
Refugee advocate Adedeji Sunday Akintayo and Reverend Linda Buchanan, 41, in the nave of Beaconsfield United Church. © UNHCR/Levon Sevunts
Having just arrived in the Montréal borough of Anjou, Adedeji “Ade” Sunday Akintayo took a long, cold journey across the city to reach an unfamiliar place. But on that October day in 2017, he found a community in Beaconsfield United Church that would change his life
By Megan Brown in Montreal, Canada
The commute wasn’t easy. First, a brisk walk through freezing October air, then a crowded metro ride, another bus, and finally a last walk to Beaconsfield United Church on the western edge of Montréal. It was 35 kilometers from his home, yet Akintayo says he made the trip—at first by chance and later with intention.
“When I walked into Beaconsfield United, I saw two big bags of rice. They told me, ‘This is yours,’” Akintayo recalls. “That was my first moment of feeling truly welcome.”
A Nigerian refugee, Akintayo was moved by this kindness. He returned to the church again and again. Soon finding himself immersed in all aspects of the community, from singing in the choir to welcoming newcomers as part of the hospitality team. Eventually, he joined the church’s regional board. But Akintayo wanted to do more—to help refugees find the same sense of belonging he had discovered.
“This church discovered me, molded me, and made me a better person,” he says. “Today, I’m not just a refugee but a refugee advocate.”
Building a community for all
With the encouragement of then-pastor Reverend Shaun Fryday, Akintayo proposed the Refugee Integration and Support Program, launched in 2018. He wanted it to be more than just a resource center.
“I said, ‘Let’s do something different—something that gives refugees a piece of home here in Canada,’” he explains.

Refugee advocate Adedeji Sunday Akintayo presents the resource storage room for the Refugee Integration and Support Program at Beaconsfield United. © UNHCR/Levon Sevunts
The program began with a simple idea and has since grown into a vital support system for hundreds of refugees and asylum-seekers. It provides essentials like clothing and household goods and hosts community events such as picnics and webinars on legal rights. Through initiatives like the Women’s Collective and the Solid Rock Men and Interfaith Ministry, refugees find a community that feels like home.
“We provide resources,” Akintayo says. “But more than that, we give people a community.”
Inspiring hope and resilience
The Refugee Integration and Support Program has supported over 500 people from countries across the world, including Iran, Kenya, Cameroon, and Ghana. Yet Akintayo has faced challenges along the way, from the COVID-19 pandemic to learning French in Québec.
“Language has never been something to hinder me,” Akintayo says. “I’m no stranger to adapting.”
This resilience has helped him encourage other refugees, urging them to face difficulties with a strong mindset.
“If I can survive in these places, I know I can thrive in Québec,” he adds.

Reverend Linda Buchanan listens to Akintayo tell his story in the entrance hall of Beaconsfield United Church. © UNHCR/Levon Sevunts
Reverend Linda Buchanan, who now leads Beaconsfield United, has supported Akintayo’s vision every step of the way.
“One of the ways we practice hospitality is through our hospitality teams,” she says. “Refugees are eager to join these teams, and it brings us closer together.”
“We have the freedom to be intercultural, to braid together different hopes and practices,” Buchanan adds. “In this community, people feel loved just because—not in spite of who they are.”
A vision for the future
The success of Beaconsfield’s program has inspired Akintayo to expand its reach. With the support of Reverend Cynthia Reynolds from Riverside United Church, he plans to establish similar programs beyond Montréal.
“Beaconsfield United Church is like a grandfather to this program,” Akintayo says. “Now, we’re creating a model—a safe place that other churches can adopt to make refugees feel welcome.”
When asked how other communities can support inclusion and diversity, Buchanan offers a simple yet profound message: “Be not afraid. Instead, choose love over fear, and curiosity over fear. Diversity is beautiful, and creation tells us that all the time.”