This thesis explores the increasingly relevant sanctuary phenomenon in the Canadian context by studying church-based sanctuary and Sanctuary City. These two main applications of Canadian political sanctuary experience differing successes and contrasting relationships with the state. The question underpinning this thesis is what characteristics explain why some sanctuaries are successful and what helps to explain the Canadian state’s respective response to these two sanctuaries. I argue that part of the answer lies in how sanctuary-providers configure four characteristics that are common to all applications of sanctuary. These four – intervention, space, the precarious subject of sanctuary, and transparency – highlight the aims and purposes of any given sanctuary as well as the relationship that sanctuary has with the state. Overall, I argue that Canadian church-based sanctuary has been a successful political sanctuary while Canadian Sanctuary City has not been successful. / Graduate