About
Government of Canada
Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program
Synod of the Diocese of Niagara
Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)
Refugee Resettlement restores self-determinacy and self-sufficiency - it allows people who have been displaced, through no choice or fault of their own, people who have been displaced by human conflict, to regain control of their lives.
Nobody who has to flee their home wants to leave it - leave their ancestral lands, the place where they have lived and grown up, where their parents and grand parents and great grandparents, and all of their family are and have been.
Nobody wants to leave what is familiar, where you understand the language, the culture and the people. Nobody wants to leave a place where the smells of food and the sounds of music are familiar and normal.
When threats come, and worse, when guns start shooting, and bombs start exploding, and there are no more choices, people need to flee. When people flee and are in distress, then others respond, and help.
For Refugees, that looks like temporary camps, food assistance, medical assistance, protection and safety from violence and conflict.
Refugees always have to wait, for everything. Most importantly, they are waiting for the conflict that drove them from their homes to end, so they can return home. And in some cases, the situation is dire enough that they can never return "home." Then they have to look at settling where they are, if that is possible. And when that is not possible, then they have to rely on the UN and different countries around the world to help them find a new safe place that they can call home, permanently.
Helping refugees who have no other options find a new home, is the part that private sponsors in Canada play. Whereas helping people settle into new homes and communities is not going to end or change the circumstances that caused them to become refugees in the first place, it will change and transform their individual lives - and this has great value, is very meaningful and important for those who are able to be resettled. Resettlement makes a direct difference in people's lives - it is transformative, positively life changing - for the sponsors and the newcomers.
For those offering a welcome, it is the opportunity to demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of compassion, inclusion, assistance, mentorship and relationship building. It is an opportunity to put all of the good words of faith, into action and to see a new community, a new world of peace and friendship being built right before our very eyes.
Scott McLeod,
(Former) Coordinator
Refugee Sponsorship Initiative
Anglican Diocese of Niagara
252 James Street North
Hamilton ON L8R 2L3
Reunification of a Syrian Family
Learn more about what we do
We are members of St. Christopher‘s Anglican Church in Burlington, and in 2016, the Church chose to sponsor a refugee family from Syria.
We welcomed the family to their new home. It was an exciting day when they finally arrived.
In the 5 years since they stepped off the airplane to start their new life, we have been privileged to watch them as they strive to build a better life in Canada.
We have been able to share meals, celebrate special occasions and visits with them as a family. It has been wonderful to see them blossom and develop in their new home. The children, Kiran and Amir, have made many new friends and they just love going to school.
Amna learned to drive, something she never could have done in Syria or Turkey. Adeel who was a university student in Syria, is attending Sheridan College to forward his education, while working part-time, so that he can support his family in the best possible way. They love Canada and express it in words and actions whenever they get the opportunity. Amna presented a slide presentation at a women‘s luncheon that introduced her family and the situation in Aleppo to friends from the Middle East and friends that helped bring the family to Canada.
Adeel helped to organize a blood donor clinic, with members of the Syrian community, on Canada Day, to express their appreciation and thanks to Canada for offering them the opportunity for a better life for their families; and, they hosted a luncheon at the restaurant where Adeel works, sponsored by the restaurant owner, to thank the people who brought them to Canada.
They applied for Canadian citizenship as soon as they were able and only the pandemic is slowing the process down.
We feel so proud to be part of the lives of this family. They are a credit to themselves and to Canada as they strive to build a better life in their new country.
Beth & Bob G
SURVIVAL. As humans
we do not get to choose our parents or where we are born. So many of life's circumstances are beyond personal control or influence.
Survival and protecting the people we love become the purpose of everyday life. This family did not choose to have their home destroyed in 2013. No place to hide, no extra hard work and no amount of education could have stopped the barrel bomb. They fled for their lives.
After 10 years of being unwanted Syrian refugees in a conveniently located adjacent country, half of the family has come to Canada - partially, with good fortune. This is not total luck or chance. Their effort, persistence and absolute devotion has allowed them to begin their lives again in freedom.
Their focus right now is to help the remaining family members join them from Gaziantep. Thirteen immediate family members are alive and living together in tents with little local or international support after their home was destroyed by the February earthquakes in Turkiye.
Tents and finding food/essentials are not long term solutions. These circumstances are beneficial but not sustainable.
They are depending on their loved ones to get them out of this situation - to a safe, loving place, with support for a renewed life that includes essentials, education and opportunities that will allow them to try to achieve some control and find opportunities. Canada is such a place. This is the Syrian Family Reunification. SFR.
Please consider sharing your good life with them. Thank you.
Bob Loree
(Helping this refugee family since 2016)
Please help them come to Canada
1. My Parents - Abbas and Aisha
2. My Brother - Jamal, his wife Sara and daughter Zara
3. My Sister - Uzma and her two daughters, Rida and Aleena
4. My Sister - Maira, her husband Kairo, son Rayan, daughter Hiba, and
5. son Nasir (who is a young person and considered an independent person)
The average cost for each of these groups (to support them in Canada) is $30,000 for their first year. Will you help?
Do you know these facts?
Women and Children are Most at Risk
Our FAMily remaining in Turkiye
Faith Communities Work Together for Humanitarian Project
At the Halton Islamic Association, we are committed to supporting the reunification of Adeel and his family. We are proud of the strong interfaith relationship that we have here at the city of Burlington, and we look forward to continuing to work with the team to welcome the Syrian family to Canada in the near future.
Please join us!
Faith Communities Work Together for Humanitarian Project
In 2016 St. Christopher's Church sponsored four members of the Syrian Family who fled Syria in 2012. They love Canada and pray for reunification with the rest of their family (parents, brothers, sisters).
Working with the Refugee Sponsorship Initiative Coordinator at an official Canadian Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) an account has been set up for them.
The estimated amount required for this initiative is $148,500 for their parents, brothers, sisters and children.
The goal is to surpass $150,000 to support the 13 family members (eight adults and five children) in their first year in Canada.
Please join us!
We need your help for this Humanitarian Project
Including rent, food, clothing and all essentials it will cost $30,000 (average) for each of the five family groups.
Please consider sponsoring a family group.
Help get these people out of their tents and reunited with family in Canada. Donate generously today. Thank you!
Please join us!