Canada: The Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre, 1344 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, M6E 1C4; telephone 416-654-2049

According to Canada411, a Kurdish Community and Information Centre is located at 1346 St. Clair, Avenue West, Toronto; telephone 416-654-2049. (20 April 2000).

In a 23 April 2001 telephone interview, a volunteer and member, of the Kurdish Community and Information Centre provided the following information. The Centre was founded in 1992 to provide settlement services and outreach to Kurds arriving in Toronto. Since then, the Centre has grown to serve several hundred members of the Kurdish community in Toronto and Canada (ibid.). Membership to the Centre is $20 / month however those who cannot afford this fee are still able to benefit from the services it provides. Membership fees cover the overhead costs of the Centre and any other costs associated with its activities.

Volunteers at the Centre help newcomers to Canada prepare the paper work surrounding their refugee claims, provide translation at hospitals, help find housing and other general settlement services. This is the main focus of the Centre.

The Centre is run by a Directors Committee which consists of six or seven individuals elected from the membership. The current President is Sukru Erdogan who is originally from Turkey. While the Centre has no political affiliation, the member did state that they are at times seen to be sympathetic to the situation of the Kurds in southern Turkey (ibid.). Further information on Erdogan was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The Centre did not reply to a written request for additional information.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canada411. [Accessed 20 April 2001]

Kurdish Community and Information Centre. 23 April 2001. Telephone interview with volunteer.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet Sites including:

Canadian Council for Refugees

Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Toronto

City of Toronto, Task Force on Community Access and Equity

COSTI

Globe and Mail

Inter-Church Committee for Refugees, Toronto

Toronto Star

Search Engines including:

Dogpile,

Google,

Hotbot,

Yahoo!