here.

The number of people claiming refugee status in Canada reached what Ottawa calls a “historic low” in 2013 after it brought in changes to speed up the program by deterring applicants from safer countries.
The changes remain unpopular with refugee advocates who say valid claims are being brushed aside. Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has also lashed out at Ontario, one of many provinces continuing to provide health care for claimants who Ottawa says want to “game the system.”
...
“From our perspective, it’s a sad day when we say we’ve been receiving the smallest number of refugee claimants in decades. It means that fewer people have a chance at safety and security and a future,” said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees. 

- Submitted by Gareth

CCPA Report Launch - Migrant Voices

Report Launch!

Migrant Voices: Stories of Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Manitoba

prepared by

The Migrant Worker Solidarity Network and
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba

Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Time: 12 noon
Location: Legislative Building, 450 Broadway

Hear the experience of migrant farm workers in their own words.
Encourage the Manitoba government to provide public health care to all seasonal migrant workers.

For more information:
Ccpa Facebook page
(or)
email mw.solidarity@gmail.com.

- submitted by Gareth

Two Events, related to theme "New Neighbours", recommended by the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council

Augustine's Lent theme is "Know your Neighbour, Love your Neighbour".  Today's specific theme was "New Neighbours".  After coffee-time at noon, Carlos Vialard, Manager of Settlement Services for the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, introduced Augustinians to the work of Welcome Place.  Toward the end of this interesting presentation, he shared information about two events ahead:

Bashir Lazhar

By Evelyne de la Chenelière, translated by Morwyn Brebner
March 14 – 24 2013 at the Rachel Browne Theatre

Opening Night is Thursday, March 14, 8 p.m.
RSVP by March 11 - ph. 204-989-2400 or theatrep@mts.net (first come, first served)

Bashir Lazhar is the acclaimed English translation of de la Chenelière’s exquisite, humanistic and topical play about a substitute teacher helping a traumatized middle school class in the wake of his own path through violent upheaval. Dispensing with conventional teaching methods, he tries to prepare his students for an unpredictable world.

Bashir Lazhar is a story concerned with the language of loss, the process of grieving and the things that compel us forward when our world is no longer recognizable. It is a celebration of survival through love.

For more information, follow this link:
theatreprojectsmanitoba/bashir-lazhar

Stories From New Canadians

Sunday, March 17 - 4 p.m. at Cinematheque

These films offer unique stories and perspectives coming from different corners of the world - from Bosnia, Bhutan, Cambodia and Zimbabwe.  The stories range from the experiences of new refugees in Canada, those who have made a life here and why their experience back home had driven them away.

For more information, follow this link:
Stories from New Canadians