Newcomers Find Friendship and Hope at The Salvation Army in Quebec

There are many challenges that come with moving to Canada. The Salvation Army journeys with people to break down barriers and give them a better tomorrow.

Diego’s story

At age 28, Diego left Venezuela and went to the United States as a student with his family—without resident status.

“We became parents of two children during that period,” says Diego. “When the pandemic arrived, we were scared for our safety. With no insurance or a place to go, we came to Canada. We didn’t know the language and had no family here. The reality of our situation hit us hard. We not only lacked food, but felt isolated and frightened.

“They constantly encouraged us to persevere and reassured us that everything would be alright.”

“As soon as we arrived in Quebec, we searched for a Salvation Army in our area. The Salvation Army provided us with food assistance, and counselling and advice on how to adapt to our new community. They constantly encouraged us to persevere and reassured us that everything would be alright. This support has been incredibly important to us, and we give back by volunteering our time. We want to help others in our community.”

Diana’s story

Three years ago, Diana’s family left everything behind in Ecuador.

“In Ecuador, our family struggled every day,” says Diana. “We had four children, and the situation was worsening. Eventually, we made the difficult decision to leave our country with little notice. When we arrived at the airport in Canada we didn’t know what to do next, so we took a taxi and asked the driver to take us to a place to spend the night.

“We found a sense of brotherhood and community beyond the food bank and donations.”

“Adapting to a new climate, language, and culture was incredibly challenging, especially as the pandemic was just beginning. However, we were fortunate that The Salvation Army opened their doors to us. We found a sense of brotherhood and community beyond the food bank and donations. People took the time to listen to us, pray with us, and support us through the toughest times.”

By Jonathan Gagne