By the end of the year 5,000 refugees from the small south Asian country of Bhutan will call Canada home, with hundreds of them settling in Lethbridge.
Dal a refugee from Bhutan, is one of hundreds from that country making Lethbridge home.
He is the only one who can speak English in his family the rest of them are still struggling.
Over the last 3 years Lethbridge immigration services has welcomed over 5 – hundred Bhunatese refugees.
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Brenda Hunik says Lethbridge is a smaller market making the transition to Canada a lot easier.
But last week the federal government closed the citizen and immigration office located in downtown Lethbridge.
According to this local immigration agency, it’s going to create huge headaches for immigrants coming to southern Alberta.
“Right now that means there is no over the counter service for them or face to face. They need to call the centre and explain the info they need. Someone will call the client,” Hunik says.
The office closure is result of the federal government enhancing its online and phone services.
But according to Brenda Hunik the services will only provide English and French options.
” For most immigrants., language is their biggest barrier and need face to face contact’, she says.
Lethbridge Family Services, which now serves more than 650 clients – 70 per cent of them refugees- says it’s expecting more immigrants to use its services putting more pressure on its staff.
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