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WRD - Events in Canada
British Columbia
Surrey, BC
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Event: We are inviting refugees, convention, government – assisted, and claimants, to a picnic with finger foods from a variety of cultural backgrounds! It’s an opportunity to share common experiences of struggle and triumph!
Dates and Venues: June 19, 2010 from 12pm – 2pm at Hazelnut Meadows Park, 14069 – 68th Avenue, Surrey, BC
Organizing Committee: DIVERSEcity Communicty Resources Society
Contact person: Maureen or Jindy
Tel: (604) 597 0205 ext. 3101
Email: cddadmin@dcrs.ca
Vancouver, BC
Kinbrace: an Initiative of Salsbury Community Society
Event: Restoring HOPE, honouring, HOME. A celebration at KinBrace, on World Refugee Day, to mark the opening of one of our newly renovated homes. Kinbrace (Salsbury Community Society) provides housing and support for newly arrived refugee claimants.
Dates and Venues: June 20, 2010, 2 – 4 pm
Contact person: Loren Balisky
Tel: (604) 255 9691
Email: kinbrace@salsburycs.ca
Vancouver, BC
Event: Refugee Sunday at Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, People of all faiths are invited to pray for refugees and honor our common purpose to help refugees
Dates and Venues: June 20, 2010, 10:30am and 5:00pm, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church 1803 East 1st Avenue
Contact person: Eric Westberg
Tel: (604) 267 1241
Email: route068@gmail.com
Vancouver, BC
UNHCR and Amnesty International
Event:
11am – 11:45am: Short Films. A series of short films on refugee issues, presented by Amnesty International
11:50am – 12:10pm: Words of Welcome and The Mayor’s Proclamation
12:15pm – 12:45pm: Mock Refugee Hearing. Experience the uncertainty and complexity of a refugee hearing
12:50pm – 1:20pm: Interactive Refugee Panel: listen to the stories of refugees and ask questions in this interactive panel
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Mock Refugee Hearing. Experience the uncertainty and complexity of a refugee hearing
2:00pm – 3:00pm: “Gloriously Free,” a film presented by Amnesty International. The film delves into true issues of human rights and social freedom through the stories of men and women seeking protection on the basis of their sexual orientation
Venue: June 18, 2010, 11:00am – 3:00pm at Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC.
Organizing committee: UNHCR, Amnesty International
Contact person: Lesley Stalker
Tel: (604) 666-2151
Alberta
Red Deer, AB
Immigration and Settlement Catholic Social Service
Event: The refugee camp in The City will be an outdoor reconstruction of an outdoor reconstruction of an actual refugee camp. Guided by staff and volunteers from Central Alberta Refugee committee and Catholic Social Services, visitors will be given the ID of a fictitious person who is refugee, while registration for entry to the camp at the registration table. They will imagine that they are among the millions of people fleeing violence and persecution in various countries. The exhibit will be made up of stations to represent emergency refugee housing, food distribution, water distribution, health clinic vaccination tents, education and family reunification
Dates and Venues: June 18, 2010 from 10am to 7pm at Central School grounds
Organizing Committee: Immigration and Settlement Catholic Social service
Contact person: Remza Mujezinovic
Tel: (403) 346 8818
Saskatchewan
Regina, SK
Regina Open Doors Society (RODS)
Event: Community awareness of immigrants and refugees, entertainment and announcing the newcomer bursary winners
Dates and Venues: June 15, 12 pm to 1 pm at Scarth Street Mall Public Stage
Organizing Committee: Regina Open Doors Society
Contact person: Shelly Hill
Email: ShellyH@rods.sk.ca
Manitoba
Winnipeg, MN
Events: Rally for Refugees 2010 Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are inviting refugees, refugees organizations, government's officers to March with us to commemorate World Refugee Day.
At the steps of the Legislative building we will have different speeches including the I'm Grateful speech to thank the Government of Canada and all Canadians for their services and generosity in caring for refugees in Canada and around the world.
- Singing the National Anthem
-Greetings from the Mayor office and the premiere of Manitoba brought by the Minister of Culture and Heritage The Honourable Flor Marcellino
- "Refugee" history/overview by the Canadian Museum for Human Right, Amnesty International, Canadian Council for Refugees, Peace Walk
- Diverse testimonies from Refugees
- Information tables presented by refugees and refugees'
organizations
- Entertainments by refugees artist, storytelling, poetry, music and refreshments
Date: June 19th, 2010
Time: 10 am-1pm
Venue: Starting at the University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, and walking to the Legislative building, 450 Broadway. Proceeding to Memorial Park, located on corners of Broadway, Osborne and Colony, where we will enjoy cultural events, including music, food and refreshments and cultural displays
Contact person: Zita Somakoko - rallyforrefugees@gmail.com or 204-784-7362
Ontario
London, ON
North Park Community Outreach Program – The Life Resource Centre
Events: Information table presented by the refugee youths (Life Resource Center), Storytelling, poetry, dance and music
Dates and Venues: June 16, 2010, 5pm – 7:30pm at Beacock Library – North East London, 1280 Huron Street
Organizing Committee: North Park Community Outreach Program – The Life Resource Centre
Contact person: David Cottrill – david.cottrill@northpark.ca
Or
Tendayi Gwaradzimba – tendayig@gmail.com
London, ON
North Park Community Outreach Program – The Life Resource Centre
Events: Singing the national anthem – refugee youth choir followed by welcoming remarks by the director of the Life Resource Center. Information table presented by refugees and short film on refugee issues presented by Life Resource Center. Entertainment by refugee artists – storytelling, poetry, music, food and cultural dance performances.
Dates and Venues: June 19, 2010, 12:00pm – 2:00pm at St. Lawrence Presbyterian Church – North East London, 910 Huron Street
Organizing Committee: North Park Community Outreach Program – The Life Resource Centre
Contact person: David Cottrill – david.cottrill@northpark.ca
Or
Tendayi Gwaradzimba – tendayig@gmail.com
London, ON
Life as a Refugee
Events: In honor of World Refugee Day, join us in celebrating the resiliency of London’s newest residents. Through a variety of panel discussions, performances, we will explore what it means to be a refugee in London, Ontario and celebrate the accomplishments of this very diverse group of individuals. Free ‘ethnic’ lunch is provided for all participants
Dates and Venues: Jun 19, from 11am – 4pm at London’s Central Library, Stevenson Hunt room, 251 Dundas Street (in Citi Plaza), Downtoan London
Contact person: Monica Abdelkader
Ottawa, ON
Refugee Week 2010
Event /Dates and Times:
Wednesday June 16, 2010: DR Lotta Hitschmanova Day and Marion Dewar
2-8PM: Portraits, videos and images from Jewish refugee Dr. Lotta Hitschamanova, feature will also have paintings, portraits and videos of artists from Central America, Central Asia and Africa as well as videos submitted by refugees all around the world.
2-5PM: Information tables presented by The Catholic Immigration Centre, The Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies
2PM: Phillip Landon of the World University Service of Canada – Opening Remarks
2:15PM: Susan Walsh, USC Canada’s Executive Director – Talk about Dr. Lotta
5:30PM: The Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund donor recognition event organized by the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)
Thursday June 17, 2010: Central America Day, Centre International Justice + Asylum Players
1-8PM: The Installation will feature paintings, portraits and videos of artists from Central America, Central Asia and Africa as well videos submitted by refugees from around the world
1-5PM: Information tables presented by The Catholic Immigration Centre, The Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies
3PM: JP Melville of the Coalition of New Canadians for Arts and Culture will provide the opening remarks
3:15PM: Singer/Painter Victor Fuentes from El Salvador
4PM: A program developed by the Canadian Centre for International Justice which will include a talk by Monia Mazigh
7PM: Guatemalan artists Tito Medina, Sandra Hernandez, Delores Bautista, Marcela Bautista, Consuela Perez
8PM: Peter Showler’s play “Excluding Manuel” performed by the Asylum Players of the University of Ottawa
Friday June 18, 2010: Central Asia Day + Open Drum Jam
1-8PM: the Installation will feature paintings, portraits and videos of artists from Central America, Central Asia and Africa as well as videos submitted by Refugees from around the world
1-5PM: Information tables presented by The Catholic Immigration Centre, the Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies and the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre
3PM: JP Melville of the Coalition of New Canadians for Arts and Culture – opening remarks
3:15PM: The installation will feature Afghan poetry translated by Shahbaz Eshani (Iran) accompanied by music and dance from Central Asia
5PM: Open Drum Jam to celebrate World Refugee Week
Saturday June 19, 2010: Africa Day
1-8PM: The installation will feature paintings, portraits and videos of artists from Central America, Central Asia and Africa as well as videos submitted by refugees from around the world.
1-5PM: Information tables presented by The Catholic Immigration Centre, the Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies
3PM: Jayne Stoyles of the Canadian Centre for International Justice will provide opening remarks
3:15PM: Installation will feature a talk by Hamid Ayoub (Sudan) accompanied by drummers Dr. Lee Hawa Kaba (Guinea), Martin Mbesha (DR CONGO), singer/dancer Yannick Ndongmo (Cameron) and a demonstration of Sudanese henna body paintings by Aisha Matar
Sunday June 20, 2010: World Refugee Day
1-5PM: The installation will feature paintings, portraits and videos of artists from Central America, Central Asia and Africa as well as videos from refugees from around the world
1-5PM: Information tables presented by The Catholic Immigration Centre, the Centre for International Migration and Settlement Studies
3PM: Dr. Adnan Turegun of Carleton University – Opening Remarks
3:15PM: The installation will feature a talk by Hamid Ayoub(Sudan) accompanied by drummers Dr. Lee Hawa Kaba (Guinea), Martin Mbesha (DR CONGO) and singer/dancer Yannick Ndongmo (Cameron)
Location: Library and Archives, 395 Wellington St. Ottawa Canada
Contact person: Graham Thompson
Email: voices.of.refugees@gmail.com
Toronto, ON
UNHCR
For more information regarding the events listed below, please visit http://worldrefugeedayto.com/
Event: Médecins Sans Frontières' Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City
Date: May 27-30, 2010
Venue: Christie Pits, 750 Bloor St. West at Christie St.
Event: Music and Arts Festivities to Celebrate Refugee Artists
Date: June 11, 2010
Venue: Creasians Restaurant, 3 Gerrard St. East, Toronto ON M5B 2K8 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Event: UNHCR Flag Raising
Date: June 19-20, 2010
Venue: Toronto City Hall, Nathan Philip Square, 100 Queen St. West Toronto, ON M5H 2N1
Event: World Refugee Day in collaboration with Luminato - Toronto Festival of Arts, Culture and Creativity http://www.luminato.com/2010/events/156
Reading of World Refugee Day Proclamation, Awards Ceremony for UNHCR COSTI Refugees and Human Rights Children/Youth Poetry Contest Winners, World Music Celebration
Date: June 20
Venue: Queen's Park North, located at Queen's Park Cres. East and Wellesley St. East from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
World Refugee Day on June 20 is being celebrated in collaboration with Luminato' closing day festivities. In honour of this United Nations-designated occasion, the Festival brings together an international roster of artists for a free all-day concert in Queen’s Park. As the performers pay musical tribute to all those from around the world who have found refuge in Canada and who now make this country their home, their concert is also the destination for the World Refugee Activities including Reading of the Proclamation and Awards Ceremony for Child and Youth Poetry Contest Commemorating World Refugee Day starting at 12:30 p.m. So come spend a day enjoying the music of the world and celebrating Canada’s role as a safe haven for the displaced. And while you’re in the neighbourhood, don’t forget to sample Toronto's diverse culinary culture at President’s Choice®1000 Tastes of TorontoTM, as well as the nearby Wish Come True Festival by FriendsWithYou.
ABOUT LUMINATO
For 10 extraordinary days in June, Toronto’s stages, streets, and public spaces are illuminated with arts and creativity. Luminato is an annual multi-disciplinary celebration of theatre, literature, music, food, dance, celebrations, visual arts, fashion, film, and magic. For more information, visit luminato.com.
Event: Turtle House Art/Play Centre Concert
Date: June 23, 2010
Venue: Trinity-St. Paul 's Centre, 427 Bloor St. West, Toronto ON M5S 1X7 at 7:00 pm
Organizing Committee: UNHCR, Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, Canadian Red Cross, COSTI Immigrant Services, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre, Soujourn House and Local Immigration Partnership
Contact person: Rana Khan
Tel: (416) 954 – 1188
Toronto, ON
Immigration Services
Event: Many speakers will be speaking on this day on various topics:
Refugee Research Network by – Paula Popovici, Centre for Refugee Studies at York University,
The proposed Canadian Refugee System Reform of Bill C – 11 by – Francisco Rico – Martinez, former President, Canadian Council for Refugees
The need to support African Union Convention for Internally Displaced Persons to stem the flow of refugees from Africa by – Her Excellency, Hajiya Hadiza Sani Kangiwa, Honorable Federal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Commission for Refugees
Dates and Venues: June 26, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm at Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Avenue West, (at Dufferin Street) – Room: Columbus Room
Contact person: Adeniyi Temowo
Tel: (416) 250 9449
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor Public Library
Event: Celebrating World Refugee Day, at noon singing the national anthem, followed by welcoming remarks after which there will be festivities of various expressions of people who came to Canada as refugees through storytelling, poetry, dance and music.
Dates and Venues: Friday June 18, 2010 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Central Library, 850 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario
Organizing Committee: Windsor Public Library
Contact person: Marcela Diaz
Tel: (519) 255 1127 ext. 214
Or
Daniel Mungai – Windsor Public Library
(519) 155 6770 etx. 4402
Quebec
Montreal, QC
Association des colombiens en Estrie
Événement: 1. Statut juridique demandeurs asile, 2. Loi C – 11 !, 3. Grand parents refugiés, 4. Travailleurs temporaries mexicaines, 5. Viol et armée, 6. Femmes refugiés, 7. Refugiées Mexicaines, 8. Couples Refugiées
Date et lieu: 22 juin à Agora, Université de Sherbrooke 12h à 12h
Personne ressource : Juan Ovidio Arango
colombiestrie@hotmail.com
Montréal, QC
MISSION COMMUNAUTAIRE DE MONTRÉAL en collaboration avec le HCR-Montréal
A l'horaire:
11h00-12h15 Célébration spirituelle pour les 100 ans d’accueil des réfugiés à la Mission Communautaire de
Montréal (Montreal City Mission - MCM)
12h15-13h15 Cocktails sous le chapiteau avec animation 13h15-15h00 Lancement officiel de la fête du Centenaire de la Mission Communautaire de Montréal. Allocutions de circonstance pour souligner la Journée Mondiale du Réfugié ainsi que le Centenaire du MCM
En première: projection du documentaire « La première porte/The first door» qui présente des portraits de résidents du refuge du MCM et les accomplissements de ces derniers dans leur communauté d'accueil. Place à la musique et à la danse du Rwanda!
Date: DIMANCHE LE 20 JUIN 2010
Lieu: 463 rue Ste - Catherine Ouest, Montréal
Personne ressource : Sylvain Thibault
Tél : (514) 844 - 9128
Québec, QC
Comité Organisateur : Le Centre multiethnique de Québec (CMQ)
Événement : à travers une journée « portes ouvertes », il y aura des groupes de musiques en après – midi à l’extérieur et la visite de notre organisation.
Date et lieu : le 18 juin 2010, 12h à 20h
Personne ressource : Dominique Lachance
Tél : (418) 687 – 9771 poste 103
Often classified unfairly with economic migrants, refugees flee their country not for economic gain but to escape persecution, the threat of imprisonment and even threats to their lives. They need a safe haven where they can recover from mental and physical trauma and rebuild their hopes for a better future.
The intolerance that is often at the root of internal displacement and refugee flows is also present in some of the countries that refugees flee to. Instead of finding empathy and understanding, they are often met with mistrust or scorn.
On World Refugee Day, let's not forget that some day in the future any one of us could be knocking at a stranger's door hoping to find a safe and friendly shelter. We should extend refugees the same kind of welcome we would like to receive if we were in their position.
While most refugees want to go home, some cannot safely return. But wherever they are, refugees will always strive to pick up the pieces and start over. The courage and determination demonstrated during their darkest hours will serve them well in rebuilding a new life. On World Refugee Day, let us honour them for these qualities and recognise the richness and diversity they bring to our societies.