Community Events
August 8, 2026 (9:30AM – 4PM)
Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University: (Ryerson) University Lifeline Syria Challenge 10-Year Anniversary
The Lifeline Syria Challenge 10-Year Anniversary Event is a commemorative gathering hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to mark a decade since the launch of the Lifeline Syria Challenge. The initiative mobilized universities and communities across Canada to privately sponsor and support the resettlement of Syrian refugees in response to the global crisis.
This milestone event will bring together key stakeholders, including institutional leaders, community sponsors, policymakers, and individuals directly impacted by the initiative. The program will feature opening remarks from TMU leadership, a keynote address by Ratna Omidvar, a panel discussion reflecting on the initiative’s long-term impact, and personal storytelling from sponsored refugees and community members.
The event is designed to both celebrate the collective achievements of the past decade and foster dialogue on the future of refugee sponsorship and settlement in Canada. It will highlight the power of community-driven responses to displacement, recognize contributions from partners and volunteers, and reaffirm TMU’s ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and global humanitarian leadership.
May 7, 2026 (7:00AM – 8:30PM)
FRUN Community of Practice event: Refugee family reunification and the Route-Based Approach
February 25, 2026 (1:30PM – 3:00PM)
Canadian Council for Refugees: How People Working for Refugee Resettlement Can Join the “We’re Better Together” Campaign
This custom training for those involved with sponsorship and resettlement efforts across Canada, where we will walk you through how to use the “We’re Better Together” campaign to advocate for a fair and welcoming immigration system.
As support for immigrants and refugees continues to backslide in Canada, the “We’re Better Together” campaign has been created to improve public opinion and build momentum for an inclusive immigration system. In this training, leaders from the sector will cover the campaign’s messaging, overall strategy, and how to adapt the campaign to support your work in sponsorship and resettlement.
