Gander Refugee Outreach

04/14/2024

Our committee has recently finished after a 7 year program that brought 4 families in 2016, one in 2020 and one last year. 11 adults and 12 children and they've added some Newfoundland born babies too.
To close our bank account the remaining balance was donated to a Syrian refugee sponsorship on the Bonavista Peninsula. The first of their 3 families finally has approval.
Help if you are able as they prepare a safe home for these families.
Thank you to the many individuals and organizations who assisted our families in any way over the past 7 years.
9 adults have completed requirements for citizenship so far. Citizenship applications can only be completed after passing required English tests. GRO paid $630 application fees for each adult and lesser fees for children not born here as part of our settlement program.

06/13/2023

Please help if you can. This will be life changing for this family and their sponsors.

Syamed and Jevine are Syrian Refugees who live in Iraq. They’ve been dreaming of coming to … Karen Ricketts needs your support for From Syria to Newfoundland

05/04/2023

Exciting to see one of out sponsored families registered with the province and starting his own renovation, painting and plastering business in St. John's area.
Please consider Adam for any renovations or new build needs.
He has experience in both commercial and residential properties and wants to build back the business he had before coming to Canada. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092398836524&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Paint& Plaster& Drywall & Flooring& Closets &Tiles

10/23/2022

ANC is looking for an online teacher.
Other positions too.

Thank you for considering the Association for New Canadians as your potential employer. The Association employs a team of dedicated individuals who work together in a diverse workplace to provide an array of services to newcomers in the province. To help fulfill that mandate, we strive to acquire po...

10/07/2022

A quick story: I made a friend on the next plane.

I started the conversation with the passenger sitting next to me and we had an interesting and heated but respectful debate about the value of immigration to our communities, and that immigrants don't come to take but to contribute and live peacefully, with which he disagreed very firmly.

Shortly after, we were discussing what to watch on the 3-hour Air Canada flight, and I said I heard this movie called "Peace by Chocolate" is quite good, as I was told. (I was very biased, I have to say - for those who don't know, this is the movie that tells the story of my family).

He took my advice and watched the entire film without knowing anything about me yet. I just wanted to get a neutral reaction from him to our journey since coming to Canada a few years ago without stereotypes or prejudices.

Honestly, I have never seen anyone that engaged with a movie in my entire life. The man was crying, laughing, clapping as if he was in his own theatre, which was absolutely remarkable. I enjoyed being a fly on the wall there and observing all of this.

After he finished watching, at the end when we show who our real family is, he looked stunned at me and said: "Has anyone told you before that you are the exact spitting image of that real Tareq guy at the end of the movie. You two are brothers or identical twins, aren't you?"

I had to unveil my identity right then 😉, but this truly was the most hilarious and surreal experience of my life. Knowing that my new friend left the plane with a different perspective about immigrants and refugees is very rewarding to everything we are doing.

Being proud of our stories truly changes the world.

09/13/2022

It was an honor and a privilege to accept a breakfast invitation from American Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen.
He was open to learning about the Ibrihim's experience as refugees and now new Canadian citizens in Gander.
This frank and intimate opportunity was exciting for us all!

08/20/2022

A couple in Plate Cove West are selling their collections, a car and other art as part of funding their private sponsorship of Syrian families.
They are renovating a house in preparation and have jobs lined up. A great project to support and their Round Da Bay Inn is a great place to spend money on a stay or meal or art or all three.
Diane

08/20/2022

It would be so good to see more people settling in Gander rather than just passing through after a few years. This is an important part of making Gander home.
Gander working with Muslim community to build mosque, retain Muslim doctors

Mayor Percy Farwell says there are several internationally trained Muslim doctors working in Gander — but the town has had difficulties convincing them to stay.

07/29/2022

What refugees bring to the table.

07/23/2022

This may not air here but you can watch on CBC Gem.
I spent an evening with this man when I went to visit Kurdish friends in Winnipeg.
He was our translator and also there to make sure they were okay. I was a woman they met briefly in Pearson airport years before. He was making sure my visit didn't have alterior motives.
We laughed and I probably cried. He was a lovely man who impacted many lives.
Please share if you want. His story needs to be heard. Diane Davis

All The Light You Leave: The Nour Ali Story is an emotional, heartfelt film about the late Nour Ali, a pillar of the Kurdish and refugee community in Manitoba, who devoted his life to creating a welcoming place for all newcomers.