It was not more than 60 seconds after we posted on social media about a family of Syrian refugees arriving in Powell River that a human-rights organization called People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty, all the way from South Africa, responded back, suggesting we change the word “refugees” to “humans” in our headline.
“Humans arrive.” It has a nice ring to it, and the organization is right. That is exactly what is happening, and it is important that we recognize it.
The issue of Canadian cities accepting Syrian refugees has been divisive nationwide. More than 25,000 men, women and children were resettled by the federal government between November and February, with plans to bring in thousands more in the coming months through private sponsors.
The pending arrival of the Syrian refugees in Powell River is due to the efforts of local community groups and faith-based organizations. Now that refugees are officially coming to our city, in this case two families totalling 13 people, acceptance and understanding are crucial.
How the residents of Powell River respond to the two families will be integral to them being able to adjust to the culture shock of a new country and begin to heal the scars of what they experienced during civil war in their own country.
The arguments that refugees will put a strain on social services at a time when many Canadians are struggling themselves with poverty and homelessness is valid, but if our own families needed to escape from war, we would hope that other countries would be willing to take us in. When it comes down to it, it is the right thing to do. And we Canadians are good at doing the right thing.
It is easy to discredit Syrian refugees as foreigners and say they are not welcome here, but the fact is all of us, except for Tla’amin Nation people, were foreigners to this area at one time. Whether our ancestors immigrated here or came as refugees, we expected to be welcomed.
As People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty said on its Twitter account, refugees are “people with real hopes, fears and dreams” and although the Syrian families are probably relieved to have a safe place to come and resettle with their families, it is fair to say, like most of us, they would rather be at home.
But they are here now, and it is up to us to make them feel comfortable in their new home, a place that has welcomed with open arms so many humans arriving in Powell River in the past.
Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor
