News

❄️❄️ WINTER THINGS ❄️❄️ Holiday parties begin and hearty meals from our talented kitchen team continue and a Children’s Program egg drop challenge takes place (everyone was a winner!) and sledding fun and Women’s Program workshops wrap up and our youngest residents being together in friendship and birthdays. . . . #refugeeshelter #refugeefamilies #refugeefamiliestogether

Christie residents together with staff Carol and Meyuu (back row, right) at this Fall’s Women’s Wellness Program graduation. For women living at Christie, the majority of whom are single mothers (68%), our Women’s Wellness Program is a six-week series of health and well-being workshops we offer twice per year. This Fall’s cohort included many new moms with babies. Meaningful workshops and information sessions addressed new mom stress, postpartum depression, parenting, diabetes, the importance of health screenings and healthy eating. A big thank you to our Child and Family Worker, shelter support staff, on-site health clinic doctors and other guest speakers involved in ensuring the program’s continued success for this cohort. A further thank you to the Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health for continuing to fund this invaluable program in 2025, as part of their $1.75 million investment in community programs that help improve the state of women’s healthcare across Canada. . . . #refugeehealth #womenshealth #refugeewomen #newmomsupport #shoppersfoundationforwomenshealth #refugeeshelter #refugeewomenrising

As we head into the Christmas and holiday season soon, we are looking to meaningfully support the many refugee families who have recently moved out. Food is expensive (!!) and grocery gift cards help offset costs for refugee families settling into apartments and juggling Canadian expenses (Christmas toys, winter clothing, utilities, rent) for the first time. . . . #givingback #refugeefamilies #foodinsecurity #foodinsecurityawareness #refugeeshelterhouse

Did you know that almost 70% of refugee families who stayed in Christie shelter last year were female-headed single parent families? Did you know that almost 1000 health appointments were held at our on-site health clinic, with the majority of patients seen being girls and women? Did you know that last year we held 13 Women’s Wellness Program workshops, to supplement the health and and wellness services offered to women living at Christie? Our Women’s Wellness Program is a six-week series of health and well-being workshops for women living at Christie, covering topics including parenting, art therapy, nutrition and healthy eating and stress management. Thank you to the Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health for continuing to fund this invaluable program in 2025, as part of their $1.75 million investment in community programs that help improve the state of women’s healthcare across Canada. Christie was one of 12 organizations selected for our work improving access to healthcare for women. We are grateful. Our next Women’s Wellness Program session begins in October 2025. #refugeehealth #womenshealth #refugeewomen #shoppersfoundationforwomenshealth

✨ Meet Damaris & Her Son ✨ From arriving in Canada with only hope and a suitcase to becoming a strong voice for refugee families—Damaris’s story is one of courage, love, and transformation. 🌍 Discover how Christie Refugee Welcome Centre walked alongside her every step of the way, and how together we can keep building safe beginnings. 💛 Read her story & be inspired #RefugeesWelcome #RideForRefuge #NewBeginnings #ChristieRefugee

Injera! 🇪🇹 Our Kitchen Team has developed an ethnic food menu, offering families more ethnic food dishes throughout the month, with two days per week dedicated to a country and its national cuisine. Last week, Christie ate GOOD with #injera (Ethiopia). As families live at Christie for longer (average 6 months) due to the Toronto housing crisis, small comforts like food from home can make their stay in shelter a tiny bit more positive. Food is at the centre of so much. #refugeesupport #refugeeshelter #refugeesintoronto #ethiopianfood

New year, new beginnings! 🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒Back to School is special around here. We held our #backtoschool BBQ recently, providing 34 children living at Christie with brand-new backpacks filled with school supplies. Ten families who recently moved out of the shelter were also gifted with new school supplies. Thank you to the generous donors who helped make this back-to-school gift possible 💕 #backtoschool2025📚✏️ #refugeeshelter #refugeesintoronto #refugeechildren #refugeeeducation

this summer at Christie ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ 1. Babies growing and thriving. Did you know there are 6 (!) babies under 6 months currently living at Christie?! 2. Small hands helping to set up our community garden. Thank you to the Jackman Foundation for funding this project. 3. Our annual staff retreat to Niagara Falls. 4. Some of the incredible staff that make up Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. 5. Winding down our Tuesday After-School Friendship program with Palmerston Public School. 6. Cake and fresh berries to celebrate the six women graduating from our in-house employment training program, Career Entry Pathway. 7. Learning about and recognizing Canada Day together for the 1st time. 8. Our Shelter Manager launching our Anti-Black Racism Committee to residents during July’s resident meeting. 9. Dance and food for our annual Multicultural Day celebrations. #refugeeshelter #refugeesintoronto #refugeeswelcome #refugeeswelcomehere

We celebrated World Refugee Day last week. Thanks to YOU - our supporters, friends, donors, neighbours, current Christie residents and former Christie residents, our World Refugee Day street party was a massive success with over 100 of you joining us to show solidarity with refugees. Solidarity with refugees is about using our power and resources to support, provide and ACT on behalf of refugees when the systems we exist in do not. You help us show this solidarity on World Refugee Day, and everyday. #worldrefugeeday2025 #worldrefugeeday