Bringing together knowledge, experience and commitment to the work of immigration and resettlement. 

Northern Lights Canada stands with refugees – and their friends and supporters – as they navigate the process of immigration and resettlement. We provide guidance, share resources and build on our collective strengths as we work alongside people who have been forced to flee their homes, celebrating as they begin new lives and make the most of their boundless potential.

Because every contribution helps, and each additional person adds exponentially to our reach and impact. Whether you have time, money, energy, a lot of friends or just a big heart, we need you.

We are volunteers, whose strength comes in working together. 

By networking with other volunteers of all stripes - professionals, philanthropists, newcomers and advocates - we aim to:

• Connect refugees and newcomers with the resources, contacts and organizations they need to find better opportunities to live, work and study.

• Promote a great understanding of the realities of displacement and migration, both in Canada and globally.

• Recruit and educate volunteers to take part in the private sponsorship process to bring deserving refugees to Canada.

• Aim to be an advocate and support for refugees and asylum seekers, to amplify their voice, tell their stories and share their unique gifts with the world.

• Develop tools to help sponsors support refugees in culturally-responsive and meaningful ways.

• Network with other groups and private citizens who are making a difference in the lives of the displaced – through medical, education, employment, resettlement and advocacy efforts. 

• Do our best to help newcomers find jobs, apartments, furniture, professional contacts and friends.

What We Don't Do

Since we're volunteers and limited in number, we cannot sponsor all the refugees who need it. And because we are not an NGO or Sponsorship Agreement Holder, we also cannot influence government policy or influence which refugees are accepted into this country. 

Our purpose is to answer questions and encourage connections with Canadians who want to become sponsors. But not to be in charge of these connections!

SOUND INTERESTING? JOIN US

STRONGER TOGETHER: Together we’re building a network of volunteers and humanitarians to find hope and opportunities for displaced people worldwide. 

In the Fall of 2019, some friends and private sponsors came together to ask, “How can we share what we know to help make things better?"

Motivated and inspired by the newcomers they had met and helped settle in Canada, they asked themselves, "How can we build a network of like-minded people to join us on this amazing journey?”

Since that time, we have reached out to organizations, advocates and everyday citizens to bring energy and scale to our efforts.

Why We Do It

There are plenty of resources to help guide people on the private sponsorship journey. The Refugee Sponsorship Training program has produced a terrific website and some great videos that tell you everything you need to know. And the most exhaustive guide of all is offered by Canadian immigration.

What's missing, perhaps, is the why of sponsorship - the reason why everyone should consider getting involved in this terrific effort to help refugees build a new life. As Canadians, we have this incredible privilege of living in a country that offers us relative peace and stability. With that privilege comes a responsibility to help those who lack such things. 

Lending a Hand

That's where Northern Lights comes in. Whether you're writing a letter to your MP, putting together a new sponsorship team, or lending a helping hand to someone already in this country, we are excited to be part of the journey. And hopefully we'll give you advice and insights - and a sense of community - you won't find anywhere else.

Through the power of inspiration, education and a little perspiration, let's come together to find a  local, made-in-Canada solution to a global crisis.