The Local Welcome Committee for People Seeking Asylum (CALDA) is a collaborative space that brings together over 20 organizations from Ahuntsic and Bordeaux-Cartierville. Together, we work to better welcome, support, and accompany people seeking asylum or living with precarious status.
In recent years, the neighborhoods of Ahuntsic and Bordeaux-Cartierville have seen a growing number of people seeking asylum. These arrivals place significant pressure on community organizations, which often find themselves on the front lines responding to critical needs: psychological distress, insecurity, isolation, administrative barriers, and more.
In November 2022, during a general assembly of the neighborhood roundtable, the idea emerged to create a dedicated space for coordination to better align efforts around this reality. A community organizer from CIUSSS and a representative from BINAM (Bureau for the Integration of New Arrivals in Montreal) mobilized partners to create a collaborative space: CALDA.
The response was swift and strong. A press conference was organized, connections were built with organizations in Bordeaux-Cartierville, and an action plan was put into place. Thanks to emergency funding from Centraide, the first coordinator was hired. Then, with three years of support from the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation (FLAC), CALDA was able to establish itself as a key reference actor across the two neighborhoods.
President of the Board
Vice President of the Board
Treasurer
Board Member
Coordinator of CALDA
CALDA plays a pivotal role:
For people seeking asylum, it facilitates orientation toward the right resources through a clearer, shared, and regularly updated referral system among members.
For organizations, it provides a space for exchange, training, and peer support. For example, a discussion group was created with a psychology center, and training programs are being developed.
The rapid creation of CALDA demonstrates the strength of neighborhood roundtables as structures for responding to emerging needs. The leadership of Solidarité Ahuntsic, which leads the committee, makes it possible to:
Reduce the burden on community organizations
Maintain a neutral and inclusive approach
Ensure effective deployment across both Ahuntsic and Bordeaux-Cartierville
On an issue as vast as welcoming asylum seekers, coordination is key. It builds bridges, strengthens trust, and sparks collective projects that benefit the entire community.
