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...

Refugee family from Syria set to arrive in Kamloops today

KAMLOOPS - One of the Syrian families moving to Kamloops will arrive today after successfully entering Canada as refugees. Refugees and Friends Together (RAFT), a group which helped sponsor four families through the United Church, will pick up the arriving group — a couple and their three children — from the airport today, Dec. 30,...

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....

United Way seeking donations to help Syrian refugees coming to Kamloops area

KAMLOOPS - An urgent fundraiser for Syrian refugees is underway by the United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo. Money raised by the United For Refugees charity will be going towards the group Refugees and Friends Together which is sponsoring the arrival of four families to the Kamloops area. “One of our national focus areas is strong...

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...

Vernon’s role housing Syrian refugees remains unknown

VERNON - Despite speculation the Vernon Army Camp could be used to house Syrian refugees, the official word is nothing has been decided yet. Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund says the provincial government has been in touch, but any discussion about the city taking in refugees has been very preliminary so far. “It was more of...

Four Syrian families set to come to Kamloops area

KAMLOOPS - A local group started raising funds last month hoping to bring a Syrian family to Kamloops, but now their workload has increased substantially as they’ve signed on to assist four families moving to the area. Refugees and Friends Together, known as the RAFT group, began constructing a plan to bring a refugee family to...

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...

Church looking for donations, volunteers to help welcome refugee family to Vernon

VERNON - A local church is asking the community to help make a difference in the lives of those impacted by the global refugee crisis. Members of Trinity United Church were moved by the magnitude of the crisis and have decided to sponsor a family, representative Marilyn Erdmann says in a statement. “Members of the...

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...