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Credit Ray Spiteri/Niagara Falls Review/Postmedia Network
Who are they
Who are they
Casa El Norte was founded in 1990 by refugee Patricia Anzovino. Patricia started this charity as a way to help refugees coming over the border into Canada. She noticed a high demand for more shelter space and an organized approach to supporting and assisting refugees. She became close to the immigration officers and often got calls to pick up refugees at 2 in the morning. Before creating the shelter, Anzovino and her friends had been taking refugees into their own homes and motels. This was extremely challenging, so she asked the Sisters of St. Joseph in Peterborough for support. They responded with a $100,000 donation toward the purchase of a home that was to be used as a shelter for incoming refugees.
As of now, Casa El Norte has two full-time employees and one part-time. The director is Lynn Hannigan, and the shelter coordinator is Maria Londono.
Patricia Anzovino and Charlene Heckman on left and Anzovino again on the right. Source: Andrew Francis Wallace File Photo
Where is Casa El Norte
Where is Casa El Norte
Located at 281 Central Ave, Fort Erie, ON Canada
Open: Mon-Fri 9am - 4:40pm
Contact Casa el norte
Contact Casa el norte
Phone Number: 905-871-4483
Email: casaelnorte281@gmail.com
Fax: 905-871-3317
Casa El Norte values:
Casa El Norte values:
Giving support and stability to refugees
Protection against deportation (helping with documentation)
Job and financial opportunities
Casa El Norte mission:
Casa El Norte mission:
Support and serve refugees in the Greater Fort Erie region.
To provide a safe and welcoming community to the newcomers.
What makes Casa El Norte different
What makes Casa El Norte different
Our charity is different than others for many reasons. The first and most foremost reason that sets Casa El Norte from the rest of the charities is that it is the first shelter in Ontario for refugees and immigrants. From the start, the charity has had one goal in mind: support refugees crossing the Peace Bridge. To this day, they have kept this goal and expanded to provide more help to refugees in the Niagara Region. The refugees now have classes on English as a second language, as well as job support and temporary housing for persons fleeing war, persecution, and torture anywhere in the world. Casa El Norte has helped thousands of refugees that have come to Canada. With hundreds of thank yous, it really is different than the rest.
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