Excitement, uncertainty ahead of refugee family’s arrival in Vancouver

This will be a busy weekend for the Kitsilano Christian Community Church.

The group is preparing to welcome a Syrian family they’ve sponsored to come to Canada.

“We thought perhaps collectively we could do something, so even one family is a drop in the bucket, but it’s a start and it’s more than we could have done otherwise,” said Ian Graham, part of the group of private sponsors at the church who are spearheading the effort to bring the family here.

READ MORE: Syrian refugees begin arriving in British Columbia

With the help of their church and donors from across North America, the group raised over $50,000 is less than 30 days–all of the money will be used to support the family for a year.

The only challenge is the group has no idea when the family of five from Damascus is arriving.

In fact, with the exception of names and ages, details have been scant. MacLean said it has made this process just a bit more challenging.

“We don’t know when they’re coming. We don’t know when they come, whether they have any money or whether they have the clothing on their backs or they’re going to be reasonably well dressed,” said Ged McLean, another group member.

“I think with the government mobilizing to move large numbers of people, they’re scrambling to just get the basics,” said Graham.

25,000 refugees by end of February

The federal government is pledging to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada by the end of February. The first wave of refugees is starting to arrive, most of them sponsored by private groups.

Rod Olson, the Refugee Sponsorship Coordinator for the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, said they too have been struggling to get information. Olson and CBWC have been helping the group in Kitsilano work through the private sponsorship process.

Syrian refugees: How you can help

“I want to be as supportive as I can to this new government because they’re the best news for us in terms of refugee resettlement,” said Olson. “But we are getting information late.”

Olson believes as more refugees arrive, they will work with the government to figure out where these communications gaps are, so they can be closed. However, he understands how challenging it can be for some of the church groups sponsoring refugees.

“Most churches, they’re wondering–do we sign a lease? Do we wait to sign a lease?” said Olson. He advises they find temporary housing initially, until more information becomes available.

Uncertainty isn’t a deterrent, sponsors say

However, the uncertainty is by no means a deterrent, said McLean.

“We have to maintain a state of readiness for them to come. We have to be looking for long term accommodation for them, which is a huge need that we’re trying to address. But we don’t know when we need it. So, there’s this challenge and I think what we’ll have to do is just keep stepping forward, step by step in faith and we’ll figure it out.”

He and the others are hopeful someone will step forward and help them with long term accommodations for the family of five. Ideally, they’re searching for an apartment in Vancouver that is close to transit and can accommodate one of the children, who has a disability.

In the meantime, there’s no shortage of excitement.

“I’m hoping that we really get to love this new family that comes.”