New Canadians Centre Continue To Monitor Ukraine Crisis And Potential Refugees Says Peterborough Residents Are Already Offering To Help

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is monitoring the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and ready to accept refugees when Canada announces initiatives.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Kaczmarczyk says the Canadian government is currently focusing more on getting Ukrainians to Canada on a temporary, short-term basis.

According to a government press release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, available to individuals fleeing Ukraine. There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can apply. This is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians to come to Canada and eliminates many of the normal visa requirements, according to the release.

“For us, our staff will likely help local folks who maybe have family members in Ukraine navigate those applications,” said Marisa Kaczmarczyk, director of client services at the NCC Peterborough agency. “Some of these applications can be confusing, they may need someone to hep them walk through the process.”

Currently, Canada is focusing on Ukrainians already located in Canada. For example, Kaczmarczyk says an international student that may have to return to Ukraine soon because of a soon-to-be expired visa will be given the opportunity to stay past the expiration of their visa.

Kaczmarczyk says the NCC is already getting phone calls from Peterborough residents wondering what they can do to help.

“People have offered their time, spaces in their house, they’re ready to house a refugee,” she says. “At the moment because there isn’t a refugee program there is not a need for that - yet.”

She says anyone that calls is being put on a list and will be contacted when applicable.

The NCC is also directing people to established organizations that are accepting donations and providing help directly on the ground in Ukraine.

Donations directed to the Red Cross will be matched by the Canadian government until March 18. The NCC also suggests donating to UNICEF, which is helping children affected.

NCC continues to support refugees from around the world and have an ongoing need for refugee support team members. Those interested in helping can sign up here.

The crisis in Ukraine is ongoing, and ever changing. The NCC will continue to update the public as new information arises.

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Youth Group Prepares to Welcome 78 Afghan Refugees to Peterborough

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) Youth Welcome Team prepared signs and cards for the 78 Afghan refugees coming to Peterborough, on Thursday.

Ava Williams and Maryam Abdella, members of the youth welcome team, make signs at the silver bean cafe on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Lubna Sadek.

The group met at the Silver Bean Café, with NCC group leader and youth worker Lubna Sadek to help make Peterborough a more welcoming place for the refugees.

“We’re very pleased with the positive response from the community regarding the refugees arriving,” she said.

The Youth Welcome Team meets once a month to plan projects and activities to welcome new Canadians to Peterborough.

They allow high school students to complete the required 40 hours of volunteer work they need to graduate and has approximately ten members.

“I’m a refugee too,” said Sidra Abdulla, a 16-year-old member of the welcome team. “When I came to Canada I saw a lot of people help me so I like to give back too.”

(Left to right) Sidra Abdulla, Aya Darrouba, and Angel Ngwepo present their finished welcome sign at the Silver Bean Cafe on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Lubna Sadek.

Almost 2000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Toronto according to an NCC press release. COSTI Immigrant Services, the main settlement agency in Toronto, has asked the NCC to support the settlement of 78 Afghans.

Andy Cragg, NCC executive director says they anticipate many newcomers will stay in Peterborough for four to eight weeks but will ultimately settle in Toronto.

During their stay in Peterborough, the NCC provides them with temporary housing, helps meet their basic needs, delivers basic orientations to life in Canada and help them find permanent accommodations.

Until the NCC is able to meet the newcomers on Friday, they will not know exactly what their needs are. For now, the NCC is asking those interested in helping drop off welcome cards to their office at 221 Romaine St.

Landlords and property managers who can provide affordable and safe housing for refugees are asked to contact the NCC at ncc@nccpeterborough.ca

Currently, the NCC does not have the capacity to process donations. They will post a call for items after they are able to assess the newcomer’s needs.

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Beautiful Message On Hunter Street To Refugees

Syria is in complete crisis, with more than four million Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

This banner below that was hanging beside the Only Café on Hunter Street in Peterborough sends a powerful message that refugees from Syria—and elsewhere in need around the world—are welcome here.

Picture via Ben Rough on Facebook

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