Strengthened by the contributions to campus life of refugees from prior refugee arrivals, and long active in related fields of study, the York University community is deeply affected by the global refugee crisis.

Home to the largest concentration of refugee and migration scholars in North America, York students, staff, faculty members and alumni are coming together to assist students and others fleeing conflict in search of new beginnings, while its scholars seek to promote better understanding and knowledge of the causes of and responses to refugee and forced migration flows.

A leader in the field of refugee and forced migration studies and education, particularly but not only through its Centre for Refugee Studies , York has taken a coordinated, multifaceted approach to respond as its students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors rally their efforts to support refugees and their families.

These efforts to pursue social justice and explore global concerns advance the University’s mission through proactive community engagement demonstrate the University’s commitment to its motto – Tentanda Via: The way must be tried.

In this context, in 2015 the University launched its Syria Response and Refugee Initiative, led by a project team of students and recent York graduates until its conclusion in April, 2019. The project was hosted and strongly supported by the Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) and its staff since its inception, with financial support from the Provost’s Office and Osgoode Hall Law School. Both the Osgoode and CRS communities generously shared their time, facilities, knowledge and resources with the SRRI’s staff and project participants, while the entire campus mobilized behind sponsorship and other efforts.

We encourage you to explore this site and the project's final report to learn more about the project's activities and collaborators. Our section on WUSC refugee sponsorship and our on-line information and resources page provides information on further opportunities to become involved in supporting refugees at York and in the wider community.