Gearing Up for Syrian Refugee Arrivals in Canada

In early December 2015, the Canadian government, refugee assistance agencies and non-profit organizations are gearing up for the start of the Syrian refugee “migration.”

It’s all the talk in the news. It started on December 1st when the date of “December 10th” for the first flight of refugees is found in an online government document asking for airline availability: The Article

The Globe and Mail posts a very helpful two minute video that explains how the vulnerable Syrian refugees will be screened overseas: The Video

Canadian Medical Association Journal includes an article entitled “Caring for a newly arrived Syrian refugee family” describing the steps health-care professionals should focus on first: The Article

Syrian refugees with PTSD offered help through Canadian pilot program: The Article

A Canadian CEO in Guelph, Ont. is sponsoring 50 Syrian refugee families: The Article

A former refugee aims hopes to “pay it forward” by sponsoring family of 14 Syrians: The Article

Communitech publishes “Giving back and building a future through Mennonite Central Committee” (MCC) which talks about all the groups in Ontario that are stepping up to help a Syrian family and lists options to help: The Article

‘Warm Canadian welcome’ discusses how various sponsors are preparing for the arrival of Syrian refugees: The Article

Ways to welcome newcomer refugees to Ontario, including answers to the following questions:

• Can I donate clothing and housewares for newcomer refugees?
• Can I bring furniture for newcomer refugees to MCC Thrift Shops?
• Is MCC working to house the arriving newcomer refugees?
• Can I donate food?
• What about jobs? Is MCC facilitating temp work for newcomers?

and the answers are here: The Article

More Support on the Way for Service Providers. Minister announces extensions to agreements and new funding for those providing services to refugees and newcomers: The Article

Calgarians make welcome videos for Syrian refugees. Things like how to get a driver’s licence, how to survive cold weather, covered by series of videos: The Article

Rarely-use Toronto airport terminal prepared for refugee flights. It will be a processing centre to provide paperwork, S.I.N. registration and other immediate services when refugees land, before they will be able to be greeted by their sponsors at another location on the airport grounds: The Article

This post is part of a series which is documenting how Canada is getting ready to handle the influx of Syrian refugee families and how local groups are preparing and handling the settlement activities. Follow the publication here.

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