Staff from the diocesan Refugee Ministry, the Rev. Canon Peter John Hobbs, director of Community Ministries, along with sponsors and people who have come to Canada through the Diocese’s partnership with private sponsors were invited for meetings and a reception at the Australian High Commission in Ottawa in December.
Australia has launched its Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), which is modelled on Canada’s community sponsorship program and aims to support 1,500 refugees over four years.
As a Sponsorship Agreement Holder with the Canadian government, the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa has worked in partnership with parishes and other groups to sponsor and help resettle hundreds of refugees in Canada for more than 40 years. Australian officials wanted to learn more about the Canadian experience. They were also joined by staff from Refugee Hub in Ottawa.
St. Leonard, Rockingham — Deanery of the Northwest