Our Stories

Refugee family arrives to a warm welcome

St James Dundas and Christ Church Flamborough welcomed a refugee family to Hamilton, Ontario, on February 24. Below is an account of the family's first day in Canada, written by a member of the sponsoring group.

The Diocesan sponsored refugee family (from Iraq) arrived on November 19 and were met by several of us on the PWRDF Refugee committee. They have now settled nicely in their 2-bedroom apartment that was fully furnished from the kind donations of parishioners throughout the diocese.

“From Cookies to Champagne” is an initiative of PWRDF to mark the 50th Anniversary and encourages ecclesiastical provinces to engage in 50 activities to celebrate, raise awareness about or raise money for PWRDF. In the Diocese of Western Newfoundland, it might well be called “From Pennies to Pies”.

Last month we celebrated the beginning of a new year and a new decade. Anglicans were also celebrating the beginning of a new decade 40 years ago, and PWRDF (with the newly minted "D" in its name for "Development") was reflecting on its first 10 years of providing emergency and disaster relief, helping refugees, promoting sustainable development, and advocating for change. Our 1970s gallery, now online, reminds us of the work around the world that Anglicans in Canada, through PWRDF, supported during that decade.

During the 50th anniversary year of PWRDF, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Calgary, AB set up a display to bring environmental attention to the need for clean water in the world. A large water container was set up in the narthex with photos and statistics about water (eg. There are 884 million people in the world without a safe water supply and unsafe drinking water is a leading cause of death in children under five.) People bring their change, rolled pennies and other coins to deposit.

Beth Baskin, PWRDF

Horrific images of destruction in Haiti are flashed across television screens and printed in newspapers but stories of hope and solidarity are also emerging.

The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund is the recipient of the generosity of Anglicans in Canada. As of February 4 we had received $ 679,907.98 in donations primarily from individuals. Donate now

The Parish of Central Kings in New Brunswick is a three point rural parish serving three historic churches. Pictures of the churches and their story can be found on this link. Members of the three churches gathered at Bloomfield Hall for a Soup and Chowder potluck supper to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of PWRDF.

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PWRDF has sent a total of $50,000.00 to date to ACT Alliance's Rapid Response Program. In the chaos of aid distribution, ACT Alliance members are managing to get food, temporary shelter, water cleaning materials and expertise to the Haitian capital.

Anne Walling, PWRDF Coordinator Diocese of Fredericton

Action By Churches Together

People buried alive when houses collapsed