Each year, the Y Residence receives refugee status claimants who have recently arrived in Canada. They will remain at the residence for approximately one month, until they have found an apartment and settled in. Covered Garden accompanies persons applying for asylum through their transition period at the Y, providing a welcoming environment and helping them integrate into society.

Covered Garden helps familiarize asylum seekers with their new environment through information workshops, intercultural discussions, and social and cultural activities. At the same time, it seeks to make the host society more aware of the realities faced by asylum seekers and refugees.

Covered Garden occupies three rooms at the Y Residence:

• Family Corner is a room that welcomes children and their parents. Activities are organized there every day. Children have access to language courses and other educational activities, or they can play and take part in excursions and exchanges with schools.
• The Youth Lounge offers a gathering place for teens aged 12-17 and provides them with opportunities to get to know their new environment and develop their independence. They can also take part in excursions to explore their new city.
• The Lounge gives adults who have to spend considerable time dealing with administrative matters a place to relax. It provides them with language courses and information workshops. On weekends, excursions are organized in order to help them familiarize themselves with Montreal.

Covered Garden is continuously adding new services. In recent years, it set up a computer room with Internet access, a bike rental service, and an emergency clothing supply. Through partnerships established with different organizations and institutions, the program is constantly being enriched.

Since 2006, Covered Garden has been actively involved in World Refugee Day, an initiative that seeks to raise public awareness.

For more information, please contact, Héloise Ouimet at the Residence,
514 932-5353, ext. 204.