Blog | Page 5 of 5 | kinbracekinbrace | refugee housing and support, Vancouver, BC

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It’s looking like Christmas!

December 11, 2013 by Emily Parsons-Dickau

It snowed yesterday!

After many frigid days in Vancouver, the skies opened and dropped a beautiful white blanket on us – a rare winter-wonder in our westcoast world. For many of the newcomers at Kinbrace, this is their first snowfall ever.

For some, the falling snow is a magical delight (previously encountered only in books or on TV) – now a real opportunity to build snowmen and make snow angels. Others look out the windows with anxious eyes and load up with layer upon layer of clothing to courageously face the snow.

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Kinbrace Camp 2013

September 17, 2013 by Loren Balisky

In the morning of August 16th our group gathered at Kinbrace to go camping. It was a bit rainy, yet everybody was enthusiastic about the 3 days we were going to spend at Camp Byng on the Sunshine Coast. After some preparation we hit the road in two buses. We had to go on a wonderful ferry ride, with sandwiches and snacks waiting for us on the top deck. After the ferry we again drove by bus to Camp Byng. The man in charge there welcomed us. Continue Reading →

Retracing footsteps through the dark

May 3, 2013 by Loren Balisky

Ricardo emerged out of the rain and darkness of a Vancouver winter carrying with him a carefully wrapped box. It was a Tuesday evening – our regular time to gather as a community to share food and friendship at Kinbrace.

I hadn’t seen Ricardo for over six years. He’d lived at Kinbrace for several months in 2006 when he first arrived in Canada seeking refugee protection. Skilled as an artist and construction worker, he soon found work, moved from Kinbrace, and shortly after received refugee protection.

Then, we lost contact.

“I wanted to come back to say Thank You,” he said as we ate from our steaming bowls of soup.

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READY Advisory Committee and support team celebrate Layne Daggett’s 5 years of service on the READY Committee and say farewell on his retirement. Layne was the inspiration behind READY Tours starting in 2008.

Kinbrace READY Receives Award

March 23, 2013 by Loren Balisky

Kinbrace is honoured to be one of four recipients this year to receive the Inspiring Advocacy Award from the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) at their national conference http://cialismax.com/generic-cialis-online-recommendations/ on 03 October 2013.

Fran Gallo (READY Coordinator) and Alexandra Charlton (READY Advisory Member) were on hand with Loren Balisky (Kinbrace Director) to receive the honour of the CARL Award. Continue Reading →

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Our Island Thanksgiving

October 22, 2012 by Emily Parsons-Dickau

There was a buzz of excitement leading up to our first Kinbrace Thanksgiving weekend . In the days before the trip, conversations about work permits and hearing dates were interrupted with questions like “are we really going to an island?” and “how tall is the mountain we’re going to climb?”

Most residents were excited as soon as they heard about the 2-night trip to Daybreak Camp on Anvil Island. Some, however, were worried that their stresses of finding an apartment for $375 (the current welfare rate), or affording a trustworthy lawyer, would follow them across the water and make it too difficult to relax.

After words of reassurance, 50 members of the Kinbrace Community packed their bags and waited, with both fear and anticipation, for the weekend to come! Continue Reading →

We’re launching something new!

April 29, 2012 by Loren Balisky

Kinbrace began in 1998 under the direction of Salsbury Community Society with a simple purpose: to welcome and assist refugee claimants in Metro Vancouver with supportive, transitional housing.

Since those humble but clearly focussed beginnings fourteen years ago, Kinbrace has matured and had significant impact, providing housing and settlement support to nearly 400 refugee claimants, and orienting hundreds more through education programs.

Recognizing our growing identity and clear purpose, Kinbrace and Salsbury leadership discerned that our vision would be best served by a distinct incorporated organisation.

We are delighted to announce the founding of Kinbrace Community Society! Continue Reading →

Photo: Mark Janousek

My New Family

April 29, 2012 by Loren Balisky

One afternoon in the winter of 2011 I arrived at the airport of Vancouver B.C, which is very far away from my home country Eritrea. It was the end of a prolonged and painful journey. At least, that was my thought at that time. I blessed the Lord for allowing me to have a safe and protected trip. I lived in the moment, but soon after arriving I realized that I had to deal with issues in the new, unknown country I landed in. No question, I felt safe but I realized that new worries began to surface. I couldn’t say that I was happy, as I had left behind the life I built for so many years, including the people I loved the most.

New challenges were at the door. Where could I live? What did I have to do… and when… and how? Continue Reading →