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MARCH 20 13 A section of the ANGLICAN Anglican Journal MONT REAL Official Publication of ANGLICAN the Diocese of Montreal Retired bank executive takes the reins at Action Réfugiés Paul Anthony Clarke, whose in - er in five locations, including the and develop a vision of “God’s bec in 2012 for 24 people originally ter est in the problems of refugees branch at Guy and St. Catherine Dream, … the timeless and univer - from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia goes back to his days as manager of Streets, where he came to know Gly - sal vision of a world transformed and Iraq. Applications for another 21 a downtown branch of the Toronto- nis Williams. ARM at one time had through... hope and compassion, refugees from the Democratic Dominion Bank, is the new execu - its quarters in the same building as humility and kindness, understand - Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, and tive director of Action Réfugiés the bank, before moving to the ing and forgiveness.” Syria were approved by ARM and Montréal, the second in its 19-year offices it has occupied for some years Dr. Williams, now associate secre - will be submitted to Immigration history. in St. James the Apostle Church, not tary, international ministries, at the once all necessary information has Mr. Clarke, who retired in 2012 far away. Presbyterian national office in been collected and paperwork com - aer a 33-year career with the TD It was at the Guy and St. Cather - Toronto, leaves an organization pleted. Bank, succeeds Rev. Glynis Williams, ine branch that Mr. Clarke also known for its compassion and for its During the six months between who founded Action Réfugiés in encountered numerous people seek - PAUL CLARKE efforts seeking justice and fairness the departure of Dr. Williams and 1979 and retired as executive direc - ing refugee status, many of them liv - for refugees. the arrival of Mr. Clarke, Rob Shrop - tor last year to take a senior post in ing in a nearby residence run by the to work at Action Réfugiés Montréal ARM’s detention program, co- shire a former staff member of the Toronto with her denomination, the YMCA. In describing his interac - represents a chance to fulfill a long- ordinated by Jenny Jeanes, brings Primate’s World Relief and Develop - Presbyterian Church in Canada. A tions with them, he speaks of the held dream to work for social jus - ARM staff and interns together with ment Fund, served as Interim Exec - faith-inspired organization, Action challenges of dealing with people tice.” over 400 people a year, the majority utive Director. Much of Mr. Shrop - Réfugiés (or ARM) has its roots in a who have come to Canada with little Mr. Clarke is an active member of of them asylum seekers, at the Cana - shire’s time was spent working with partnership with the Anglican Dio - or no French or English, oen lack - Cedar Park United Church in Pointe dian Border Services Agency’s Im - a consultant, funded by a private cese of Montreal and the Presbyteri - ing identity documents and with Claire, where he was chair of the migration Detention Centre in family foundation, to develop a an Church in Canada, and has sup - limited understanding of the Cana - congregational board from 2005 to Laval. Ms. Jeanes also co-ordinates communications and fundraising port from individual churches and dian banking system. 2009 and vice-chair from 2009 to ARM’s twinning program, matching plan to help secure ARM’s future. church members, among other Mr. Clarke says, “I’ve always con - the present. He has been active in refugee women with Montreal Says Mr. Shropshire, “ARM is an groups and people. sidered refugees as people who have committee work and currently rep - women for friendship and mutual important organization that pro - Mr. Clarke’s career with the TD a tremendous amount to offer Cana - resents his congregation at the Mon - learning and support. vides a lifeline to refugees overseas Bank began in 1979 as a teller. Over da. My team and I worked to ensure t real Presbytery of the United ARM’s refugee sponsorship pro - and to those seeking protection at the years, he progressed through that their banking needs were fully Church. gram brought 36 men, women and our borders. It is a living witness to a more senior roles, working most met, and that they were treated with A press release from the ARM children to Montreal last year – peo - church that reaches out beyond itself recently as “special officer” for the dignity, respect, and sensitivity.” board said Mr. Clarke’s strong ple who fled violence and persecu - to the world around it. It has been a Quebec Region with TD-Canada Mr. Clarke was appointed by the under standing of church life was tion in Afghanistan, Eritrea and privilege to work here, even if only Trust, helping branches in need on ARM board of directors at the end of important to ARM. In his time at Iraq. As well, sponsorship co-ordi - for a short time.” short-term assignments. January and he began work on Feb - Cedar Park, Mr. Clarke worked on a nator Mary Lou Docherty filed new He has worked as branch manag - ruary 25. He says, “e opportunity project to renew the congregation applications with Immigration Que - Churches will walk with first nations, Catholic activist pledges as Truth and Reconciliation commission launches April event Harvey Shepherd 2007 Indian Residential Schools Set - mandate but the churches will con - ional event” in Montreal April 24-27, “honorary witnesses” who take part Canada’s churches have to take tlement Agreement. Its mandate is tinue to walk with the first nations.” the fih of seven such events in dif - in the event: Éloge Butera, a survivor responsibility for their involvement to inform Canadians of what hap - Chief Andrew Delisle, a veteran ferent centres across Canada, to of Rwandan massacre of Tutsis and in efforts to implement deliberate pened during the 150 years of the activist from the Mohawk commu - learn more about the residential human rights activist, and Charles- policies of integrating aboriginal residential schools in Canada and to nity at Kahnawake, said the issues go schools and their legacy. e event Mathieu Brunelle, director general pupils by suppressing their lan - guide and inspire reconciliation beyond the question of residential will be in the Fairmont Queen Eliza - of Montreal’s Space for Life, which guages and cultures as well as for based on mutual understanding and schools. Indian reserves themselves beth Hotel; no registration is re quir - includes a section devoted to first incidents of abuse, a Roman Cath - respect. were a sort of residential school, ed and admission is free. nations lore in the Botannical Gar - olic social activist told a Montreal But Mr. McDonough said the especially up until recent decades, in e event is intended to provide den. gathering in February. churches have also acknowledged the way they repressed first nations former pupils, their children and Among the audience at the media Both were unacceptable, Brian their involvement and expressed people and their culture. (He others whose lives have been affect - launch were Dean Paul Kennington McDonough, director of the social regret, not only for abuses but for acknowledged that his own experi - ed to share their experiences in pub - of Christ Church Cathedral and Rev. action office of the Roman Catholic their part in repressing aboriginal ence at a school in Victoriaville run lic or private sessions. Public state - Karen Egan Chalk of the Church of archdiocese of Montreal, said at a language and culture and hope to by Sacred Heart Brothers was main - ments will be webcast at www.trc.ca. St. Andrew and St. Mark in Dorval. “media launch” for a public event work together with aboriginals in ly positive.) ere will also be traditional cere - Bishop Barry Clarke recently planned in Montreal April 24-27 by mu tual respect and with an ex change He said healing too needs to take monies, an education day largely for appointed her to represent the Dio - the national Truth and Reconcilia - of spiritual gis. He said the Truth place not only among first nations high school students, cultural per - cese of Montreal on a regional advi - tion Commission. e commission and Reconciliation Commission people but among others “who are formances and movies. sory committee for the Truth and was established as a result of the “will eventually come to the end of its feeling bad because of what their Dr. Wilson also introduced two Reconciliation Commission. ancestors did.” “e whole thing is about peace.” Marie Wilson, on hand at the media launch as one of the three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said the impact of residential schools was not as great in Quebec as in some parts of Canada but it was still con - siderable and its legacy needs to be dealt with. (According to one list, there were federal government schools admin - istered by Roman Catholics in Amos from 1948 to 1965, by Roman Cath - olics at Pointe Bleue, near Roberval, from 1956 to 1965, in La Tuque by Anglicans from 1962 to 1980, in Fort George by Anglican from 1934 to 1979, in Sept-Îles by Catholics from 1952 to 1967 and in La Tuque by Catholics from 1952 to 1967 and in Fort George by Catholics from 1936 to 1952.) CHIEF ANDREW DELISLE, a Kahnawake activist of long standing, chats CATHOLIC SOCIAL ACTIVIST BRIAN McDONOUGH says churches Everyone is invited to the “na t - with Marie Wilson, a commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation must take responsibility. Commission. (Photos: Harvey Shepherd) 2 – ANGLICAN MONTREAL ANGLICAN – March 2013 de l’encens, que Jésus est venu nous réponses.

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