The AURA Bulletin
~ news & updates for refugee supporters ~
September 2020 | AURA's Quarterly Newsletter
The global pandemic has made 2020 a very unusual year and we would like to thank you for your continued support. Your generous donations through; Plantables, World Refugee Day, and the Ride for Refuge are ensuring refugees are able to rebuild their lives through refugee sponsorship. We appreciate every donation and are particularly thankful during these difficult times.

AURA has continued submitting refugee applications and supporting sponsors during Covid-19, but has not had any arrivals since March due to travel restrictions. Last month the government announced a slow and careful resumption of travel from certain regions and we are so pleased that one family will be arriving this week!

In this edition of the newsletter you will find: updates and resources for sponsors on Covid-19 issues, new AURA materials, and learn how this year's Ride for Refuge Teams will be responsibly participating on October 3rd.

Thank you for being part of the AURA community!
~ Alex and Marin (your AURA team)
Covid-19 Information
As the government slowly and carefully resumes travel there are restrictions for all people arriving in Canada. Everyone entering the country will have their health assessed on arrival and MUST have a plan to quarantine for 14 days. This includes all sponsored refugees.

RSTP has created an excellent Travel Resumption Resource Kit that outlines the policies and procedures that MUST be followed for the foreseeable future.

The Resource Kit:
  • Summarizes the mandatory entry requirements that all persons arriving or entering Canada must follow.
  • Provides readiness checklists that sponsors can use to prepare a quarantine plan. This plan is essential to ensure the newcomers are able to comply with restrictions placed on them on arrival.
  • Collates publicly available information and resources on Covid-19 that can assist sponsors and sponsored refugees.
When the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was introduced the government accepted most applications.
Some people have received money that they were not eligible to receive.

Resettled refugees with a sponsorship in process are only eligible to receive the CERB if they meet ALL the requirements: including having earned at least $5,000.00 from employment over the past 12 months. If the CERB was received in error, the government is encouraging repayment by December 31st, 2020 without any penalty or further consequences.

The CERB is a contract between the recipient and the government, meaning sponsors are not financially responsible for any mistaken applications. But, sponsors are encouraged to ensure newcomers understand the need for repayment and any potential consequences for mistaken applications.
Join us for the 2020 RIDE for Refuge:
This year, RIDE Freestyle!
You can still select the classic 5 km walk, or the 10, 25, or 50 km bike ride. But now there are many new fun and rewarding RIDE Freestyle options. Click here to learn more.
The RIDE will happen as scheduled on Saturday, October 3, 2020, but will look very different than previous years. Covid-related health risks and operational challenges won't allow us to gather in large groups. Instead, teams are self-organizing covid-friendly plans as permitted.

AURA's 13 teams are all planning different activities for this year's ride. Many will be taking part in their neighbourhoods or have organized socially responsible activities, some highlights include:

AURA Ahmed Wheelers
Ahmed, who arrived with his family through AURA in 2016, has chosen to lead a team because "By participating in the RIDE, I can help pay back to Canada and AURA for the freedom they have given my family." Ahmed and his team will be riding in Newcastle.

Riders4Refugees
Team Leader Tim Taylor has chosen a flat and beautiful route for his team to participate this year. Their 10km round trip along the Don River bike paths will be starting and finishing at the Sunnybrook Stables. Tim has a history with refugee sponsorship is so impressed by the work that AURA does, that he as recently volunteered to join our Board of Directors.

Bike-thru Bakery
Elizabeth, in Aurora, is planning on holding a "Bike-thru Bakery". Her network includes people in the mountain biking community who love biking AND sweet treats, so she will be baking up a storm for the RIDE. She'll be inspiring people to contribute to AURA with chocolate chip cookies, banana muffins, and blueberry pie. Very creative!

Welcome Home
Marin (AURA staff) created this team because she "feels extremely fortunate to call Canada home - now more than ever. She wants to do her part to ensure as many people as possible can make Canada their home too." Join Marin's team for a socially distanced walk from Riverdale Park to Riverdale Farm (East end, Toronto) to mark the 2020 RIDE.

You still have time to join any of these or one of the ten other teams. Your participation helps raise awareness of refugee issues and your support helps refugees on the journey to safety..

World Refugee Day 2020
We would like to thank everyone who took part this June 20th in our "At Home" World Refugee Day Event.

In the past we have gathered together to learn and reflect about our roles as refugee sponsors. Obviously this year things were very different, but people found ways to commemorate the day by: screening refugee themed movies, participating in virtual gatherings, and signing up for this year's RIDE.

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, made a donation, or bid on a online auction item! Hopefully next year we will once again be able to gather together in person to mark World Refugee Day.
Ask AURA Anything:
What is the refugee situation like in 2020?

Every year the UNHCR releases their Figures at a Glance. Sadly the global situation continues to deteriorate:

"At least 79.5 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 26 million refugees, around half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement."

Refugee work is more important than ever before.
Do you have a question?
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any sponsorship questions. We are here to help. Call the office at (416) 588-1612 or click the link below.
Resources:
AURA has developed a Sponsorship Timeline as a reminder for sponsors about the timing of important tasks during the sponsorship year.

Please click the image or click here to download the pdf.
The Government of Canada’s Covid-19 information and resource hub has a wealth of information, including: the current situation, financial and economic support,
travel and immigration notices, and digital tools.

Please click the image or click here to visit the resource hub.







Do you have a resource you would like to share?