World Refugee Day: Windmill Microlending celebrates the strength, skills and contributions of refugees in Canada
From survival to stability and success: Windmill supports refugees in building thriving lives in Canada
TORONTO, June 20, 2025 /CNW/ - On World Refugee Day, Windmill Microlending (Windmill) is proud to recognize and celebrate the resilience, talent and economic contributions of refugees who have found a new beginning in Canada. Refugees bring diverse skills, ambition and tenacity. With the right support for integration in Canadian society, they not only rebuild their lives, but contribute positively to the communities and industries they join.
Yet despite Canada's reputation as a welcoming country, refugees continue to face significant delays and uncertainty. According to the Canadian Council for Refugees, there are now more than 100,000 active refugee applications in the backlog, with some individuals waiting over four years for a decision. In 2025, just one in five refugees and their family members are expected to gain permanent status. Government of Canada data also shows a four per cent drop in the number of refugees granted permanent residency in the first quarter of 2025 at 11 per cent – down from 15 per cent in the same period last year.
While negative perceptions persist, the economic contributions of refugees tell a different story. According to the UN Refugee Agency of Canada, most refugees prosper and join Canada's middle class within five years of their arrival and hold almost the same unemployment rate as Canadian-born workers. And with an average arrival age of just 28.9, they represent a young, motivated and skilled workforce – critical to addressing the country's aging demographics and labour shortages.
"Refugees are not only rebuilding a new life for themselves, but they are also rebuilding our economy, strengthening our healthcare systems and becoming active members of our communities," says Claudia Hepburn, CEO, Windmill Microlending. "Windmill is proud to help accelerate workforce integration for skilled newcomers, ensuring Canada can harness their full potential, faster."
Windmill has a partnership with TalentLift Canada (TalentLift), a non-profit recruitment agency and the Government of Canada's Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), an initiative which helps skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through economic programs. TalentLift and other partners also provide employers with access to a new pool of qualified candidates to fill job openings. Windmill offers low-interest resettlement loans to skilled refugees who have secured job offers in Canada and apply under the EMPP. These loans support their settlement, enabling them to move from survival to stability and ultimately, to long-term success. To date, Windmill has approved a total of 566 EMPP loans, supporting the resettlement of refugees while helping employers address critical labour shortages across Canada.
Windmill and TalentLift client Sabri Musa, a personal support worker and refugee from Sudan who now lives in Ontario, exemplifies how the right support at the right time can unleash someone's potential and provide an additive to our economy. After arriving in Canada through EMPP with a job secured by TalentLift and a loan from Windmill, Sabri is now contributing to the well-being of Canadians through his work with a healthcare provider in Ontario.
"I came to Canada with my wife, two kids and a baby on the way from Kenya. Having a job and financial assistance already secured made the transition much less stressful – and made our arrival possible," says Sabri Musa, Windmill/TalentLift client. "Without the support of Windmill and TalentLift, my family would not have the life we have today. I am able to work, raise our standard of living and give my children access to education, healthcare and nutritious food. I am proud to give back to the community that welcomed me with open arms and to call Canada our home."
Windmill's partnership with TalentLift is a key ingredient to its success of helping more than 13,500 skilled immigrants and refugees enter the Canadian workforce. As an organization dedicated to connecting displaced talent with Canadian employers, TalentLift identifies skilled refugees abroad and helps match them to job opportunities in Canada. The partnership has not only allowed for greater integration, but it boosts tax contributions and strengthens the country's economic resilience. With a strong repayment rate, the model delivers measurement impact – for families, communities and the broader economy.
"Talented individuals living in refugee circumstances globally have competitive skills, creativity and a deep desire to contribute," says Dana Wagner, Co-founder and Managing Director, TalentLift Canada. "If given the opportunity, people from refugee backgrounds can make enormous contributions to their new teams and communities. Canadian employers gain valuable new skillsets, long-term employees and a richer workplace energized by welcoming new colleagues from displacement. This is a smart and deeply impactful approach to building Canada's workforce."
As Canada looks to address workforce shortages and build inclusive economic growth, the success of talented individuals like Sabri illustrates what's possible when barriers are removed. With the right tools and partnerships in place, refugee talent can help shape a more prosperous and resilient future for all Canadians.
To learn more about Windmill Microlending and how you can help support refugees, visit windmillmicrolending.org.
About Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending (Le Moulin Microcrédits) is a national charity founded in 2005 with a mission to empower skilled immigrants to achieve economic prosperity. Leveraging a unique social finance model, Windmill helps qualified newcomers overcome professional employment barriers by providing accessible, affordable career loans and support services. Windmill's clients, now numbering over 13,000, come from over 150 countries worldwide and span various professional sectors, including healthcare, business and IT and STEM. More than half of Windmill's clients are internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs), including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and many others. www.windmillmicrolending.org.
Learn more about Windmill's work at www.windmillmicrolending.org.
SOURCE Windmill Microlending
For media inquiries, please contact Linda Luu, National Director, Client Success and Marketing, Windmill Microlending, [email protected].
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