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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
December 20, 2014 by Emily Parsons-Dickau
Every summer the Kinbrace community enjoys a weekend of camping together. This year, with our largest group ever (70 people!), we piled into school buses and travelled out to Maple Ridge, BC for three days of sun and fun.
December 20, 2014 by Loren Balisky
On World Refugee Day 20 June 2014 refugee claimants in Metro Vancouver and Toronto have a new resource available to help prepare for their refugee hearings. Refugee Hearing Preparation: A Guide for Refugee Claimants (RHP Guide) provides: an overview of key legal … Continue reading