Advocates from community and faith groups have long played an important role in pressing the Canadian government to adopt more liberal refugee policies. These groups have been driving forces in offering protection for those seeking refuge, particularly from Southeast Asia in the late 1970s and from Syria beginning in 2015. The experiences are of great significance, as Canada continues to receive thousands of refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan. St. Joseph’s Refugee Outreach Committee (ROC), one of Ottawa’s longest-serving, volunteer-run refugee outreach groups, has helped hundreds of newcomers and refugees since 1990. This event will honour the ROC’s impressive 30+ years of history, and prompt a larger conversation about how we can all get involved in welcoming refugees in pressing and meaningful ways. It will also mark the launch of the book “”Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions””, which tells how “”ordinary people”” in Ottawa, and particularly at St. Joseph’s Parish, have taken small and big steps to welcome people seeking refuge into their communities).

This event will include brief remarks from:
Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
Jacques Frémont, President of the University of Ottawa
Louisa Taylor, Director of Refugee613
Long-serving members of the ROC
Past newcomers with a connection to the ROC
The authors of the book Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions: Refuge Through Activism at Ottawa’s St. Joe’s Parish

Come learn about Ottawa’s rich refugee history and about how to get involved. For any questions concerning this event, please email patti.lenard@uottawa.ca.