Social Justice News

Check out the facts on immigration in Canada by listening to an audiofile of CBC’s As it Happens. Carol Off interviewed Professor Sharry Aiken, an expert on Canada’s immigration policy from Queen’s University on April 13, 2011.

The 5 minute clip explains that Canada’s current policies favour the immigration of economic immigrants instead of families and refugees. Hear what was said by going to CBC here.

Social Justice News

By Dot Hilsabeck and Tom Khuu

It was in the fall of 1979 when a little country church in Alberta known as Clive Baptist was busily preparing for the arrival of a group of “Boat People.” This was one of many terrified groups of refugees who were fleeing communist Vietnam by the thousands.

Everyone was excited! We had scrubbed, painted, remodelled, furnished, added bedding and curtains, dishes and food as we prepared a home for a family of 14 people to live. Suddenly, upon their arrival at the airport, 14 “Boat People” became beautiful human beings with faces and names like Chad and Colleen, Tyler and Minerva. They were all part of the Khuu family: Grandpa Kim Khuu, his three sons Chad, Tyler and Charlie, Chad’s wife Colleen, Tyler’s wife Minerva, 6 grandchildren and 2 nephews.

Social Justice News

At the end of 2008, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees asked Canada to help with the resettlement of Palestinian families who had fled Iraq when the government toppled as a result of the US invasion. These families were currently living in a Refugee camp on the Iraqi/Syrian Border. Whatever finances they had brought with them were exhausted. Some were desperate enough to try to return but usually there was nothing left for them in Iraq. Canada agreed to allow Private Sponsorship for these families so Citizenship and Immigration Canada asked existing Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) to participate. This request was presented to the Vancouver Interfaith Refugee Committee and this is how First Baptist Vancouver learned of their plight. About 200 people needed to be placed and the committee decided to sponsor a total of 20. All 20 were related to each other and so needed to be placed in the same general area. There were 5 different families involved and FBC agreed to sponsor the mother and her 2 teenage sons. Four other faith groups took on the remaining 4 families: her 2 daughters and their families, and 2 brothers of the son-in-laws and their families. Each sponsored family was supported financially for one year as is generally the case.

Social Justice News

When the first Vietnamese ‘boat people’ first came to Canada in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s on tiny, overcrowded ships after escaping their war-torn country and its harsh Communist government , First Baptist Church in Vancouver was there to offer a safe haven. Ever since, First Baptist has had an active ministry to refugees hoping for a new life in Canada, sponsoring at least one family almost every year.

Helga Schoeber has been dedicated to leading the refugee work at FBC for the past 20 years, taking great joy in her ongoing relationships with these new Canadians.