Surrey Partners with KPU, SFU to Become Canada’s First City of Refuge

The City of Surrey will provide a safe haven for creative folk at risk around the world

Surrey has become the first city in Canada to join the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), an independent organization of more than 50 cities and regions from around the world, each serving as a safe haven for writers and artists whose lives are at risk.

“I’m very happy that Surrey was accepted to host Canada’s first international city of refuge,” says Surrey Councilor Judy Villeneuve. “We have a partnership with [KPU], SFU, [Surrey Public Library], and PEN Canada, who are interested in participating in the project and will be supporting the writer throughout the two years that they’re here,”

A writer or artist at risk because of their creative endeavors can apply to ICORN for respite or, in extreme cases, someone else can apply on their behalf. The application is forwarded from ICORN to PEN International in London, who verify the applications. ICORN then composes a list of candidates and begins the vetting process.

With the confirmation process complete, ICORN selects a city of refuge for the candidate, which offers the writer or artist a safe haven to continue their work. Their residency will generally lasts up to two years, although ​another city of refuge may accept them afterwards. They may return home if it is safe or apply to remain in Canada, but it’s usually a means of temporary rescue, not permanent relocation.

“It could save their life,” says Aislinn Hunter, a faculty member in the creative writing program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. “That’s the most important thing to me about the project—it could save an individual’s life or it could save them from jail time.”

KPU is one of the City of Surrey’s partners in providing refuge to writers and artists at risk. As a Canadian author herself, Hunter understands not everyone in her profession has the luxury of creative freedom like she does.

“It gives them a location from where they can write freely, which I think is something we take for granted in Canada, but which is not always the case in other countries,” she says.

Currently, there is a case list of over a hundred writers and artists who are fleeing their country of origin and have obtained refugee status from the UN Refugee Agency. PEN International has already recognized them.

All they need now is an opportunity to escape. Unfortunately, ICORN has more applicants than available cities of refuge.

Grace Westcott, the executive director of PEN Canada, believes the refugee creative community is already aware of Surrey’s new designation as Canada’s first city of refuge, which can begin to help lighten the burden.

“We’ve signed an agreement with ICORN and now the challenge begins of fundraising and building up and choosing a writer and making sure everything is put in place for the writer,” says Westcott.

The project has been in progress for some time. Hunter hatched the idea of creating a city of refuge with Anne Giardini, a member of PEN Canada and chancellor of SFU. They decided to suggest Surrey because of Hunter’s KPU connections and Giardini’s SFU connections. Hunter then brought the idea before KPU Dean of Arts Dianne Purvey and President of KPU Alan Davis. They both thought it was a great idea.

“Amazingly [it] now involves KPU, SFU, the city of Surrey, and Surrey Library, so we have people from all over Surrey coming together, and as we move forward we’re hoping to bring in other institutions,” says Hunter. “We want it to become more inclusive, so it’s not about one group or institution getting the status of having done this. It’s about working together to make a difference in someone’s life and set an example for the rest of Canada, for what cities and municipalities could do if they wanted to.“

Both KPU and SFU are responsible for raising the funds for living expenses and accommodation, and will also provide teaching opportunities, possible residency, and income for the incoming writer or artist. This process of securing funds is currently ongoing.

“The city’s the host, but these universities are the lead on this project,” says Villeneuve. “[They] feel quite confident that we’ll be able to raise the money that we need for this particular project.”

“I think we all feel quite confident that the funds will be found,” says Giardini.

PEN Canada is helping the city of Surrey with the logistical details, such as getting a temporary work visa for the persecuted writer or artist. Members of the partnership that were available for comment were optimistic.

“I think it [puts] Surrey on the map in a new way,” says Giardini. “Surrey has been doing a lot for refugees and immigrants and probably hasn’t been as recognized as it might be, and this will be a little pinpoint of light that I think will show both what Surrey is capable of and what Surrey is already doing.”

“It’s very concrete, but it also has very strong [symbolism],” says Helge Lunde, executive director of ICORN, about Surrey’s new status as a city of refuge. “It’s the values of human rights, freedom of expression, solidarity, hospitality, creativity; all of these values come together. We are very happy that Surrey has now become part of this movement.”