Parkdale Intercultural Association: Refugee Claimants

Parkdale Dept: Madi works at the Parkdale Intercultural Association, an immigration services storefront near Queen and Lansdowne; it might not attract your attention, but it is a beacon for refugee claimants in Parkdale, according to The Star. Her first customer this morning is a Tibetan man who has a question about his taxes. The man s English is halting but clear; it s also clear that he is working, and I can tell you that the Tibetans have transformed Parkdale for the better. Madi sends him down the hall for forms and life is short, the lineup is long, the phone is ringing, the day has just begun and already Madeleine Egri is swamped. Madi was hired to work here a few months ago; her job, to greet people, take calls and do office work; however, she speaks Hungarian, and many Hungarian Roma refugee claimants land in Parkdale, and so Madi s duties quickly expanded. Of course, immigration is a moving stream and she does not just work with people who have come from Hungary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.