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Advisory: Day of the Dead Marked With Mourning & Calls for Full & Permanent Immigration Status for All

Posted on October 30, 2020

October 30, 2020 – Migrants, refugees, undocumented people, workers and students are taking action on Day of the Dead – November 1st and 2nd to honour the lives of migrants that have died during COVID-19, and to call for full and permanent immigration status for all as the second wave of COVID-19 ramps up. Actions including die-ins, altars for the dead, and rallies will take place in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara, Sherbrooke, Sudbury & Halifax and come just days after a stunning report that exposed migrant care worker exploitation during COVID-19. Day of the Dead is a very important celebration to honor and celebrate the departed in Mexico and Guatemala, dating back to Indigenous traditions centuries old.

Cross-Canada Media Contact: info@migrantrights.ca

NOVEMBER 1 Details & Contact Information

  • MONTRÉAL, 5pm, Radio-Canada, 1400, Boul. René-Lévesque est. Contact: Solidarity Across Borders, 514-222-0205. 
  • NIAGARA, 7:30pm, Facebook Live. Contact: Kit Andres, 905-324-2840
  • SHERBROOKE, 2pm, 175 Rue Queen. Contact: Nastaran Daniali: (819) 416-2864.
  • SUDBURY, 2pm, Bell Park – Miner’s Monument. Contact: Scott Florence, 705-470-3323
  • TORONTO, 5pm, Dufferin Grove Park. Contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632
  • VANCOUVER, 1pm, Grandview Park. Contact: Byron Cruz, 604-315-7725; Julie Diesta – 604 874 0649

NOVEMBER 2 Details & Contact Information

  • HALIFAX, 6:30pm, 2221 Maitland St. Contact: No one is illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk – noii.hfx@gmail.com 

Background

  • At least 1 in 23 people in Canada (over 1.6 million) are non permanent residents. 
  • Thousands of migrants have gotten COVID-19, many have died because they are excluded from universal healthcare, access to emergency income supports, and decent work. Many are separated from their families. 
  • Migrants are unable to fully protect themselves during COVID-19 because of lack of emergency support, and because speaking out about unsafe work and housing conditions can result in deportation, homelessness, or not being able to return.  
  • Over 350 organizations have released a letter calling for full and permanent immigration status for all: https://migrantrights.ca/status-for-all/

© Copyright 2025 Migrant Rights Network info@migrantrights.ca