Christie Refugee Welcome Centre

Christmas cookies and hot chocolate for Christie kids yesterday 💕💕💕💕💕💕 Thank you, Food Services Team! . . . #seasonsgreetings #christmas2024 #refugeeswelcome #refugeeshelter #christmasgiving #refugeesintoronto #decoratedsugarcookies

Most of us can remember the scenes from summer 2023. Dozens - sometimes up to 100- African asylum seekers sleeping outside in downtown Toronto night after night, after having been denied access to the City’s emergency shelter system. This was the result of a decision that came in November 2022, when the City of Toronto decided to stop allowing refugee claimants access to its base shelter beds, making the decision public in May 2023, when it began redirecting refugees to federal services instead. Last week, the Ombudsman released a report investigating these events. The report found that the City’s decision was inconsistent with City policies; it lacked accountability including proper documentation of who approved the decision and why; it led to harmful impacts and unhelpful referrals for refugees and; it was a decision based on systemic discrimination, specifically anti-Black racism, as most of the refugee claimants affected were of African descent and Black. The report made 14 recommendations to help strengthen fairness and transparency of the City’s shelter system. https://lnkd.in/gZFi9bDs The City Manager’s Office continues to state that he does not accept the report and will not direct the City to implement the 14 recommendations.

The season of giving and being together is upon us. Christie Staff Christmas party ✨ DIY wreaths by our youngest residents (Halloween never dies!) ✨ a Christmas gathering for Christie’s former clients ✨ a donation of knitted winter hats from Nepal from @tibetanpaperhandicraft ✨ a very special gift from a young person who dropped by Christie to donate her saved allowance. . . . #refugeeswelcome #refugeeshelter #holidaygiving #christmas2024 #refugeesintoronto #christmasiscoming

The Outreach department currently requires an innovative and relationally-skilled Employment Settlement Worker for a twenty seven (27) months term, full time (37.50 hours per week) basis from January 1, 2025 – March 31st, 2027. The individual would among other things: ●      Plan and execute day-to-day activities including appointments (virtual and in-person), emails, phone calls, referrals, case notes, etc. for Employment program clients.        ●      Identify client’s needs, challenges, and short/long term employment goals to create individualised job search action plans. ●      Provide personalised one-on-one support to equip clients in their job search including but not limited to teaching and coaching in: job searching skills, job post analysis and targeted resume writing, interviewing skills and professional networking. ●      Assist clients who are not actively job searching with career exploration, labour market research, information regarding employment training and post secondary education, providing guidance with applying for OSAP and accessing other funding opportunities. ●      Collaborate and follow up with clients on an ongoing basis to customise their job search and optimise success based on market trends related to occupation, profession or industry. ●      Refer clients to appropriate programs and supports including employment training, professional mentorship opportunities, job opportunities, hiring events and specialised employment counselling with other employment and educational agencies.  ●      Provide advocacy, information and referral services; assistance with completing forms, in areas of employment, skills training, education and social assistance.            QUALIFICATIONS: ·       Minimum 3 years experience working in non-profit employment services. ·       Diploma or degree in social sciences/social work; or, Career and Work Counselling, Adult Education or related field and/or an acceptable combination of education and direct work experience.  ·       Strong knowledge of government/community agencies and programs in GTA and the ability to leverage and expand the program’s network of partnering agencies. ·       Demonstrated experience and/or expertise in Case management, Employment counselling, Workshop facilitation and Adult Education principles and philosophy, Current labour market and job searching trends and tools.   In accordance with the Centre’s Child Protection Policy, a satisfactory Vulnerable Police Check clearance is required as a condition of employment. Qualified candidates are invited to forward a resume with accompanying cover letter to: employment@christiestreetrc.com All applications are appreciated but only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Closing date for applications: December 16th, 2024.  

Last week, we had the honour of welcoming Linda Tripp back to Christie! Linda started World Vision Canada’s Refugee Program and established Christie Refugee Welcome Centre in Spring of 1989. There is so much history and so many stories here, over 35 years. We asked Linda a memory of Christie that has forever stayed with her: “I remember there was a woman from Africa, she had several children. We were sitting in the kitchen and talking and she kept grabbing my hand and she kept kissing my hand and I didn’t want her to. But she had to express herself. And it was just so stark … she was thanking me and I had no idea what it had cost her to leave everything and be here.” . . . #refugeestories #history #refugeehouse #receptioncentre #refugeeswelcome #35years

Last week, on International Children’s Day, we celebrated the birthday of one of the Centre’s young residents who turned a pivotal 13! Last week was also National Housing Day in Canada. As we reflect on these two symbolic days, consider that: 🚸 As of September 2024, nearly 1500 children were staying in the City’s shelter system; 🚸 Two-thirds of these children were ten years of age or younger. 130 of these children were under a year old; 🚸 More than 1400 children in Toronto are currently waiting for shelter space, living in scattered hotel rooms with their families - paid for by City Hall; 🚸 The number of children living in shelters today is triple the levels seen in 2016; and 🚸 More than 70% of children staying in Toronto’s regular family shelters are part of refugee families. [stats from October 2024 Toronto Star article] Stats like these are important for understanding the housing and shelter crisis in Toronto but unfortunately they have also been used to scapegoat refugees for the failures of government in dealing with a national housing crisis. Remember that refugees did not cause the housing crisis. Rather, bad policy and government inaction to appropriately fund housing did. . . . #housingcrisis #refugeefamilies #refugeesintoronto #refugeeshelter #refugeeswelcome

We are seeking a Children’s Music Program Worker to develop a curriculum to run a Music Literacy Program for in-house children ages 6-12 every Monday and Wednesday evening from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The primary focus of the program is offering support to children as they integrate into their new home in Canada by introducing them to and providing them with access to music and musical instruments, get them familiarize with after-school education programming in a Canadian context. The successful candidate should have demonstrated musical ability, as well as experience providing music instruction and skill development to children in large group settings. In accordance with the Centre’s Child Protection Policy, a satisfactory Police Reference Check is required as a condition of employment.  Certification in Standard First Aid and CPR is mandatory as is COVID-19 vaccination. COMPENSATION: $25/hour HOW TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter and resume to employment@christiestreetrc.com. Closing date for applications: Monday, December 2nd 2024.

We are seeking a Children’s Music Program Worker to develop a curriculum to run a Music Literacy Program for in-house children ages 6-12 every Monday and Wednesday evening from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The primary focus of the program is offering support to children as they integrate into their new home in Canada by introducing them to and providing them with access to music and musical instruments, get them familiarize with after-school education programming in a Canadian context. The successful candidate should have demonstrated musical ability, as well as experience providing music instruction and skill development to children in large group settings. In accordance with the Centre’s Child Protection Policy, a satisfactory Police Reference Check is required as a condition of employment.  Certification in Standard First Aid and CPR is mandatory as is COVID-19 vaccination. COMPENSATION: $25/hour HOW TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter and resume to employment@christiestreetrc.com. Closing date for applications: Monday, December 2nd 2024.

Before and AFTER - birthday celebrations for our most beautiful young people are our absolute favourite! Pizza is eaten, cake is shared, candles are blown out and wishes are made. The birthday child gets to decide the activities, snacks, movie, music! Our wish is that every refugee child feels forever empowered, respected, uplifted and heard. . . . #refugeechildren #refugeeshelter #refugeehouse #childrensprogramming #refugeechild

We hosted our annual flu clinic this week with nurses from Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre providing flu vaccines to over 30 residents living at Christie. Did you know nurses from Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Health and Community Centre @youth_dpnchc_ visit our clinic once per week to provide immunization to Christie residents who may not have received vaccines for preventable diseases from their country of origin? We are so grateful to the health care they provide Christie residents. . . . #refugeehealth #refugeehealthcare #refugeehouse #refugeeshelter