National Community. Research. Engage.

The Canadian Centre on Statelessness is a non-profit organisation that seeks action against statelessness through research, advocacy and the fostering of a national community of allies including persons affected by statelessness.

Founded in 2014, the Centre's mandate is to affect societal, political and legislative changes as they relate to the protection and status of stateless persons. With recent legislative changes in Canada, the need to develop partnerships in the fight against statelessness is essential. CCS is a centre where those who wish to join the cause can meet and discuss issues online, collaborate and partner in the course of advocacy and research, and learn about statelessness in the Canadian and global contexts. The three pillars of CCS are National Community, Research, and Engage. 

The Canadian Centre on Statelessness was launched on November 4th, 2014, the 60 year anniversary of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. On November 18th, 2014, CCS became a founding member of the Americas Network on Nationality and Statelessness, and in November 2015 CCS joined the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights as a coalition member. CCS incorporated as a non-profit organisation in November 2015. 

​CCS’ Board of Directors was elected November 2, 2016 and comprises

Y.Y. Brandon Chen has been a member of the founding board since May 2016. Y.Y. is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (English Common Law Program). He holds a Bachelor of Science from Emory University, as well as a Master of Social Work and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toronto. He has been a licensed lawyer in Ontario since 2011. He is currently completing his Doctor of Juridical Science at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. Y.Y.’s scholarly interests lie at the intersection of health care and international migration. He also works closely with racialized newcomers living with HIV/AIDS. 

Claire Delisle, Secretary, co-leads the Mapping Statelessness in Canada research and action project and teaches criminology and sociology at the University of Ottawa.  Her experience includes solidarity work for the peace process in Ireland, and anti-prison struggle. Claire’s praxis is focused on decolonization, anti-oppression, and horizontality. She has experience in policy analysis and the development of policy alternatives.

Michelle Quigg is the Roster (Legal Representation) Coordinator at the Access Pro Bono Society of BC (“APB”). She is also an immigration lawyer whose most recent work has been representing stateless clients. She is passionate about increasing access to justice, particularly as it relates to helping individuals who have fallen through the cracks of Canada’s immigration,refugee and citizenship system. She is currently on a one year sabbatical living in Paris with her husband and two children.

Marc Valade, Treasurer, is a Doctoral candidate in Policy Studies under the Immigration, Settlement and Diaspora stream at Ryerson University. Marc brings a decade of work experience in public administration as an executive director of a socioeconomic regional development agency in Quebec. Marc is currently involved in several research projects, including a study on the integration trajectories of immigrant families in the Greater Toronto Area.