Friends,

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our work and organizing transitioned to online meetings and spaces. But now we are back to hosting in-person community dinners and lunches for our undocumented communities. Please help fund our work by making a donation!
 
Your donation will allow us to provide warm meals at our dinners, cover transportation and child minding costs, and pay our community translators and interpreters in multiple languages.
 
Here is what your donations will cover:
$7 Two-ride presto ticket for a community member
$15 Healthy vegetarian meal to a community member
$20 One hour of child minding
$25 One hour of language interpretation 
$40 Healthy vegetarian meal + two-ride presto ticket + child minding for a community member
$50 Healthy vegetarian meal + two-ride presto ticket + language interpretation for a community member
$70 Healthy vegetarian meal + two-ride presto ticket + child minding + language interpretation for a community member
 
During this global pandemic, it has become blatantly clear that we are all interconnected and interdependent – and yet we continue to be denied equal rights. Read A + R’s story below to learn more about what is happening to us. 

Our Story

I arrived in Canada in 2006. I started working in a factory without speaking English. As time passed I managed to study, and take courses in English and French, graduated from high school and obtained a university certificate in digital marketing. I have also continued my education in other areas at a university level. I am currently a business partner in a company that we created together with other colleagues, which has allowed us to employ full time staff. I have made my home here together with my wife, we met here in Canada. We do not have children, unfortunately we lost our daughter to due hospital neglect in Canada, and we have not had the opportunity to be parents; but many families have asked us to be godparents for their children. Despite the instability of living without status, we have had the opportunity to study, contribute in different ways, and pay taxes like any citizen of this country. We have participated as volunteers in different events; and we have supported different organizations and institutions, which have allowed us to know and get more involved in the culture and in the various communities of this country.

Continued..

We have integrated into the Canadian community, we have strived for a better future; and this was recognized by the immigration officer who evaluated our application, in fact he congratulated us for our achievements and contributions to the community, and for being economically self-sufficient during our residence in Canada. But this was not enough to give an approving response to our request, the officer admitted that upon returning to our country of origin, we would face some challenges to establish ourselves and find employment, but he considers that with the knowledge acquired we can establish ourselves again. The officer also said that there are ways to continue in contact with people, and our physical absence would not affect them or cause any impact on their lives, or ours. But the reality is if we are forced to leave, we leave behind family, friendships and strong ties that we have built here for over 15 years that root us even more in this country. Forcing us to physically separate from our godchildren, friends and family is cruel and nobody should go through this. This is not fair.

A + R