A memorial service was held Saturday for a Kenyan asylum seeker who passed away at a Mississauga shelter after waiting for hours in the cold to secure a spot.
Delphina Ngigi, a 46-year-old mother of four, arrived in Canada on February 15 to seek a better life for her family after her husband’s passing in December. She visited the shelter at 1767 Dundas Street East two days later in search of accommodation but was not admitted until 8 p.m. that evening after enduring seven hours in -8 temperatures. On February 18, she experienced a medical emergency at the shelter and was transported to a hospital where she later succumbed.
Ngigi was the second migrant to lose their life in Peel Region within three months.
“She always believed in being the change you desire to see; if there was an issue in the community, she took initiative to address it without waiting for leaders to intervene,” shared Delphina’s sister Wairimu Faith, reminiscing about an incident where her sister single-handedly repaired a flooded road in their neighborhood to assist pregnant women and elderly residents. “She embodied the change she wanted, and I will always cherish her for that, along with her affection for people and contagious laughter.”
Faith emphasized that while her sister was not the first casualty due to inadequate shelter availability, she urged the government to reassess their policies and financial allocations concerning refugees at shelters. This sentiment was echoed by other community members.
“We urge the government to take action, explore ways to support these refugees because they are in dire need of assistance,” stated Rev. Susan Karanja. “For someone to be left waiting outside for shelter, it is inhumane. We implore for better treatment. Despite the government’s efforts, there is always room for improvement.”
Following the memorial service in North York on Saturday, Delphina’s remains will be repatriated to Kenya.
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