June 20th marks World Refugee Day, a day that honours the people who have been forced to flee their home countries to seek safety for themselves and their families elsewhere. Historically, Canada has welcomed refugees and given opportunities for those who seek to start a new life free from fear and persecution.

Today there are over 100 million refugees and forcibly displaced persons worldwide, and an urgent debate is happening over Canada’s recent expansion of the “Safe Third Country Agreement” (STCA) with the United States.

Many experts and advocates argue that the implications of the STCA are severe: Canada is closing its border to countless refugee claimants arriving by land. So is Canada shirking its humanitarian responsibilities?

Join us for a lunchtime event where we’ll feature stories of resilience from refugees who journeyed to Canada by land, a musical performance by refugee musicians, and a panel conversation on the current controversy over the STCA featuring the following speakers:

– Aleks Dughman-Manzur, President of Canadian Council for Refugees

– Amanda Aziz, Executive Member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers

– Olamide Olaniyan, Associate Editor at The Tyee