Amnesty International Neighbourhood Groups
Do you have a couple of hours to spare? Do you want to meet other like-minded people working in common purpose? Join thousands of activists in local communities across Canada who are working together to find ways to make human rights a reality for all.
There are about 100 Amnesty Groups and Action Circles spread out in communities across Canada. Each group is different. They range in size from only a few members to up to 30-50 members.
Amnesty groups engage in many types of human rights campaigns and activities. They raise awareness about human rights issues in their communities by talking to the local media, lobbying their local politicians and government officials, and organizing educational events with guest speakers, videos, and webcasting. Group members write letters, hold vigils, organize demonstrations and other public events, and work on specific long-standing appeal cases of individuals whose human rights are at risk.
Community Group: A well-established gathering of local Amnesty activists who come together regularly (at least once a month) to work on human rights issues. A Community Group usually has a defined operating structure, led by elected or selected group leaders. Each year, the group develops an annual work plan of activities.
Action Circle: A flexible, loose arrangement of activists working together on specific events or projects. Action Circles were set up to enable busy activists to contribute to human rights on a short-term basis. Some Action Circles take on year-round projects, while others are formed around special projects. The Action Circle could go into hiatus or disband when their projects are completed.
Groups in Metropolitan Toronto
Meeting Location:
Quaker Meeting House
60 Lowther Avenue
Meeting times:
7:00 PM, 2nd Monday of each month, 3rd Monday in October
Please note there are no meetings in July, August and December.
ACTION: Colombia, Mexico, Huseyin Celil and AI Canada priority campaigns.
Meeting Location:
AI Toronto office
1992 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Please email the group to find out details about their current initiatives and campaigns, as well as the day and time of face-to-face meetings (please note there are no meetings in August and December).
Meeting Location:
AI Toronto office,
1992 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Meeting Times:
6:30 PM, 2nd Tuesday of each month.
Please note there are no meetings in August and December.
ACTION: South-East Asia, Morocco, Africa’s Great Lakes Region, Colombia, Human Rights Friendly Schools, Turkey and Post-soviet Region.
Meeting Location:
Royal York Road United Church
851 Royal York Road
Meeting Times:
7:30pm, last Monday of each month.
ACTION: West Africa Region
* On hiatus
Meeting Location:
Fairlawn United Church
28 Fairlawn Avenue
Meeting Times:
7pm, 1st Tuesday of each month.
ACTION: AI current campaigns and issues.
Learn more.
Email Group 65
Phone: 416-766-4017
Meeting Location:
Cummer Avenue United Church
53 Cummer Avenue
Meeting Times:
7:pm – 9pm, 2nd Friday of each month (except July and August).
ACTION: Death Penalty, AI current campaigns and issues
Email Group 98
Phone: 416-223-6785
Meeting Location:
Taylor Memorial- Toronto Public Library, 1440 Kingston Rd – N/W corner of Kingston Rd. and Warden Ave.
Meeting Times:
7:00 pm, second Tuesday of September, November, February, April and June.
ACTION: Indigenous Rights – Stolen Sisters, General Al Campaigns and Issues
Meeting Location:
First Unitarian Congregation
175 St. Clair Avenue West
Meeting Times:
7:00 PM, 3rd Wednesday of each month
ACTION: Indigenous Rights, other AI current campaigns and issues
Email Group 142
Phone: 416-429-6351
Meeting Location:
St. Barnabas Anglican Church
361 Danforth Ave. (at Chester, south side of Danforth).
Meeting Times:
7:00 PM, 1st Tuesday of each month (February-June, September-December)
ACTION: Turkey Regional Action Network, Campaign Against the Death Penalty, China, Colombia
Email Group 164
Phone: 416-465-7365
Meeting Location:
The Cathedral Church of St. James
65 Church St. Toronto, ON
Please note that there is no requirement to attend worship or be a member of the Cathedral in order to attend the meetings. All are welcome!
Groups Outside Toronto
Meeting Location:
St. Christopher’s Anglican Church
662 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario
Meeting times:
7:30 PM, 3rd Monday of each month
ACTION: Colombia, SEAMRAN (Southeast Asia and Myanmar Regional Action Network)
Email Group 21
Phone: 905-648-1296
Meeting Location:
Churchill Place
345 Church (corner of Church and Allan)
Oakville, Ontario
Meeting Times:
7:30 PM, 1st Tuesday of every month except July, August, December.
Website: www.amnestyoakville.ca
Call Wendy Belcher at 905-844-4194
Meeting times: 1st Thursday of each month.
Meeting Location:
Trinity Anglican Church
79 Victoria St.
Aurora, Ontario
Meeting times:
7pm – 8:30 PM, 2nd Thursday of each month except June, July, August and December.
Email AI Action Circle A65
Phone: 905-713-6713
Meeting Location:
Binkley United Church
1570 Main St West, Hamilton
Meeting times:
7:00pm, first Monday of each month except July and August.