Resource library

Locating Community Services

When a newcomer refugee arrives in Canada there are many tasks which need to be accomplished within the first days, weeks and months. Sponsors should make use of the many experienced and professional settlement agencies to help newcomer refugees navigate the Canadian system. The following list of links will help sponsors find the nearest settlement agencies and services in their provinces (excluding Quebec).

Managing Expectations

Expectations are completely normal and are even to be “expected.” When engaging in refugee sponsorship, you may have expectations about the refugee sponsorship experience, including how the refugee(s) will act or the kind of relationship your sponsoring group will form with the refugee(s) that you have sponsored. The refugee(s) you have sponsored may also have expectations,

ODSP Eligibility for Refugees in first 12 months

One Year Window (OYW)

What is a One-Year Window? One Year Window (OYW) is a provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that assists with family reunification. It permits resettled refugees in Canada to identify for resettlement, within one year of their arrival, family members abroad who were previously unable to travel with them.

Tax Receipts for Gifts

What is a Gift? The Canadian Income Tax Act permits non-profit organizations with charitable status to issue receipts for income tax purposes for donations that qualify as “gifts”. “A gift must be given freely, ” according to the Canada Revenue Agency. For a donation to be considered a gift and be eligible for a tax receipt: It is given voluntarily.

Sponsorship Disputes & Breakdowns

What are sponsorship disputes? Disagreements or misunderstandings between sponsors and newcomers may naturally arise during the course of a sponsorship. Sponsorship disputes can range from disagreements over the terms of the sponsorship, to differences of opinions on various issues. Fortunately, sponsorship disputes do not always result in sponsorship breakdowns. Sponsorship disputes may be resolved or improved by following the tips about avoiding disputes,

Month 13 Resource Kit

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What is PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural emotional reaction to terrible experiences that involve actual or threatened serious harm to oneself or others. 1 When in danger, it is natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it.

Sexual Harassment

What you need to know as Private Refugee Sponsors In the context of private refugee sponsorship, sexual harassment can happen to a sponsored individual as well as to a member of a sponsoring group. It can occur among members of the refugee family or sponsoring group. Because it has been experienced in some sponsorship cases,

The Rights of Privately Sponsored Refugees

Download the PDF Versions of this Fact Sheet in (English) (French) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Armenian) (Farsi) (Kurmanji) (Pashto) (Sorani) (Tigrinya) Welcome to Canada!