Who We Are
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) 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.
Youth Council Members, top: Emma Westcott, Heather Pearson, Evan Rudderham. Bottom: Michael Burtt, Rob Shearer (staff) Matt Koovisk, Derrick Lovell. Not shown: Victoria Garrett and Maureen Bailey.
History
The Primate's Fund came into existence as a result of a terrible human tragedy in Canadian history. In 1958, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, 167 coal miners died underground after an explosion in the mine. 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.
Contact Us
The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund
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
E-Mail Links:
General Inquiries and Resources pwrdf[at]pwrdf.org
Executive Director ccurtis[at]pwrdf.org
Donations and Donor Relations bwilkins[at]pwrdf.org
PWRDF Response to Emergencies ngurung[at]pwrdf.org
PWRDF Offering Envelope Program aauyeung[at]pwrdf.org
Webtender webtender[at]pwrdf.org
