Eritreans immigrated to Canada since the early 1980’s. There are about 10,000 Eritreans living in Greater Toronto (this is an estimated number). Eritrean were the earliest target of successive Ethiopian regimes for political persecution ever since the beginning of armed resistance started in 1961, that is the year Ethiopia annexed Eritrea and declared it as one of its provinces. Since then, Eritreans escaped such indiscriminate persecution and massacres by taking Refugee in neighboring countries. Sudan was by far the major recipient of Eritrean refugees. By early 1980;s, as the pressure mounted on the Sudanese Government and the United Nations to offer help to the refugees, the Canadian Government relaxed its immigration policy toward refugees from continental Africa. Therefore many Eritreans were able to immigrate to Canada.

The ECCC was established on March 23, 1985. It was incorporated in April 1986 and granted charitable status in 1990. The objectives of the Centre are community development by responding to the short and long term needs of the diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious groups within the Eritrean community in the new Toronto. The ECCC has a variety of programs and services that support the new as well old Eritrean immigrants. The organization has always been concerned with plight of Eritrean immigrants and works very hard to assist them in overcoming barriers such as isolation, cultural shock, lack of information and unrecognized skills.

The ECCC has a membership of 350 households and many more non-active members. Active members are those who facilitate and support the ECCC with their donations. On top of that a member has to believe in the goals and objectives of the ECCC and make pledge to be governed by its constitution and bylaws.

ECCC is run by a Board of Directors who are elected at annual general membership meeting. Auditing Committee, which is an independent body from the board, is also elected at AGM (see Auditing Committee).

The ECCC has several Committees that participate in the decision making process and service delivery.

The ECCC provides services focused on women through the Eritrean Women group. The Eritrean Women Committee, chaired by a woman in the ECCC Board, works actively in designing & implementing workshops and seminars that promote women issues in the Eritrean Canadian Community through active participation of our women members at large.

The Youth for Youth group provides support and service to youth. Our Tutorial Program is run by the youth for youth group. The group works closely with the ECCC Board in designing programs focused at youth issues.

The Newsletter Committee is responsible for publishing a bi-monthly Community Newsletter called "MEKALIH" meaning echo. The Newsletter is published mainly in Tigrigna, Arabic and English.

In addition to the external professional Auditors the ECCC also has internal auditors who are responsible of making sure that the ECCC keeps proper books of account. The Auditing committee is elected at AGM and is accountable to the AGM.

Other task oriented committees are also designated from time to time as required.

Volunteers play key role in almost all activities or the ECCC. They undertake numerous activities of the Centre. Board members are often recruited from the list of volunteers.

Copyright © 2002 ECCC. All righths reserved.