Citizens for Public Justice - CPJ

Saturday is World Refugee Day—what are you doing to mark the day?

On June 24th, CPJ and the Anglican Diocese of Niagara invite you to hear directly from refugees, advocates, and experts about why We’re Better Together with refugees in Canada, and how you can help uphold the Canadian value of welcome.

📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕰️ 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
🏛️ In person: Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton.
💻 Online: RSVP to receive the Zoom link

✨ To register and learn more, click the link: cpj.ca/arcw-hamilton

🗞 In a Hill Times review of CPJ’s award winning refugee and migrant rights book A Renewed Canadian Welcome, Jim Creskey writes that the 11 contributors to the book tell a story that is “far more transparent and down to earth than what we are used to hearing”—as indeed, the book focuses on lived experience, human rights, and the often-overlooked realities facing refugees and migrants in Canada.

To read the review (subscription required) and order your copy today, click the link: cpj.ca/arcw-hill-times-review

There's an urgent conversation coming up to mark World Refugee Day—and we need you to be a part of it.

At a time when refugee rights are being debated and reshaped across Canada, we are seizing this moment to come together, listen, and reflect on what a more welcoming future can look like.

Join Citizens for Public Justice, the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, and local partners for We’re Better Together: A Conversation about Refugee Rights in Canada, part of CPJ's Renewed Canadian Welcome book tour and marking the Canadian Council for Refugee's Week of Action for World Refugee Day.

📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕰️ 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET
🏛️ In person: Christ's Church Cathedral, Hamilton
💻 Online: RSVP to receive the Zoom link

We’ll hear from speakers including Archdeacon Bill Mous and Brenna Sobanski, along with members of Rainbow Kings and Queens Hamilton, sharing lived experiences as LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.

✨ To register and learn more, click the link: cpj.ca/arcw-hamilton

The Spring Economic Update is about more than just the money—especially when our government’s fiscal priorities leave everyday Canadians behind.

While the military and fossil fuel industries have received massive government funding, the critical health and social services that keep Canadian families strong have been abandoned. At CPJ, we believe that Canadians deserve more from our government, and we have the tools, and the power, to get what we deserve.

Check out CPJ’s response to the federal government’s Spring Economic Update at the link: cpj.ca/canada-strong-for-all-is-not-the-plan-it-says-it-is/.

And let us know in the comments: what do you think the government is prioritizing? 👇

Canada is at a turning point. Our country’s immigration policies are becoming less fair, and public sentiment towards immigration is taking a concerning negative turn.

But CPJ members have been raising their voice and telling the government that refugees and migrants are valued members of our communities—as friends, neighbours, and colleagues.

Through our new refugee and migrant rights fundraising campaign Building the Canadian Welcome, together we’ll:

🏛️ Advocate directly with Members of Parliament
✝ Equip churches and communities for meaningful action
🎤 Host conversations about welcome and belonging across Canada,

Plus, we’ll amplify migrant and refugee voices, mobilize Canadians to uphold dignity, compassion, and human rights, and publish public policy research.

Thanks to the generosity of two CPJ donors, we’ll match every dollar you donate up to $20,000! To double your impact today and help us build the Canadian welcome, visit cpj.ca/BTCW

There has been longstanding public support for immigration in Canada—so why does it seem like public sentiment is shifting negatively?

At events across the country on the Renewed Canadian Welcome Book Tour, contributors to CPJ’s new book (from McGill-Queen's University Press) are sharing important reflections on migration, justice, and belonging. One of the contributors, Dr. Patti Tamara Lenard, reminds us of the importance of challenging anti-immigrant narratives and continuing to build policies and communities that welcome newcomers with dignity and respect.

You’re invited to join us online and in person at uOttawa on May 28th to hear from Dr. Lenard, engage in conversation, and learn how people across migrants, advocates, and experts are working together to uphold rights for immigrants in Canada.

RSVP by clicking the link: cpj.ca/events/arcw-uottawa

It’s the end of May, which can only mean one thing for the CPJ community: it’s time to gather, share a meal, and build our public justice movement!

On May 28th, we invite you to join an evening of celebration and solidarity online and in person at the University of Ottawa:

At 6 p.m., we are delighted to present Dr. Patti Tamara Lenard and Shabnam Salehi at the Ottawa stop on the Renewed Canadian Welcome Book Tour, where we’re gathering with migrants, advocates, and experts across the country to generate a better conversation about refugees and migrants in Canada.

After a break for refreshments (rumour has it there will be falafels present), CPJ members will vote in our 2026 Annual General Meeting. The AGM is a great moment to learn about our public justice movement’s history and get involved as a member by making a donation of any size.

To register, head to the event page: cpj.ca/events/arcw-uottawa

See you there! 🍅

How do we create a more welcoming and inclusive Canada? And what can YOU do to help?

During our cross-country tour, contributors to A Renewed Canadian Welcome (published by McGill-Queen's University Press ) have been sharing important reflections on migration, belonging, justice, and solidarity. In a conversation with CPJ, Shabnam Salehi reminded us why centering the voices and lived experiences of refugees and migrants matters.

You have the opportunity to hear from Shabnam and other advocates at The Renewed Canadian Welcome Book Tour: University of Ottawa on May 28th. Together, we’ll engage in urgent conversation and reflect on how we can build stronger and more welcoming communities together.

🗓️ Thursday, May 28th
🕰️ 6 p.m. ET
🏛️ uOttawa - Room 4004 in the Faculty of Social Sciences building (120 University Private)

✨Click the link to register to attend in person or online: cpj.ca/events/arcw-uottawa/

Winnipeg: next week is your chance to hear from local community and labour organizer Diwa Marcelino, who is a community and labour organizer with 25+ years of grassroots experience at local and national levels, based in Treaty 1 territory.

You’ve still got time to register for the Renewed Canadian Welcome: Winnipeg! Join us at St John's College to generate a better and rights-upholding conversation about refugees and migrants in Canada and to mark the release of CPJ’s award-winning book A Renewed Canadian Welcome (from McGill-Queen's University Press).

📅 Tuesday, May 19
🕰️ 7:00-8:30pm CT
🏛️ St John’s College (Room 201) at 92 Dysart Road
✨ Click the link to register to attend in person or online: cpj.ca/events/arcw-wpg-st-johns