“So, Mummy, when the Syrian refugee family gets to Oliver, they want to become Canadians, right?”

“Right, my girl.”

“So, then I guess when they get here we should stop calling them the Syrian family and start calling them the Canadian family, right?”

How’s that for wisdom from the mouths of babes? She might only be seven but she’s figured out something we all might do well in remembering. Right now, while the Syrian family Oliver has agreed to help sponsor is still far away, it’s easy to think of them as refugees, as in need, as ‘other’. But, once they finally arrive here, we need to welcome them as people, as community members, as individuals, as equals and as friends.

As you’ve probably heard, a committee of volunteers in Oliver is working to bring a Syrian refugee family named the Al Lwisis to our town. Once they arrive, the committee (with support from our generous town) will support the family financially, emotionally, and socially for a minimum of one year, helping with housing, language study, employment search, school integration, etc.

The process

We’ve had several questions from interested community members about the process the Al Lwisis are required to get through in order to be allowed to come to Canada. In fact, we should all hold our Canadian citizenship papers a little more appreciatively, since gaining entry to our country is a complicated and lengthy process. The family first had to be vetted and approved by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, then vetted and approved by Immigration Canada, and likely finally approved by our previous (Conservative) government’s Prime Minister’s Office.

Once the family was approved by all of these agencies, their name was added to a list of prospective refugees. This list was sent to various community groups interested in helping sponsor a refugee family, including the Oliver Refugee Sponsorship Committee. Our town’s Committee selected the Al Lwisi family, based partially on Mohammed (the 32 year old dad)’s interest in tourism and agriculture. Once the match was made, the family underwent final preparation and medicals before receiving their Travel Visas on October 15th. And then we all waited. We followed up with the Canada’s Refugee Matching Centre on October 30th and were told that the request for travel booking was sent on October 29th, and that the family (and we) should receive travel dates ‘in due time’.

While the wait has been frustrating for us here who anxiously anticipate their arrival, and undoubtedly gruelling to the Al Lwisis living in a refugee camp in Beirut, we should all appreciate that due process is being upheld. The checks and balances undertaken before the family travels are vital to ensure everyone can have absolute confidence that this family is a safe and good match for our town and country.

Our town’s generosity

Once the Al Lwisis do arrive, they will require financial, physical and social support. We know our town will undoubtedly respond beautifully and warmly to those needs (already we’ve raised $20,000 towards our goal of $30,000).

We are both humbled and inspired by the warmth and generosity of the many individuals who have donated to date. One group of long-time Oliver friends have given each other Christmas gifts every year for 20+ years. This year, they have decided to give each other the gift of community-minded generosity: they will each be donating dollars to Al Lwisis instead.

At least two others are planning to write 12 post-dated cheques.

“I might not be able to afford to donate much per month, but if I donate a little each month, it adds up,” says L, who prefers not to have her name published, since her contribution is about is about generosity, not publicity.

We’d like to encourage others who might be interested in donating to consider doing so now, before the Al Lwisis arrive, as collecting dollars once they arrive may make the family feel uncomfortably ‘needy’. As a 100% volunteer run committee, all funds raised go to the direct support of the sponsored refugees.

For more information or to find out more about donating, contact Committee member Dale Dodge at dodger(at)persona.ca. To donate via Paypal, visit www.ctkoliver.org/refugees and click on the ‘donate online’ button. Or come talk to us at the Oliver Refugee Support Committee’s info booth at the upcoming Oliver Craft Fair (Friday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm only).