Committee for Refugees

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; United Jewish Relief Agencies, Toronto (UJRA) series; Committee for Refugees sub-series

Part Of: Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds; United Jewish Relief Agencies, Toronto (UJRA) series; Committee for Refugees sub-series

Admin History/Bio: In 1938, representatives from numerous national Jewish organizations formed the Canadian Coordinating Committee for Refugees. The Committee's purpose was to co-ordinate reception and aid for the many European Jews emigrating from Nazi-occupied regions, acting in the name of all Canadian Jewry in matters pertaining to "the refugee problem." The Committee's efforts were significantly curtailed by the limitations of Canadian immigration policy. However, its Farm Program succeeded in bringing many refugees to southern Quebec and the Ontario-Quebec border region as well as other areas across Canada. In 1939 the Committee merged with other Jewish aid organizations to form the United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies (UJR&WRA), which became the UJRA following World War II.

Scope and Content: Sub-series consists of Settlers' Progress Reports outlining immigrants' property assets, crops produced, livestock owned, and the condition of their finances and assets.

Notes: This sub-series was formerly RG 286. It has been reduced to one file because it was determined that most of the records were created after the Canadian Coordinating Committee for Refugees merged and became UJRA. The rest of the RG 286 files have been integrated into the appropriate sub-series.

Access Restriction: Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.