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Editorial: Success story

A community picnic recently hosted by two refugee families from Syria, marking the one-year anniversary of them living here, provided a chance for Powell River to reflect on the success of their resettlement.

A community picnic recently hosted by two refugee families from Syria, marking the one-year anniversary of them living here, provided a chance for Powell River to reflect on the success of their resettlement.

Last June, the Azrak and Dayekh families arrived at the Westview ferry terminal and were immediately greeted warmly by residents. A few months earlier, the two families met by chance during their long journey to Canada and learned they were both headed to a small coastal city called Powell River.

The families were among more than 45,000 refugees who were brought into Canada during 2016. It was the largest number of refugees admitted into the country in nearly 40 years and more than 33,000 came from war-torn Syria.

As a group of residents celebrated the anniversary with the two families at Willingdon Beach Campsite last week, it was clear by the level of involvement and engagement they have brought to the community in a short 12 months, and the support they have received in return, that Powell River was a suitable place for them to relocate to.

Now, as they enter month 13, said to be the toughest time for transition for most refugees due to a shift in government funding, the Azrak and Dayekh families need community support more than ever.

Luckily, like a lot of other refugees, these two families have strong work ethics and have never expected a free ride. Within a week of being in Powell River, two of the Dayekh’s sons already had jobs and one of them is headed to BCIT in September.

While the two families continue to adjust to their new lives in Canada and find ways to contribute to their new place of residence, local community groups are planning to bring at least three more refugee families to the area, including one to Texada Island.

United Nations has calculated that 1.2 million people worldwide are in immediate need of resettlement and Canada’s refugee intake numbers for 2017 will only address a very small fraction of that total.

Three more families to Powell River is a small step in the right direction.

Judging by how well the Azraks and Dayekhs have adjusted to Powell River, and how they have been welcomed with open arms, it is encouraging to know we are doing our part to help. Even more encouraging is that refugees can settle here with comfort and relative ease for their families.

Jason Schreurs, publisher/editor