World Refugee Day 2026

Multi-Agency Partnership (MAP) BC and the UBC Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) invite you to World Refugee Day 2026 — Strengthening Borders, Weakening Rights? — from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm at 312 Main, Vancouver.

World Refugee Day honours those who have been forced to flee their home countries to seek safety for themselves and their families elsewhere. At a time when growing global conflicts are displacing millions of people, many countries are also closing their doors to those seeking protection by toughening legislation and criminalizing migrants. After decades of building a reputation as a country that welcomes refugees, Canada has also joined this troubling trend.

With the passage of Bill C-12, Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, Canada has moved away from its longstanding humanitarian values. The barriers it creates may leave many asylum seekers vulnerable, without legal status or access to essential services. Are these laws strengthening border controls at the expense of refugees’ rights? What is the human cost of this Bill, not just for those seeking protection, but for the communities that seek to welcome them?

Program

12:00 – 12:45 PM: Information Fair with Refugee Serving Agencies

12:45 – 1:00 PM: Land Acknowledgement and Opening remarks by MAP BC and CMS

1:00 – 2:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Bill C-12 and the Human Cost of Canada’s Border Reform

2:30 – 2:50 PM: Storytelling

3:00 – 3:30 PM: Information Fair with Refugee Serving Agencies

About the Speakers

Panel Discussion: Bill C-12 and the Human Cost of Canada’s Border Reform

Moderator

Dr. Lisa Ruth Brunner — Research Associate, University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies

Storytelling

Shanga Karim — Kurdish–Canadian Writer and Journalist

Questions? Please contact admin.migration@ubc.ca.