Recognition of The Presbyterian Church in Canada for 30 Years of Refugee Sponsorship

Judge Raminder Gill (centre) presents the letter of recognition to Hildy Stollery (left) and The Rev. Dr. Art Van Seters (right)

Recognition of The Presbyterian Church in Canada for 30 Years of Refugee Sponsorship

The ongoing commitment and dedication of Presbyterians across Canada to ministry with refugees through Presbyterian World Service & Development was officially recognized by the Canadian government on October 15, 2009.

At a special reception hosted by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, representatives from The Presbyterian Church in Canada received a letter of acknowledgement and thanks for the church’s involvement in the private sponsorship of refugees for the past thirty years, “motivated by compassion, caring and a desire to take an active role in protecting refugees.”

Representing the PCC were Ms. Hildy Stollery, member of the refugee committee of Morningside High Park PC, Toronto, The Rev. Dr. Art Van Seters, convener of the PWS&D Committee and member of the refugee committee of Armour Heights PC, Toronto, and Colleen McCue, PWS&D Senior Administrator.

Hildy and Art accepted the letter on behalf of the hundreds of committed and caring Presbyterians who have dedicated themselves to refugee ministry. They represent the spirit of humanitarianism which has propelled the private sponsorship program and which has given thousands of refugees the opportunity to begin new futures of hope and opportunity in Canada.

You can learn more about the refugee ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada by visiting www.presbyterian.ca/refugees

Presbyterian World Service & Development is the development and relief agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.