Every day we witness the fallout of the global crisis of displacement. And we see how governments too often fail to act – or act to make matters worse. Federal immigration laws continue to limit access to status and force people to make life-threatening decisions to seek safety. Ottawa City Council refused to pass a sanctuary city policy, and cities that have policies on paper continue to fail people with precarious immigration status. It’s clear that the work of building inclusive and safe communities for all must begin with us.

We believe that we have the knowledge and the power to do this. In Ottawa and across Canada, organizers, community members and front line service providers have been building safer communities through creative strategies developed from the ground up. Let’s bring our collective skills and experience together to build a sanctuary city from below.

Join us for a day of discussion, learning, and strategizing about:

– Critical Casework: Protecting privacy and access to services
– Border Crossings: Supporting failed asylum seekers
– Unconditional Access: Examples from other cities
– Policing and Immigration: Limiting police discretion

Special guests include:
– Ingrid Mendez, Sanctuary Health, Vancouver
– Serge Bouchereau, Comité d’action des personnes sans statut (CAPSS), Montréal
– Overdose Prevention Ottawa

*Free and open + Snacks

*Onsite childcare

320 Jack Purcell Ln, Corner of Elgin St. 9am – 3pm
* The venue is fully wheelchair accessible.