Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Syria

First sponsored Syrian refugee arrives in Salmon Arm

SHUSWAP - They’ve got houses, furniture, dentists, backpacks and pretty much everything else a newcomer might need, and now a group of volunteers working to sponsor Syrian refugee families finally has its first arrival. A young man in his 20s arrived in Salmon Arm a couple of days ago, Salmon Arm Refugee Coalition member Brian...

Kamloops artists sound off on Syrian conflict through music, spoken word

KAMLOOPS - Local artists are sharing their gifts to provide both commentary and support following ongoing conflict in Syria and the upcoming arrival of refugees to the area. Singers and songwriters Deandra Dey and Timothy Brookbanks recently produced a track, Wait and See, and are hoping to donate funds received from their song toward refugee support....

Kelowna church prepares to welcome and support Syrian refugee family

KELOWNA - Four generations of a Syrian family will soon be enjoying the relative safety of life in Kelowna with the support of a local church congregation. Kelowna Gospel Fellowshop Pastor Mike Penninga says he’s not yet sure when the Tounousian family, originally from Allepo, will arrive in Canada but when they do, they can...

Community group created to welcome refugees to the North Okanagan

VERNON - A group of community organizations, local residents and faith groups are coming together with a common vision — welcoming refugees and settling them in the North Okanagan. The recently created North Okanagan Refugee Committee is already mobilizing to bring international refugee families to the area. “It is important that refugees are welcomed, supported...

Local agencies preparing for Syrian refugees, awaiting government direction

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It's unknown how many Syrian refugees will be arriving in the souther Interior, but in the meantime, officials with the Immigrant Service Society of B.C. are looking for housing to place those escaping the conflict in the Middle East. Director of settlment services Chris Friesen says the are awaiting to receive further direction...

Armstrong sets goal of bringing Syrian family out of crisis

ARMSTRONG - Efforts are underway to bring a Syrian refugee family to the North Okanagan. The initiative is still in the early stages, but organizer Ron Brinnen is hoping the community of Armstrong will get on board.  “The goal is to sponsor a family of four children and their parents and have them settle in...

Money spent on refugees a hot topic at upcoming Kelowna immigration symposium

KELOWNA – The effects of immigration on the Okanagan will be a topic of discussion at an upcoming two-day symposium at Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan this weekend. The Immigration Symposium is a series of in-depth discussions about the impacts various Canadian policies have on immigrants, refugees and temporary foreign workers. It takes place Friday...

Refugee family from Syria adapting to life in Kelowna

KELOWNA – Like most Canadians, Mohammed and his wife love their coffee. “We drink (coffee) every day,” he says. “When I wake, I wash my face and I take coffee.” Unlike most Canadians however, Mohammed Al-Shahoud, 53, doesn’t get his morning fix from Tim Hortons. His coffee, called kahvesi, is thick and unfiltered. The beans...

Okanagan church group spends $60k to bring family from Syria

KELOWNA – Three local churches who spent $60,000 to bring a family from to Kelowna from Syria this summer are raising funds to bring even more refugees from the civil war-torn country. For 30 years the Central Okanagan Refugee Committee have rescued families and individuals from countries afflicted with famine, wars and disease. Six months...