Sponsorship: Organizational,sponsor, and refugee perspectives

Canada inaugurated a unique sponsorship program through the Immigration Act of 1976. Twelve-month sponsor support creates both an initial bond and a friendship network projecting beyond the formal undertaking. Since the Southeast Asian wave in 1979–80, sponsorships have declined in frequency and in public visibility. More recently, variations of the sponsorship model involve shared responsibility with the federal government and local community organizations to widen the base of sponsor support and to alleviate burden in complex cases. Future policy directions may invite newcomers to assume a greater role in shaping their own resettlement pathways through transnational linkages. Also, centres such as places of worship should accommodate widely-used programs (health, labour market orientation) to bridge wider community services with newcomer idioms and customs.