Throughout history and presently in an age where individuals and community need and seek solidarity, acceptance, love and authenticity, Trans rights have been at the forefront of the political agenda and the rights of this community have come under serious attack. On March 31, 2025, marking Trans Day of Visibility, RaricaNow! invited funders, community partners and supporters to come together in joy and hope at the grand opening of the EWAKA Housing Initiative.

RaricaNow Founder, Adebayo Chris Katiiti, spoke of his dream and steadfast commitment to helping other Black 2SQTLGBIA+ newcomers and refugees find safety and refuge in Canada, hoping to alleviate some of the hardships he has similarly faced in his journey, and expressed the joy and gratitude he was feeling in seeing the initiative finally come to fruition:

“My aspiration has always been to create a safe haven so that others do not have to ensure the hardships I faced…I’m joyous. I’m joyous. While we celebrate our achievement we also recognize the immense work that lies ahead of us. The calls for sustainability and community safety echoes in my mind every day. I firmly believe that the exceptional individuals in this room…[have] the power to bring that vision to life. And I know, because I couldn’t be here today without all your support. Without you, one touching my shoulder, another one giving me shelter, another one providing me church to go to pray, one [who] represented me in court, and the Indigenous communities who have welcomed us all here… I appreciate you.”

EWAKA’s pilot housing starts here. The housing initiative holds 6 beds, but there are so many on the waitlist. Over 20 applied as soon as the space was available. Some folks are still sitting in shelters, hopeful that they might come to this place. This place that offers sanctuary, safety, and opportunity to build a life where 2SQTLGBIA+ newcomers and refugees can build their life in Canada as their authentic selves and know peace, community, safety and joy.

Adebayo invited Nneka Otogbolu, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Foundation for Black Communities based in B.C., a primary funder for this initiative, to officially open EWAKA with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“What does it mean to have a safe space to call home, where you feel free to be exactly who you are? This question captures the spirit of our gathering here today. Today we gather to celebrate the grand opening of EWAKA housing, a safe and supportive transitional home for Black 2SLGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers in Canada. I want to express my deepest gratitude to RaricaNow for their groundbreaking leadership and relentless work supporting this community. [RaricaNow] have shown how community-led initiatives can transform challenges into opportunities. Their vision and commitment is at the heart of the RaricaNow housing project, a project designed to address the critical housing needs of individuals who have faced unimaginable hardships.

Many of our community members come from countries and refugee camps where simply expressing their gender identity…could mean persecution or even death. Once here in Canada, they often face new barriers when seeking safe and inclusive housing. The Ewaka Housing project offers more than a roof…it provides a welcoming home, a supportive community, and access to culturally relevant services that help residents heal, grow, and integrate into Canadian society.

This project exemplifies solidarity and action and shows what we can achieve when community members, organizations and supporters come together with a shared purpose. Thank you to Adebayo and his team, for your vision, courage and leadership - your work not only provides a safe haven for our Black 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and Newcomers, but also lights up the way for a future of hope and inclusion…and I’m hoping that this…can be replicated across the City.”

Adebayo spoke highly of the Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith Maclean, a Minister with the United Church of Canada, praising her for welcoming him in and giving him a safe place to pray, and asked her to bless the grand opening of EWAKA:

“This house of refuge is a place where 2SLBGTQQIA+ persons and allies can know safety, hospitality, and refuge. In celebrating the opening of the EWAKA housing initiative, I would like to bring a blessing for this place. This blessing comes from a place of humility and understanding as neighbours, and that we see you…we are in this together. Not us and them, but us, as neighbours, together.”
- Reverend Dr. Catherine Faith Maclean

Blessing bestowed by Rev. Dr. Maclean:

‘May the walkway that leads up to the stairs, be a place that is clear of confusion

Where the door opens, may it be a place of hospitality and welcome, and when it closes and locks, may it be a symbol of safety

May this living space be a place of celebration and joy, of honesty and deep living

May the tears that are offered here always have a handkerchief offered by a friend

May the bedrooms be places of rest, of honest solitude where people heal and know themselves…to be loved and marvelous

May the hallway be a place that is walked in confidence and friendship

May the kitchen be a place of great joy, of plenty, and of many different diets.

May the basement be secure, the pipes last a long time, the roof always keep people warm

May the backyard be a place where things can grow, and where neighbours can look over a fence and say ‘Welcome! We are so glad you are here’.

May this be a place of joy. Sometimes in joy there is a solemn sense of what has brought us to an openness of spirit where we can celebrate, and so in the joy that reigns in this house, may it always be with respect, be with wonder, and with openness to who the next neighbour will be who comes through that door.

Finally, as those who live here look out the windows,

May the brilliance of the afternoon bring contentment,

May the quiet of the evening bring security,

And may the rising sun in the morning bring possibility and potential

Knowing, that we love you.

And we are very, very glad, you are here.’

The John Humphrey Centre’s Executive Director Renee Vaugeois has witnessed the humble beginnings of RARICANow! and offered steadfast support of RARICANow and this housing initiative as it went from a dream to a reality that we have come together to celebrate in joy. Renee offered these words, highlighting the importance of this initiative in meeting the basic needs and rights of Black 2STQLBIA+ newcomers and refugees who are often displaced, excluded and oppressed:

“The opening of this housing program marks a monumental step forward. It's the first of its kind, and it stands as a beacon of hope for Black 2STQLGBIA+ refugees and newcomers—people who have faced unspeakable violence, displacement, and exclusion, simply for being who they are.

Housing is not just a roof over one’s head. It is one of the most fundamental human rights. It is the foundation for belonging, for safety, for healing. For many 2STQLGBIA+ newcomers, especially those with intersecting identities who have been excluded and oppressed at every turn, housing can mean the difference between life and death.

But EWAKA is not just about housing. It’s about community. It’s about connection. It’s about building a circle of care—where people are not only safe, but seen, affirmed, and supported.

This program is community-led. It is trauma-informed. It is culturally grounded. And it offers not only a home, but a pathway to healing and self-determination—with wraparound supports like mental health care, employment services, and legal advocacy. RaricaNow! continues to show us what courageous innovation looks like … they lead with vision, with boldness, and with deep care for the people most often left behind.This is a reminder that when community leads, when we centre those most impacted, we create real and lasting change. May EWAKA be a place of rest, resistance, and renewal—for generations to come.”

RARICANow! provided consent to share these beautiful photos capturing the joy and pride of the EWAKA grand opening: https://grouper-teal-yyaw.squarespace.com/gallery. We would love for you to tag @raricanow to continue the celebration together. You can also learn more about RaricaNow and EWAKA through their website, social media - @raricanow - and the newly launched RaricaNow app!

EWAKA Housing Grand Opening in Edmonton

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