April 8, 2016 by Loren Balisky
“My people buy these for a very expensive price, and still they drown,” Azad* tells me as he fits into an orange life-vest, looking out over the quiet south bay of Anvil Island, BC. The image of orange life-vests is synonymous … Continue reading
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.
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
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