My nomination is an indication that our hard work in building Canada is recognized. All we do is to serve the community in return for embracing us when we needed it.
History and Legacy of Refugee Resettlement In Ottawa – A PRIMER
June 30, 2016Authored by April Carrière.
Canada has made significant contributions to refugee resettlement efforts over the years, especially since the end of World War Two. We have welcomed more than a million refugees who have adopted Canada as their home and made tremendous contributions to Canadian society. As the Honourable John McCallum, Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, recently observed, two Governors General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean, arrived in Canada as refugees, as did his colleagues, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions, and the Honourable Ahmed Hussen. These are illustrious examples, but they are joined by many others who have quietly built good lives for themselves and for their descendants in Canada.
Now more than ever, it is of the utmost importance that Canada continues to be a place of refuge. The world is in the midst of a refugee crisis of unprecedented proportions. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are nearly 60 million forcibly displaced people fleeing war, persecution, and danger worldwide. Although most are displaced within their own countries, over 14.4 million fall under the UNHCR mandate as refugees.
This primer is intended to provide basic information on the history and legacy of refugee resettlement in Canada and to highlight Ottawa’s role in these efforts. It contains basic facts about refugees and Canadian refugee policy, a brief timeline of refugee resettlement in Canada, highlights from Ottawa’s history of refugee resettlement, and a myth buster intended to dispel some of the misconceptions about refugees and refugee resettlement history in Canada. Read the full report here.
