Don Valley Refugee Resettlers

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The Don Valley Refugee Resettlement Organization (alternatively the Don Valley Refugee Resettlers) is an umbrella group of eight Toronto churches that sponsor refugee claimants. The group is notable for its efforts to sponsor one of the Uyghur captives in Guantanamo -- Hassan Anvar.[1][2][3][4]

History

The group was founded in 1994.[3][5][6]

Twenty-two refugee claimants have been sponsored by the group during that time.[3] All of the churches in the organization are members of the United Church. They are the Toronto Don Valley Presbytery, Forest Grove United Church, Hillcrest United Church, Lansing United Church, Newtonbrook United Church, Northminster United Church, Oriole York Mills United Church, Taiwanese United Church, and Willowdale United Church.

Activities

Canada is a country that has, traditionally, been generous in accepting refugee from areas where they face religious, political, or other kinds of discrimination. All refugees must be sponsored. Sponsors are expected to provide guidance and counseling, in adapting to life in Canada, and in obtaining permanent housing and employment. Sponsors assume responsibility for the claimants housing and living costs for a period of three years.[3] Some refugees are sponsored directly by the Government of Canada. Others are sponsored by relatives who are already Canadian citizens. And some are sponsored by non-profit organizations, like the Don Valley Refugee Resettlers.

References

  1. Omar Al Akkab (2009-02-04). "Canada close to accepting three Gitmo detainees". Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090204.GITMO04/TPStory/National. Retrieved 2009-02-04. "Mr. Hassan is being sponsored for resettlement by the Don Valley Refugee Resettlement Organization, a group of eight Toronto churches." 
  2. Janice Tibbets (2009-02-03). "Six detainees look to Canada for asylum". Canwest News Service. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/story_print.html?id=1246440&sponsor=. Retrieved 2009-02-04.  mirror
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Outreach Committee". Newtonbrook United Church. http://www.newtonbrookunitedchurch.ca/nuc-committee/outreach/. Retrieved 2009-02-04.  mirror
  4. "Guantanamo detainees seeking to come live in Canada". UNHCR. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refdaily?pass=463ef21123&id=498949428. Retrieved 2010-10-. 
  5. Jim Acheson (March 2003). "We get an update on how our sponsored refugees are faring". Seeds: Northminster United Church Newsletter. http://www.northminsteruc.org/seeds/seeds_advent_2003.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-04.  mirror
  6. Shugufah Aziz (March 2008). "We get an update on the Aziz family". Seeds: Northminster United Church Newsletter. http://www.northminsteruc.org/seeds/seeds_lent_2008.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-04.  mirror

External links