Four years ago, a group of Collingwood volunteers welcomed one Syrian refugee family to town.
There are now eight families (48 people) from Syria and Iraq, and much to celebrate.
Earlier this month, those eight families along with their friends, neighbours, and the Collingwood Syrian Family Sponsorship Committee volunteers gathered together to just that with a potluck and party at All Saints’ Anglican Church Hall.
The special occasions included a list of accomplishments.
One family – the first to be sponsored by the committee – bought a home in Collingwood. Another, sponsored by a Thornbury committee, achieved Canadian citizenship. Another family was marking the end of their first year in Collingwood, an anniversary always celebrated by the community. A baby boy was born to the Ibrahim family in November. Two new families arrived in Collingwood recently. Several youth and adults earned drivers’ licences, and three youth will be graduating high school this year. There were awards from employers to celebrate, volunteer awards for the committee members, the list goes on.
Ruth Plant and Tara Bailey, co-chairs of the sponsorship committee, said the community has grown beyond what they expected.
Julie Buckley, a member of the committee said she revelled in watching the dancing, singing, and smiles at the party as Syrians from different backgrounds and socio-economic status joined together for traditional dance, and as they shared a meal with their Collingwood neighbours.
“It’s a little bit of joy we’ve created here in Collingwood,” said Buckley.
The sponsorship committee began four years ago expecting two families, they got one, with the second following 18 months later, and a third after that. Others have moved to Collingwood on their own. The Ibrahims came to Canada on government sponsorship. They were placed in Saskatoon where they felt extremely isolated. They came to Collingwood within the year. Two families sponsored by the Thornbury committee have settled in Collingwood.
“Some of us were looking around [at the party] saying ‘can you believe this is happening?’” said Plant. “So many people said, ‘this is community building, this is what it’s about.’”
The parents of each of the families are employed with local jobs.
Some men are carrying two or three jobs, and the kids are all in school. Those who are settled here welcome new families, offering rides, tours, food, and company as they get to know their new home.
“The families are really supportive of each other,” said Bailey. “I thought the families who had already arrived would help new families, but I don’t think I realized it would be to this extent.”
While there may be regular English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the adult learning centre, and a sophisticated network of volunteers available for rides, financial advice, and general navigation of Canadian systems now, four years ago, there were fewer formal systems in place.
“We’ve learned something from every family we have worked with,” said Plant.
In those days volunteers visited the family in their home to help teach English.
The committee worked with the Adult Learning Centre to bring in ESL training Monday to Thursday.
“Once we started to grow we were able to attract that program here,” said Bailey. “It’s benefited others in the broader community.”
The program is open to anyone with any language background.
There have been other community benefits too, according to Plant, Bailey and Buckley.
“I think it’s helped us raise awareness about how fortunate we are,” said Plant. “In school some of the kids have made presentations. The kids telling their story helps too.”
At the Collingwood Public Library, a new program called SPICE pairs retired volunteers with anyone interested in ESL training and tutoring. Plant said it’s been well-used by the entire community.
“It’s shown how supportive the town is,” said Bailey, adding there have been many offers of employment from the business community for members of each family. “The town has been really generous.”
“I think we are an example for other groups who do this sort of thing,” said Buckley. “Our sponsors have been very successful in our community.”
The Collingwood Syrian Sponsorship Committee is not currently pursuing another family sponsorship, and the committee has used the money it raised for the sponsorship costs. They do continue to actively support the local families. Thanks to a donation from 100 Women who Care, they continue to fund daycare for moms with young children attending ESL classes, driver’s education classes, and computers for those in ESL classes.
Volunteers continue to offer help, but according to Bailey, their roles have changed.
“They’re not even volunteers anymore,” she said. “Friendships have been formed.”
For more about Collingwood’s Syrian Sponsorship Committee, visit the website here.
