A place of welcome, safety and support for refugees

Finances
Board of Directors (2015)
2015 Revenue: $1,580,170
Sue Reimer, Chair
Jenna Sider, Treasurer
Elias Hadaya, Secretary
Bruce Cameron
Douglas Colbourne
Cara Johnson
Tracy McManus
Jon Osmond
Beth Posterski
Joy Robson
Peter Woolford
City of Toronto - 86%
Amortization - 4%
Other - 0.3%
Grants - 7.5%
Public Donations - 2%
Government of
Canada - 0.2%
2015 Expenditures: $1,580,497
Staffing - 61%
Building - 13%
Administration - 5%
Client Care - 13%
Operations - 8%
43 Christie Street
Toronto, ON M6G 3B1
T: 416-588-9277
E: [email protected]
christiestreetrc.com
Twitter: @crwcTO
Facebook: /crwcTO
Charitable Reg. No.:
10822 2266 RR0001
2015
Annual
Report
A place of welcome,
safety and support
for refugees
Mission Statement
We are a Christian organization
serving and advocating for
refugee families by providing
safe, temporary housing, initial
settlement services and followup support. We influence and
engage the broader public
through sponsorship, education
and advocacy initiatives.
Core Values
• We are Christian
• We respond to refugees with
dignity and respect
• We are resilient and
responsive to the changing
needs of refugees
• We are committed to children
and families
• We partner with others
to serve refugees more
effectively
• We are advocates for refugees
Pathways to Canada
#WelcomeRefugees
Executive Director’s Report
Linda Moorcroft
Random act of kindness and pay it forward are two philanthropic e pressions which have gained momentum in
the last decade. Whether it is a selfless act such as a kind gesture, generous deed, or a helping hand, each act
has a welcome impact on its recipient.
2015 saw unprecedented focus and attention on refugees in recent memory. Following the tragic drowning of
a 3 year old Syrian boy destined for our country, the world and in particularly Canadians, sprang into action
to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis. Christie Refugee Welcome Centre was the recipient of thousands of
kind, generous acts as individuals, groups, churches and schools reached out to respond to the refugee crisis.
Neighbours came together and formed sponsorship groups. nterns at St. Mike s Hospital held a fundraising
campaign called On Call Syria donating the money from an on call shi to the Centre. Church groups donated
practical items such as grocery gi cards, bedding, personal care kits and so much more to the refugees we
serve on a daily basis. olunteers stepped up to lend a hand in running programs for our in-house residents.
As reflect on 2015, am astonished and inspired by the outpouring and focus on refugees. We cannot do
the important work we do without your help. n fact we depend on it We are grateful for each donation
monetary and practical , each grant, each volunteer, each friend of Christie. n this year s report, we highlight
the path taken by a refugee family through our Shelter and Outreach programs. t is o en a long ourney lled
with potholes and obstacles which call for incredible resilience, patience and faith. Refugees need our support
as they take their rst steps of resettlement. Random acts of kindness are so welcome along the way. They do
make a difference. They do have an impact.
Board Chair’s Report
Sue Reimer
n many ways 2015 has been the year of the refugee. As write am hearing new reports of yet another
bombing: more husbands, wives, parents lost, more people on the move. The NHCR estimates there are now
over 19.5 million refugees. Christie Refugee Welcome Centre has actively engaged in responding to these ever
changing needs.
wish to thank our E ecutive Director inda Moorcro and our staff for the e cellent work they do on a daily
basis. t is their acts of compassion and wise guidance that is restoring hope and building new futures.
Throughout the year, the Board has met regularly to ensure Christie Refugee Welcome Centre continues to be
governed well and run smoothly. This year the Board completed a Strategic Plan for 2016-2018. The Centre
continues to grow and mature, providing richer and more comprehensive care for our newcomers along with
educating and engaging the wider community. We have had a successful year nancially as evidenced in the
audited nancial statements.
We would like to thank our many volunteers who make the Centre what it is. Through contributions of time,
energy and gi s, they have made meaningful connections with our residents. Also, thank you to all who
participated in our rst SHAMBA fundraiser. t was a oyful evening of hearing stories and celebrating the
wonderful things happening at the Centre. We feel truly blessed by the goodwill and generosity of the many
friends of Christie Refugee Welcome Centre.
Partnerships
This year at Christie Refugee Welcome Centre we have en oyed deepening
partnerships with churches, school groups, and neighbouring communities.
We are grateful for the weekly support of volunteers in our many programs
and in the kitchen. Entering this New ear, we have a lot to be thankful for.
We have had volunteers and groups assist in programming such as
Summer Day Camp, Women s Wellness Program, Children s iteracy
Fitness programs, and serving meals in the kitchen. olunteer groups have
participated in visits to the Centre to sort clothing donations, organize new
donation rooms, and to host special events. Highlights include a Christmas
cookie decorating event in the Women s Wellness program and an Outreach
clients bowling event hosted off-site
Ride for Refuge Team
This year our Ride for Refuge fundraiser was well supported and attended
by volunteers and staff. Together we raised an overwhelming 10,310 for
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre and for our refugee sponsorship fund.
During the Christmas season, over 30 groups, churches, and individuals
participated in our 12 Days of Christmas donation program to help provide
children and families with toys and essential needs items.
To all our volunteers, groups, churches and neighbouring communities we send a hear elt thanks for your
kindness and compassion towards Christie Refugee Welcome Centre clients and staff in 2015 Special
thanks to: Freechurch, ntervarsity of T, no Presbyterian Church, Toronto Chinese Baptist Church, The
Meeting House, Evangel Temple, Church of Pentecost, Trinity Streetsville, New City Baptist Church, Agincourt
Pentecostal Church ladies group, 14 Division Police, O.P.P. Gino Tatasciore, CP24 CH M Christmas Wish
Warehouse, World ision Canada, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Central Technical School, Church St. Jr.
P.S., Palmerston Elementary, Willowdale Christian School, Charles-Sauriol Elementary, Deborah Shaw at
of T, Moriyama Teshima, Pathways to Education, Paupers Pub, Shoshana Green, Gina Marie Oades, Sarah
Groundwater, Susan Edwards, atie Gibson, Shanti Harris, ynn Newhouse,
Robb anderstoel, Greta Smithies, Catriona Spaven-Donn, Elizabeth Banerd,
ristin Booy, Aya Nishiyama, Julia Olioff, Joy okoyama, Bo an Nikolic, uyile
Motsa, Ana Bara as, Jonathan Sampson, Josselyn Seguin, and Ceilidh Wood.
Donors
Every year we are blessed with the number of individuals, corporations,
foundations and government agencies that generously support the Centre.
With their support we are able to provide the following to our clients:
A er-school literacy program Johansen- arsen Foundation and Canada Post
Foundation , A er-school tness program Ontario Sport and Recreation
Communities Fund , Children s Bed in a Bag RG Childrens Foundation,
ETFO Humanity Fund, nifor Social Justice Fund, and Charles H vey
Foundation , and bathroom renovations Home Depot Foundation Canada
and REA TORS Care Foundation .
A special thank you to the team at SHAMBA who co-hosted our rst
fundraiser First Steps . t was an e traordinary evening of dance lessons,
world music, and moving testimonials in SHAMBA s beautiful space.
SHAMBA Fundraiser
The Syrian Refugee Crisis - All Together Now
In the fall of 2015, when the Syrian refugee crisis became a headline on the daily news, the greatest impact at
Christie was on our Sponsorship Program. nundated by churches and schools, families, friends and neighbours
interested in sponsoring a refugee family, Ellen Woolaver, our Refugee Sponsorship Administrator, was
thrust into action to respond to the unprecedented attention. As a Sponsorship Agreement Holder, we have
been active for decades in sponsorship, primarily working with family-linked or named cases. The number
of sponsorships we could submit each year was linked to government targets. All of a sudden it seemed the
doors to Canada were flung open especially when the newly elected iberal government announced we would
resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees. Throughout the mad rush, we worked closely with Syrian-Canadian families
in Canada, ifeline Syria s Ryerson branch and a host of community and church partners. n fact, in 2015 we
sponsored 117 Syrians and ra is and Palestinians fleeing the current war in Syria.
Sponsoring groups gearing up to welcome families showed incredible creativity and resourcefulness as they
fundraised to meet the nancial and practical commitment of sponsorship. Port Perry Refugee Support Group,
spear-headed by New Song Church, impressed us. Five churches, and in fact the whole community worked
together to raise funds and care for the refugees. To date, they have raised 100,000, with fundraising still
underway , sponsored 4 families 19 refugees . One family of 5 has arrived
We think they embody the wonderful generosity and enthusiasm that has
e ploded out of the Canadian public.
REF GEES SER ED
274
REF GEES
N SHE TER
62% FEMA ES
31% NDER 12 EARS OF AGE
14% S NG E FEMA E PARENT
n 2015, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre also submitted sponsorships for
16 Non-Syrian/ ra i cases representing 44 refugees most from Eritrea.
We are happy to report the arrival of 72 sponsored refugees in 2015.
Programs at a Glance
Refugee Women’s
Wellness Program
chi dren
65% participating
dou ed their
41 literacy skills
65
of the
women
participated
Outreach Program
2,915
&
After Schoo
Literacy Program
20
consu tations
workshops
provided
After Schoo
Fitness Program
44
chi dren
participated
102 900 101
Average days
in shelter
isits to our
health clinic
Families helped to nd
permanent housing
35 SOURCE COUNTRIES
Top Five Countries
Nigeria - 25%
Hungary - 17%
Eritrea - 9%
Ethiopia - 6%
Afghanistan - 4%
Path of a Refugee
“The staff is excellent, the information, support
goes far beyond what we expected.”
Arrival and
Welcome
Intake /
Admissions
A warm welcome to
their rst home in
Canada after eeing
dangerous situations
in their source
countries
Introducing families
to Canadian culture
and life at the
Shelter
mmigration
nformation and
support to residents
in making their
refugee claim
and tracking their
progress
“The intake was smooth. When we
arrived everything was in place. The
room was clean and all the essential
supplies was given to us.”
“Very welcoming. It was a relief. Very
good food and good services.”
In House
Programs
Meal
Service
nnovative programs
Three nutritious
for Women and
meals a day plus two
Children promotes
snacks enhance the
integration and
physical well-being of
socia emotiona
our residents
health
Housing
Support in nding
a orda e safe
housing in local
communities
Move Out
“They are very good in assisting people
to find an apartment and the staff here
are very wonderful people.”
Outreach
Admission
nformation
and Referral
Basic Needs
Support
Enhancing clients
Assisting c ients in Welcoming families to
roviding on site
income through
integrating into their the Outreach Program relevant workshops
new neighbours by and informing of on- and ma ing critica practica supports such
as food and clothing
making local referrals going supports and
referrals to support
donations grocer
and linking them to
services
fami ies’ se ement
cards
and TTC to ens
essentia services
plan
“The women’s program has been
crucial for me because I can see a
big difference in myself.”
“It’s been a wonderful journey with
you people. I really appreciate all
the support all the way.”