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Who We Are
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) Le fonds du Primat pour le secours et le développement mondial is the Anglican Church of Canada's agency for sustainable development, relief, refugees, and global justice. With the support of Anglican parishes across Canada, PWRDF makes financial and human resources available to support partners' initiatives and to promote knowledgeable actions of solidarity at home and around the world.
PWRDF strives to be a part of the outreach ministry of every Canadian Anglican parish and an expression for all Anglicans of their baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.
Mission
PWRDF is a response by Canadian Anglicans to the gospel call to bear witness to God's healing love in a broken world. Inspired by the vision of a spirit-filled community of hope, PWRDF walks together with partners in Canada and overseas to share in the creation of a more just and peaceful world. In joy and struggle, the Primate's Fund engages in development work, responds to emergencies, works to protect refugees, and educates and advocates for change.
Vision
Communities fully restored to right relations based on God's call for peace, justice, and the dignity of every human being.
History
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund came into existence as a result of a terrible human tragedy in Canadian history. In 1958, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, there was an underground explosion in a coal mine, 174 men were in the mine when it collapsed, and 75 died as a result of the disaster. The tragedy moved Anglicans and other Canadians to respond with assistance for the stricken families. As a result of this experience, the church recognized the need for an efficient process to channel assistance quickly in situations of emergency.
In 1959, The Primate's World Relief Fund was established by the General Synod. In 1969, the name of the organization was officially changed to The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund which reflected the agency's maturing program focus and philosophy. PWRDF came to see that much deeper, long-term development needs were strongly connected to most of the suffering caused by natural or human-provoked disasters. Even more significantly, PWRDF realized that people who experienced these problems first-hand were in the best position to develop long-term solutions.
The newly renamed Primate's World Relief and Development Fund moved in the 1970s with a commitment to addressing long-term development needs and to working in partnership with local communities and organizations. During this decade, PWRDF also became more active in public engagement. The Fund recognized the need to engage Canadians in the issues of tackling injustice. The General Synod gave PWRDF the responsibility of coordinating a development education program for the whole Church in order to close the gap between donors and recipients.
In the 1980s, PWRDF became very active in working with refugees and in 1984 the Refugee Subcommittee and the Refugee Coordinators Network were both established. PWRDF has built a strong program for the support and advocacy of uprooted peoples, including refugees, internally displaced populations and migrant workers, internationally through relief and development programs, advocacy, and monitoring of human rights, and in Canada through networking, and education.
During recent years, PWRDF has continued to grow and build a strong programs and global partnerships. In 1999, PWRDF mandated a national Youth Initiative to engage young Canadians on social justice issues.
Organization
In the year 2000, with support from The Anglican Church of Canada, PWRDF became a separately incorporated agency with recognition and approval of the Canadian federal government under the title: The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund/ Le fonds du Primat pour le secours et le développment mondial". PWRDF's guiding principle is to listen and learn from partners in its development work. It remains a Christian organization, committed to a vision of international development and global justice that is founded on theological reflection and a faith-based analysis.
PWRDF is governed by a Board of Directors. The Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada comprise our voting membership. The national PWRDF staff work out of Toronto at the Anglican Church of Canada national offices. Volunteer parish representatives and diocesan coordinators participate in a national network in support of global education, communication and fundraising. The work of PWRDF is supported by individual donations, and by a generous contribution from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The Board meets twice a year in the spring and the fall, and holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at its fall meeting. The Board’s Executive Committee meets on a monthly basis between meetings. Every two years, the Board of Directors, Diocesan Representatives and the Youth Council gather to attend the AGM and Diocesan Forum. In alternate years, PWRDF holds four regional meetings in each of the four Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Anglican Church of Canada: Rupert’s Land, British Columbia, Ontario and Canada. Regional meeting information...
Contact Us
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund
Le fonds du Primat pour le secours et le développement mondial
80 Hayden Street
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2
Charitable Number: 8664 34640 RR0001
Phone: 416-924-9192
Toll Free: 1-866-308-7973
Fax: 416-924-3483
Directions to 80 Hayden Street.
Key Contacts
General Inquiries and Resources
pwrdf@pwrdf.org
Executive Director
Cheryl Curtis
(416) 924-9199 ext. 264
Donations
Jennifer Brown, Donor Relations Officer
(416) 924-9199 ext. 320
Emergency Response
Naba Gurung, Humanitarian Response Coordinator
Resources and Volunteer Support
Sheilagh McGlynn, Public Engagement Program Associate
(416) 924-9199 ext.316
Offering Envelope Program
Annie Au-Yeung, Administrative Associate Finance
(416) 924-9199 ext. 355
Youth Initiative
Simon Chambers, Youth Initiative Staff
(416) 924-9199 ext.366
PWRDF 50th Anniversary
Carolyn Vanderlip, 50th Anniversary Facilitator
(416) 924-9199 ext.266
In Canada Refugee Issues
Beth Baskin, Public Engagement Coordinator
(416) 924-9199 ext. 627
Website
E-mail webtender
Full Staff List
