I recently read a negative remark about the parents of post-war immigrant children. It said that they never told their children “I love you”; that their children did not receive vocal expressions of love from them. And yes, it’s true that I don’t remember my parents telling me that they loved me. Nevertheless, I was…
The narrative arc in Mary Kooy’s How Did I Get Here? An Immigrant’s Odyssey is framed by the encouraging voices of a Dutch community leader, a high school principal, and a faculty advisor. Yet the emotional content is dominated by a far more formidable force: her mother. Only by rejecting her mother’s voice does Mary…
In case you haven’t heard (that’s a joke, of course you’ve heard), Alberta is holding a referendum this month. The most high-profile question Albertans are being asked concerns whether or not the Government of Alberta should initiate the legal process of holding a binding referendum on separating from Canada (whatever exactly that means; the Constitution…
Sorrow / is backed up at your border / It is another day in the life of the world / on its head / Sorrow and need / are lined up / and leaning against the line / you have drawn around yourself
“I don’t really like politics” is a sentiment I have heard countless times, even in Christian communities. But immigration, like many other things, is political. Canadians involved in welcoming refugees spoke to Christian Courier (CC) about how to get political by supporting refugee resettlement. “Getting to Canada is only the beginning,” says Kailee Brennan, Executive…
As a child, my family was separated due to immigration policies and now I’m a migration scholar. I have long pondered: whose lives and families are valued and devalued by state policies? Who can count on having a nuclear and extended family by their side? I now know; family separation is a constant feature of…
Many of us enjoy the fresh fruit and vegetables that are so abundant at farmstands and grocery stores at this time of year, but how often do we think of the human cost of this abundance? Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is often described as a “triple-win” for origin countries, Canada, and migrant workers;…
It was a Saturday evening. June 3, 1950. We were crossing a long bridge and entering Prince Edward County. At the wheel was Mr. John VanderVliet, the fieldman for Dutch immigrants. My father, mother, brother and I sat in the back seat, filled with anticipation and apprehension. Our beginnings in Canada thus far had been…
In January 2025, life for pastors Obed and Alay Martinez changed dramatically. Carrying only the luggage they needed for a short trip, they flew from their home in Cuba to Miami. They were visiting their children and grandchildren, who had lived there for 20 years. “When I saw my grandchildren for the first time in…
On January 27, Fosiyo Iye Fidow heard that all flights for refugees travelling from Kenya to Canada are cancelled. All refugees waiting for flights have been asked to wait until further notice, and no reason was given. Fosiyo’s application to come to Canada was approved in June 2023. All requirements have been met: security checks,…
When Dan and Emily Coyne attend Sunday services at their church in Evanston, Illinois, they bring their Bibles – and their whistles. The Bibles are so they can follow along with sermons. The whistles are to warn their neighbours if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are in the area. “They’re with us all the…
In November 2024 I was involved in a public event at Toronto’s Church of the Redeemer, a historic Anglican church with beautiful stained glass and some monuments related to the First World War. Our event was called “Voices for Peace.” The organizing team represented five different organizations and networks: the Henri Nouwen Society, the International…
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