The global refugee crisis is staggering in scope. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported that 79.5 million people were displaced worldwide in 2019, and over half of all displaced persons were under eighteen.

As the number of children and teenagers seeking asylum continues to grow, the impact of displacement on a young person’s well-being and development over the long term requires further study. In Finding Safe Harbour Emily Pelley investigates the current response to refugee youth in Canada by highlighting how Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a mid-sized urban centre, has mobilized services and resources to support young people seeking refuge. Opening with a broad contextual introduction to the global crisis of displacement and the impact of violence and armed conflict on young people, Pelley focuses on the reciprocal adaptation that is required for the long-term integration of displaced youth into the receiving society.

A concise and illuminating study on refugee resettlement, Finding Safe Harbour concludes with an in-depth discussion of how cities can optimize resilience resources through meaningful engagement with refugee youth.

Emily Pelley is assistant professor at the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security at the Royal Military College of Canada.

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“Lucid and succinct, this important book introduces a resilience approach to refugee resettlement that highlights the important roles of school boards, settlement agencies, recreation programs, and many other local institutions in vulnerable youths’ successful integration. Finding Safe Harbour provides invaluable insight into the challenges and opportunities that newcomers encounter in small and medium-sized cities, the emerging destinations for many Canadian immigrants.” Valerie Preston, York University