In the fall of 2015, the Canadian government embarked on the largest resettlement initiative in recent memory, welcoming 25,000 refugees in just a few short months. Out of 45,000 Syrian refugees who arrived from November 2015–April 2017, over 1,700 came to Hamilton. Many support organizations described this period as overwhelming. However, the community came together and created several tables and collaborative initiatives to address the urgent needs of newcomers.
During this Cable 14 exclusion presentation, we reflect on research, lessons learned and the experiences of refugees here in the Hamilton region.