香蕉视频直播

Skip to content

Refugees surprised to find themselves in Kelowna

Kelowna's new residents thought they were headed elsewhere ...

When four Syrian families disembarked from a flight to find themselves in Kelowna last Monday, everyone was surprised香蕉视频直播 including them.

香蕉视频直播淲e thought we were getting one family from Vancouver, where there香蕉视频直播檚 a backlog, but they were from Toronto where they香蕉视频直播檇 spent eight days sitting in a motel,香蕉视频直播 said Keith Germaine, who as a part of the sponsorship efforts by The Roman Catholic Dioce

se of Nelson has been deeply involved with bringing refugees to the area for months.

香蕉视频直播淭hen they were put on a plane (by government officials) and told they were going to Victoria.香蕉视频直播

So, when the 29 Syrians landed 香蕉视频直播攖he vast majority of which being children under the age of 11香蕉视频直播攅verybody, said 香蕉视频直播渨hat?香蕉视频直播 said Germaine.

Expected or not, they all made the most of it.

Commandeering a cavalcade of taxis to shuttle the men, women and children to a place to sleep and have a meal, volunteers made it possible for Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 newest group of refugees to assess their options.

A couple families apparently had relatives in Edmonton, and were going to go there. Others were set on Victoria, which is where they were told they were going.

To give the families a taste of what Kelowna has to offer, the families were taken to a local gym where the children ran around.

香蕉视频直播淪omething about that experience, made them think this is fine we will settle here,香蕉视频直播 said  Germaine.

香蕉视频直播淭hey seem happy enough to be in Kelowna, and feel welcome by the Islamic community and the volunteers.香蕉视频直播

That brings the total number of Syrian refugees in the area to nearly 100香蕉视频直播攖here were 69 before the last group arrived香蕉视频直播 and more are expected.

Kelowna Community Resources reached out to the Vancouver refugee organization and said they had what was necessary for five families.

Although it may seem like a great deal of people for a relatively small community, everyone involved in the effort is adapting to the needs quickly.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 the great thing about a smaller city, 香蕉视频直播 said Marilyn Perry, a member of the Okanagan Refugee Coalition for Advocacy.

Everything from daycare, to ESL and playgroups are being put together, and quickly, to make the city香蕉视频直播檚 new residents feel more at ease.

The group meets every two weeks. At the most recent meeting, they held a problem solving activity where people were presented with day to day challenges families might be going through.

Issues such as ESL training, job market orientation, child-minding, trades certification and affordable housing were seen as the most important community efforts that can support the welcoming of newcomers. They are building teams, or 香蕉视频直播榩ods,香蕉视频直播 to support refugees, much like an extended family.

香蕉视频直播淔amily to family volunteering is one of the options we are offering people who want to get involved. The Syrian family that we sponsored are some of our closest friends in Kelowna now. They reminded us of the joy that is available in community and to slow down and take time out of our busy schedules to just enjoy each other香蕉视频直播檚 company,香蕉视频直播 said Jamie Henderson during the Q&A panel.

Henderson is part of groups sponsoring two families with the help of the Mission Creek Alliance.

香蕉视频直播淜elowna is a city with huge capacity, resources, and a heart to give back. While we cannot solve the entire crisis, we can do our fair share to include these families, who are just like our own, in the privilege that we enjoy as Canadians.香蕉视频直播

For more information go to http://orcabc.org/.

 



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

Read more



(or

香蕉视频直播

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }