Our History
Canadian Connections:
Welcoming Refugees Home is unique.
With a history deeply embedded in grassroots activism, and powered by an extraordinary team of volunteers and staff with lived refugee experience, we are well-positioned to offer settlement services unlike any other organization.
Canadian Connections (CC) formed in August 2021 as the resettlement team for Afghan-Canadian Interpreters, an advocacy group of veterans who worked tirelessly to facilitate the evacuation of Afghan interpreters and their families.
In recognition of the personal risk many Afghans took assisting the Government of Canada as interpreters, drivers, cooks and so on, a special program was implemented to bring these individuals and their families to safety.
Hundreds of Afghans arrived in Toronto, many of them with only the clothes on their backs. Some arrived needing immediate care for injuries, and most had to stay in airport hotels for months with small children and no resources.
There is a gap between what the government can provide and what refugees need to restart their lives here.
We created Canadian Connections to try to bridge this gap.
Our founding members were ordinary people who wanted to help. They were social workers, teachers, media and communications professionals, artists and activists. Many of our core volunteers ran The Clothing Drive, one of the largest grassroots efforts for the reception of Syrian refugees in 2015, and were instrumental in the creation of Newcomer Kitchen. Between us, we have sponsored and mentored hundreds of refugees.
Our Values
People come first
Everything we do starts out with an unshakable belief that people come first. People are listened to, respected for their opinions, and encouraged to contribute in the best way they can. We will only achieve our vision when we bring out the best in each other.
Trust is paramount
With trust, we foster safety, optimism and open communication. Trust builds respect and is the foundation upon which healthy communities thrive.
Resilience is our core strength
Long-term goals require patience, adaptability, and resilience. When things are difficult, we help each other to remain calm and positive, to devise timely solutions, and to keep working towards our vision.
Strategic Plan 2024-2026
We have exciting plans for the future. Read about them in our 3-year Strategic Plan. You can view or download the complete strategic plan by clicking the link below.