Jobs Minister Shirley Bond has announced BC is expecting another 1000 Syrian refugees to arrive in the province between now and Christmas.
Here in Prince George, the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) says it’s preparing to welcome at least one Syrian family.
“They told us that there’s one family that we should be expecting and we’re making the arrangements to pick them up and then settle them here,” says Sharon Pannu, a settlement practitioner with IMSS. “It’s a family of 5, I believe – 3 children and 2 adults.”
She says there may eventually be more.
“That’s what they had mentioned, that we should be expecting a few more families but we don’t know how many, if any. So at this point, it’s just one family.”
The new arrivals should be here sometime this month, although the exact date has not yet been determined.
“For the accommodation, we just have to make sure that yes, there are some accommodations available and then also, for someone to pick the family up from the airport. And then we let the family doctors know that we will be needing some appointments.”
Arrangements will also be made to get the children into school and provide mental health services, if needed.
Prince George is currently home to six families of Syrian refugees. Four have been sponsored by the government and two are privately sponsored.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
