For Cherilyn and her husband Gary, supporting migrant and refugee rights is not a single decision—it is the natural expression of a lifetime of values, faith, and responsibility.
“When people are treated with respect and dignity, the whole society benefits,” Cherilyn says, a belief that has shaped not only her giving, but her leadership. From 2018 to 2024, she served on CPJ’s board, helping guide its work at a national level.
Cherilyn and Gary’s connection to CPJ began through that leadership, but their commitment is rooted in something deeper. “I’ve been very, very lucky,” Gary reflects. “And if you’re lucky, you should actually help others.” Together, they have built a life grounded in generosity, community, and a shared conviction that those who have been fortunate have a responsibility to give back.
That conviction took shape in 2021, when Cherilyn made a $10,000 matching gift to establish the Stephen Kaduuli Memorial Fund, which went on to raise an additional $20,000 and brought to life CPJ’s recently published refugee and migrant rights book, A Renewed Canadian Welcome. The book is dedicated to Stephen, CPJ’s former Refugee Rights Policy Analyst who passed away suddenly in 2021. What began in grief became something tangible and hopeful. “It was an opportunity to actually do something concrete,” Cherilyn says, “something positive.”
In 2026, Cherilyn and Gary generously deepened that commitment with another $20,000 matching gift to advance migrant and refugee rights.
While they support many causes, CPJ stands out for its focus on advocacy and systemic change. For Cherilyn, this work is both a reflection of her faith and a response to a gap she sees in many communities. “A lot of us who come from a faith background don’t really speak out enough,” she says. Supporting CPJ is one way to live that calling, to move beyond awareness and toward action.
That action, she believes, must go beyond charity alone. “It’s more at the level where you’re looking at systemic change,” she explains. Through research, education, and policy engagement, CPJ works to challenge harmful narratives and advocate for a more just and compassionate immigration system.
For Gary, that clarity is reinforced by evidence. “There’s a lot of misinformation,” he says. “The evidence is really clear: migrants contribute.” Drawing on both research and lived experience, they point to the essential role newcomers play in Canadian society, from strengthening communities to caring for loved ones.
Together, they believe meaningful change must also be reflected in policy. Expanding pathways to permanent residency, addressing unjust labour conditions, and ensuring migrants are welcomed into the fabric of society are all part of that vision. As Gary puts it, real change happens at the policy level. Until systems change, the underlying problems remain.
For Cherilyn, dignity means ensuring that migrants are not left on the margins, but welcomed fully into society, able to belong, contribute, and thrive. And for Gary: “I’d like to see migrants get into the circle a little quicker.” It is a vision grounded in both compassion and justice, and one they both continue to invest in.
Because when dignity leads, everyone benefits.
There are alarming trends for refugee and migrant rights in Canada—and we need your support to change that. Thanks to Cherilyn and Gary’s major matching grant donation, your transformative and faith-inspired gift for refugee and migrant rights will be doubled up to $20,000. Donate now!
