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Detention monitoring in BC with UNHCR

December 16, 2015 by Loren Balisky

In July 2015, Kinbrace entered an Implementing Partnership Agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to carry out a six-month pilot project of detention monitoring in British Columbia as part of the Global Strategy -Beyond Detention.

Burnaby youth present present their $6285 cheque to Kinbrace!

Burnaby Students Have More Than Talent….

December 2, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Burnaby youth have more than talent: they’ve got huge hearts for global concerns and hardworking hands to bring change locally. Kinbrace was selected by the Burnaby District Student Advisory Council (DSAC) (student leaders from the eight Burnaby high schools) as … Continue reading

Meal in the Kinbrace yard. Photo credit Mark Janousek

Extending the Table

May 6, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Food shared at Kinbrace brings diverse people together:  asylum seekers, Canadians, neighbours, former Kinbrace residents, young and old. While there is much that alienates (language, history, fear, uncertainty), when food is prepared with care and with the intention of sharing, it … Continue reading

Donald Cho, Vancity Branch 12 Account Manager, helps refugees secure loans to pay for their permanent residence applications.

Vancity accelerates refugee integration

May 2, 2015 by Loren Balisky

When refugee-serving agencies in Metro Vancouver discovered a significant barrier limiting refugee integration, they approached Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union, for help. Vancity, with its commitment to building inclusive communities for everyone and helping people become “bankable,” is an … Continue reading

UNHCR - I. Prickett

Welcoming Syrian Refugees

April 24, 2015 by Loren Balisky

There are over 4 million Syrian refugees (half of them children) outside their country, living in precarious situations. The Canadian government is committed to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada. Religious groups, individuals, and others are rallying to bring Syrian … Continue reading

Martha Koehn

Record Breaking Ride for Refuge

April 24, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Congratulations to everyone participating in this year’s Ride for Refuge, breaking previous years’ records, demonstrating a profound welcome for refugee claimants. On the bright, sunny 3 October Saturday, 134 riders on 14 Kinbrace teams gathered midst 600 riders from other … Continue reading

Seeking Safety

April 12, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Listen as Binyamin tells the story of his family’s arrival as refugee claimants in Canada. This superb audio documentary “Lost and Found” provides a seldom-heard perspective through the experience of a teenager. Kinbrace was the “first home” for Binyamin and … Continue reading

Erin Pearce (left), Wellness Counsellor, leads Kinbrace's new Wellness Counselling Program.

New! Wellness Counselling Program

March 27, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Refugee claimants arriving in Canada often struggle with mental wellbeing, simply because they have and continue to encounter significant stressors and trauma. Kinbrace recently launched its Wellness Counselling Program under the direction of Erin Pearce to support the mental wellbeing … Continue reading

Kinbrace kids express happiness with a basketball hoop full of balls! Generosity begets gratitude.

Wide Generosity, Deep Gratitude

March 3, 2015 by Loren Balisky

Kinbrace supporters showed amazing generosity in the closing months of 2014, giving an unprecedented $83,000 ($40,000 more than last year) to support refugees through the Kinbrace mandate. October’s Ride for Refuge fundraiser was a spinning success where 9 teams (84 … Continue reading

Andrew Kuipers

Gifted Volunteer Interpreters

December 25, 2014 by Loren Balisky

Interpreters have an invisible gift. When I met Mariano at the appreciation dinner for READY Tour volunteer interpreters, I was amazed to discover he speaks 8 languages – 3 verbal and 5 sign languages. I wouldn’t have guessed it just … Continue reading