E-Training course for settlement professionals: Allies in Private Sponsorship (SPT101)
2025-06-23 08:00 - 2025-08-03 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
If you missed the orientation session on June 23rd, you can still enroll in the course. In some instances a late registration may not be possible. Please reach out to our course instructor Anoush anewman@rstp.ca for more information.
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We invite you to a great learning opportunity designed especially for settlement service professionals who are working with privately sponsored refugees and their sponsors!
This online e-training course combines flexible self-study with engaging weekly video chats with course facilitators and course-mates, helping you understand the ins and outs of private sponsorship in Canada. Over six weeks, you’ll explore key topics like sponsor roles, newcomer rights, and how settlement workers can best support privately sponsored refugees. Please note, this session is currently offered in English only.
Date: June 23 to August 3 2025
Location (virtual): on Moodle

Register Here

Ready to Settle Refugee Newcomers (PSR program training for the Constituent Groups & Co-Sponsors of SAHs)
2025-07-07 20:00 - 22:00 | Virtual
This online training session is designed to get the Constituent Groups & Co-Sponsors of SAHs ready to provide settlement support to the newcomers they’ve sponsored under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. We will provide a thorough overview of the sponsorship roles and expectations as laid out in the program requirements.
Join us to learn about:

IRCC’s expectations for post-arrival settlement support
The key roles and responsibilities of CGs and Co-Sponsors
How to ensure newcomers benefit from the full range of available community supports and services

Register Here
Please note, this training session runs from 6 – 8 pm (MDT)/ 8 – 10 pm (EDT)

PSR Post-Arrival Training: Post-Arrival Responsibilities (For Groups of Five & Community Sponsors in BC)
2025-07-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
This webinar is the first in a 3-part summer series on Post-Arrival Obligations for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors in BC. Although PSR sponsors from across Canada are welcome to attend.
In this first session, sponsors in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program will
learn about the post-arrival support timeline; the minimum amount of financial support that they are expected to provide on arrival (based on Resettlement Assistance Program rates) and how to use the Minimum Financial Support Calculator and more!
Learn how to recalculate financial support if situations change and how to connect with settlement agencies who can assist sponsors with fulfilling their settlement responsibilities.
Time: 11 am – 1 pm (PT)
Location (virtual): on Zoom
Register Here

Ready to Settle Refugee Newcomers (PSR program training for Groups of 5 & Community Sponsors)
2025-07-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
This online training session is designed to get Groups of Five and Community Sponsors ready to provide settlement support to the newcomers they’ve sponsored under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. We will provide a thorough overview of the sponsorship roles and expectations as laid out in the program requirements.
Join us to learn about:

IRCC’s expectations for post-arrival settlement support
The key roles and responsibilities of Groups of Five and Community Sponsors
How to ensure newcomers (and sponsors) benefit from the full range of available community supports and services available to them

Register Here
Please note, this training session runs from 12 – 2 pm (MDT)/ 2 – 4 pm (EDT)

Webinaire: L'abc du parrainage privé de réfugiés (French language webinar)
2025-07-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
Cette session, présentée par le RSTP pour les nouveaux parrains et les parrains expérimentés, fournira un aperçu général du Programme de parrainage privé de réfugiés (PPPR), y compris :

>un aperçu des programmes de parrainage et de réinstallation de réfugiés du Canada ;
>qui peut parrainer dans le cadre du PPPR ; les critères d’admissibilité et de recevabilité pour les réfugiés parrainés dans le cadre du PPPR ;
>l’importance des documents relatifs au statut de réfugié et qui en a besoin ;
>et un aperçu de la procédure de demande.

Les participants auront également le temps de poser toutes les questions pertinentes qu’ils souhaitent.
Vous Inscrire

Webinaire: L’abc du parrainage privé de réfugiés
2025-07-15 15:00 - 16:30 | En virtuel sur Zoom
Cette session, présentée par le RSTP pour les nouveaux parrains et les parrains expérimentés, fournira un aperçu général du Programme de parrainage privé de réfugiés (PPPR), y compris :

*un aperçu des programmes de parrainage et de réinstallation de réfugiés du Canada ;
*qui peut parrainer dans le cadre du PPPR ; les critères d’admissibilité et de recevabilité pour les réfugiés parrainés dans le cadre du PPPR ;
*l’importance des documents relatifs au statut de réfugié et qui en a besoin ;
*et un aperçu de la procédure de demande.

Les participants auront également le temps de poser toutes les questions pertinentes qu’ils souhaitent.
Vous Inscrire

Monthly Series #3: Submitting a Private Sponsorship Application Online on the PR Portal
2025-07-17 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
This hands-on webinar by the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) is for new and experienced sponsors who want to learn about the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. Join us to learn how to submit your PSR application online, through the Permanent Residence Portal (PR portal).
In this session, we will cover information about:
*how to submit the application package online.
*how to navigate the new PR Portal and find out how to access it and how to log in.
* the difference between a Primary Sponsor and a Principal Applicant – and the documents that each of them need to upload to the portal.
*how to review your application in detail before submitting it online
*common application mistakes that you can avoid making.

The monthly webinars are a 5-part PSR program webinar series where attendees will learn how to become a PSR refugee sponsor by going through the entire process from A-Z. These webinar series can also be taken as refresher sessions for existing sponsors.
Register Here

Please note: this webinar starts at 3 pm EDT and runs for 2 hours.

Ready Set Match #2: Financial Requirements and Budgeting for BVOR Sponsors (Online, Canada-wide)
2025-07-20 08:00 - 17:00
BVOR sponsors share the cost of sponsorship with the Government of Canada, but how much must a sponsorship group contribute and what are the rules around financial support? Join us as we answer these questions and more to equip you with the knowledge you need to meet your financial obligations as a BVOR sponsor.
In this training session, you’ll learn about:

the financial requirements of sponsorship
Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) support and rules
estimating income and expenses to create a realistic budget

Format: a 30-minute webinar followed by an optional Q&A, plus handouts
Register Here
Please note, this webinar starts at 12 pm EDT and runs for one hour. It is accessible from anywhere in Canada.
Important: If you are a refugee or know of a refugee looking for sponsors in Canada, please do not attend this webinar. The program cannot accept applications for sponsorship from refugees abroad. Refugees for the BVOR program are referred by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and selected by the Canadian government based on a specific set of criteria. Refugees cannot apply, and sponsors cannot name someone for this program.

PSR Program Training: The Refugees I Sponsored are Arriving - Now what? (Hybrid session in Saskatoon + all of Canada online)
2025-07-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Saskatoon Open Door Society, 129 3rd Avenue North #100, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 2H4, Canada
This webinar is for sponsors in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program in Saskatchewan and will be held virtually and in-person. Although PSR sponsors from across Canada are welcome to attend online.
Learn all about welcoming newcomers and what to do in the early days after their arrival to set the sponsorship up for success.
Join this session to learn about:

Welcoming newcomers and providing orientation
Ways to manage communication between sponsors and the newcomers and within the sponsor group
Connecting with and accessing free support from settlement service providers

Register Here
Please note, this webinar starts at 12 pm CST. Location (virtual): on Zoom or in-person at 106 -129 3rd Avenue South, Saskatoon, SK (No registration required for in-person participants)

Ready Set Match #1: Building a Strong BVOR Sponsorship Group (Online 4-part training series, Canada-wide)
2025-07-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
A successful sponsorship begins with someone – just like you – who wants to welcome refugees into their community and help them thrive. But you can’t do it alone. Join us as we share practical guidance and resources on how to find like-minded people and build a strong sponsorship group together.
In this training session, you’ll learn about:

the different types of sponsorship groups
group structures and roles of group members
how to find people to join your group
how to work together effectively as a group

Format: a 30-minute webinar followed by an optional Q&A, plus handouts
Register Here
Please note, this webinar starts at 12 pm (noon) EDT.

Important: If you are a refugee or know of a refugee looking for sponsors in Canada, please do not attend this webinar. The program cannot accept applications for sponsorship from refugees abroad. Refugees for the BVOR program are referred by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and selected by the Canadian government based on a specific set of criteria. Refugees cannot apply, and sponsors cannot name someone for this program.

Monthly Series #4: How to Prepare for Arrival & Meeting Post-Arrival Needs and Requirements in an Ethical Way
2025-07-24 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
This hands-on webinar by the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) is for new and experienced sponsors who want to learn about the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. Join us to review or learn about sponsors’ settlement responsibilities when sponsoring refugees under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) and Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) programs
We will go over the following information:
*review of sponsors’ settlement responsibilities under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) and Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) programs
*the important ethical considerations to keep in mind when sponsoring refugees
*learn about the inherent power imbalance that exists in the sponsor-sponsored newcomer relationship and tips on how to mitigate this imbalance
*learn about the importance of managing the expectations of the sponsors and the newcomer(s).
The monthly webinars are a 5-part PSR program webinar series where attendees will learn how to become a PSR refugee sponsor by going through the entire process from A-Z. These webinar series can also be taken as refresher sessions for existing sponsors.
Register Here

Please note: this webinar starts at 3 pm EDT and runs for 2 hours.

PSR Program Training: The Many Responsibilities of a Private Sponsor (Hybrid, in-person in Saskatoon or Canada-wide online)
2025-07-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Saskatoon Open Door Society, 129 3rd Avenue North #100, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 2H4, Canada
This webinar is for sponsors in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program in Saskatchewan and will be held virtually and in-person. Although PSR sponsors from across Canada are welcome to attend online.
A private sponsor of refugees is required to ensure that the refugees they sponsor integrate well into their new communities. What exactly do sponsors need to do to fulfill this requirement and how do they do it?
Join us to learn about various topics like:

the minimum amount of financial support you are expected to provide on arrival (based on Resettlement Assistance Program rates)
The kind of settlement support you’re required to provide and more!

Register Here
Please note, this webinar starts at 1 pm CST/3 pm EDT.
For in-person attendance in Saskatoon, please come to106-129 3rd Avenue South, Saskatoon, SK (no registration required for in-person participants)

Monthly PSR Series #5: Preparing for and Transitioning to Month 13
2025-07-31 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
This hands-on webinar by the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) is for new and experienced sponsors who want to learn about the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. Join us to find out what ‘Month 13’ is in the context of a PSR sponsorship.
We will go over the following information:
*learn about Month 13 and when sponsors should start preparing for the transition to Month 13 of the sponsorship
*learn about resources that are available to assist sponsors and sponsored newcomers during this transition
*learn about the considerations that sponsors and sponsored newcomers should make when beginning to prepare for the transition
*find out about the services that are available to sponsored newcomers during Month 13
*learn how to evaluate the sponsorship period.

The monthly webinars are a 5-part PSR program webinar series where attendees will learn how to become a PSR refugee sponsor by going through the entire process from A-Z. These webinar series can also be taken as refresher sessions for existing sponsors.
Register Here

Please note: this webinar starts at 3 pm EDT and runs for one hour.

Post-Arrival Responsibilities: Managing Expectations & Making Ethical Considerations (hosted from BC, for all Groups of 5 and Community Sponsors across Canada)
2025-08-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
This virtual training session is the second workshop in a 3-part summer series on Post-Arrival Obligations for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors in BC. Sponsors from both the PSR and BVOR program are welcome to join us for some valuable skill training.
This session provides information on how sponsors can:

manage their expectations and what ethical considerations to make.

the stages of settlement;
cultural awareness/adjustment; expectation management;
the value of providing orientation;
ethical considerations and the rights of sponsored newcomers;
and potential power imbalances.

Register Here
Please note, this webinar starts at 2 pm EST / 11 am PT and is held online.

Ready Set Match ! Webinar #4 Submitting your BVOR Sponsorship Application (A 4-Part BVOR Sponsorship Training Series)
2025-08-14 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Ready Set Match #4: Submitting Your BVOR Sponsorship Application
You’ve built a strong group and raised the necessary funds, now it’s time to take the exciting next step in your sponsorship journey: matching with a BVOR refugee or refugee family! Join us as we take a closer look at the matching process and get you ready to submit your application to sponsor and welcome BVOR refugees.
In this training session, you’ll learn about:

the matching process
what to consider when matching
creating your settlement plan
preparing your sponsorship application

Format: a 30-minute webinar followed by an optional Q&A, plus handouts

PSR Post-Arrival Financial Support Webinar: “How Much Money do I Need to Give to the Newly Arrived Refugees?” (Saskatoon in-person + Online Canada-wide)
2025-08-19 17:00 - 18:30 | Virtual
(For sponsors in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees/PSR program)
Sponsors in the PSR program are required to provide financial support to the newcomers they have sponsored. Learn to determine the amount of money that sponsors are required to provide to the newcomers by using the Financial Support Calculator tool.

Register Here

Please note, this is a hybrid event. For in-person attendance in Saskatoon, please come to 106 -129 – 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon SK (no registration required). Webinar/workshop starts at 3 pm CST/ 5 pm EST.

Have questions? Please connect with our webinar facilitator Helen at hsmithmcintyre@rstp.ca.
