The Niagara region continues to get plans in place to welcome hundreds of refugees.
Jeff Burch, Executive Director, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre says Hamilton is one of six Ontario reception centres for Syrian refugees, and many of the 12-hundred refugees arriving this month will call Niagara home.
The Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee has been working with municipal governments, community partners and local agencies to identify, mobilize and coordinate resources to support the settlement of refugees.
A number of working groups around areas such as housing, health care, and fundraising have now been set up to handle and manage all aspects of refugee resettlement and will be meeting and reporting on a regular basis.
Burch says the community has a long proud history of supporting those in need and building on the strong foundation of work that has already been done by the Local Immigration Partnership and local settlement agencies and service providers, the Niagara Refugee Assistance Committee will work hard to ensure that we are ready to welcome the Syrian refugees in the coming weeks and months.
You can find more information through the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre website at www.folk-arts.ca.
Financial donations and other offers of assistance can be made by email to generalenquiries@folk-arts.ca or online at http://gofund.me/syrianassist.