Northpine Foundation
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REFUGEES

Reception House Waterloo

April 15, 2026

Meaningful Employment for Refugees in the Waterloo Region

In the Waterloo Region near Toronto, Reception House’s Open Doors program offers targeted job prep, employer connections, and year-long retention support to help refugees land and keep stable jobs.

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Solid State
February 28, 2026

Supporting Refugee-Led Co-op Businesses Across Canada

Refugees often arrive with professional skills and entrepreneurial drive, yet often land in low-wage, unstable jobs, often earning under $20,000 in their first year, despite huge potential for economic independence.

Impakt Foundation
February 28, 2026

From Emergency Shelters to Employment and Stability

Over 6,000 refugees use Toronto shelters nightly, many stuck for months beyond their emergency purpose. They are often ready and willing to work but blocked by isolation, paperwork delays, language gaps

Ivan Franko Homes
February 28, 2026

Care Careers for Refugee Healthcare Workers

Ontario's healthcare system faces a critical worker shortage amid an aging population and post-COVID workforce strains. Yet skilled refugees, many with post-secondary education and relevant experience

More Stories

Refugees arrive in Canada with proven resilience, yet the struggle persists as they begin the daunting work of rebuilding from scratch.

$37.7 M

invested across

36

organizations

553

refugees in stable housing

1748

refugees in meaningful employment

673

language level improvements

About This Portfolio

Finding a home, learning a new language, and getting a job are hard enough on their own. For refugees arriving in Canada, they must happen all at once, in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar systems, often without a network, and under real pressure to get it right quickly. When any one of these things falls through, the others usually suffer too. But when they come together, everything changes.

We believe that stable housing, meaningful employment and language fluency are more than just practical necessities. They are the foundation on which a sustainable and fulfilling life is built. And when it all comes together, it rewrites what's possible not just for individuals, but for entire families, and the communities and employers that welcome them.

Our Investees

Status:
Focus Area:

Impact Team

We are a small, dedicated team of people, with our impact leaders embedded in the areas they serve, working to change what's possible for our communities across Canada.

Our Approach

We fund organizations that are committed to creating better outcomes for refugees in Canada. Our priority areas are housing, employment and language training. Some of the best models we’ve funded, bring all three priorities together. We like to work with organizations that care about meaningful outcomes and have clear and demonstrable evidence that their work is making a real difference in people's lives.

What We Fund

  • We fund organizations that are committed to creating better outcomes for refugees in Canada. Our priority areas are housing, employment and language training. Some of the best models we’ve funded, bring all three priorities together.
  • We like to work with organizations that care about meaningful outcomes and have clear and demonstrable evidence that their work is making a real difference in people's lives.

Investee Highlights

Browse updates and media coverage of our investee partners, showcasing their work and impact.

Afshan Khurshid, who found work through the StartWork program.

December 3, 2026

Government-partnered initiative StartWork helps refugees find employment

The program partnered with four employers, which offered specific job training to 40 refugees

Geraldine Pacheco, left, is part of the Sewing Hope program that Constanza Safatle, founder of Newbornlander.

December 2, 2024

Dozens of refugee women recruited to sewing program that emphasizes hope and independence

Sewing Hope can support up to 120 women in the next two years

Nadia and Fatima pose in front of airport sign

January 13, 2026

Listening to Journeys: Transforming Child Welfare Through Refugee-Centered Training

From my perspective as a co-facilitator of the National Outreach Project training, 2025 marked a significant milestone for CWICE. The funding from the Northpine Foundation allowed CWICE to expand training in person and for a greater number of participants.

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March 24, 2026

New Future of Sport in Canada Commission Report Validates the Need for Equity, Inclusion, and System Reform in Canadian Sport

The Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN) welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, a landmark national review examining systemic challenges in Canadian sport.

Marwa Khobieh, of Milton, is among the recipients of this year’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.

August 27, 2025

From war-torn Syria, Milton woman receives recognition for helping refugees find sense of belonging

For her work as the Syrian Canadian Foundation’s executive director, Marwa Khobieth was recently named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2025 by Canadian Immigrant magazine.

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January 26, 2026

Mentorship can address barriers faced by refugee professionals

Rebuilding a career in a new country takes determination, resilience, and hope. But for many refugee professionals, the real challenges often lie beneath the surface. These hidden barriers can slow down progress, limit opportunities, and erode confidence over time.