Intensive planning to welcome 250 Syrian refugees to Prince Edward Island is producing positive results.
By the end of February 2016, 250 Syrian refugees will be coming to the province as part of a federal government initiative to resettle 25,000 refugees over the next three months.
"As Islanders are aware, much of this planning has taken place quickly in response to the humanitarian emergency that is unfolding on the other side of the world,” said PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada Executive Director Craig Mackie. “We’ve been impressed with the generosity and support of Islanders.”
Over the past number of years the province has welcomed 40-60 refugees on an annual basis.
Due to the number of people arriving in the coming weeks, a Ministerial Advisory Council with representatives from settlement service groups, private sponsors, and government departments was brought together to coordinate efforts.
Much work has been done over the past three weeks:
• Coordinated volunteer approach with over 250 Islanders responding to a call for volunteers since the toll-free line 1-844-237-7734 was introduced just two weeks ago. In addition, private sponsor groups have established robust volunteer structures in communities across the province to prepare for arrivals.
• Coordinated approach between the Department of Health and Wellness and Health PEI to review a potential increase in services which are presently being provided for newcomers to PEI such as immunization clinics.
• Coordinated efforts to ensure children are supported as they enter the public school system and that adults receive timely access to language training.
• Extensive outreach with interested organizations and municipalities to discuss partnerships.
• A provincial donation centre opened November 29th in the former Coast Guard warehouse across from the Delta Hotel in Charlottetown. Donations of furniture and other goods are pouring in.
• Due to the overwhelming response from Islanders, the donation centre will close temporarily after Saturday, December 19th- to allow time for an inventory to determine what other specific donations are still needed.
• The donations centre will remain accessible to new Syrian families who would like to choose from what is available.
The PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada (PEI ANC) is one of 36 organizations in Canada that have refugee settlement agreements with the federal government. The PEI ANC has been delivering services for refugees and other newcomers in this province over the last two decades.
“The provincial government is pleased to liaise with the federal government and to provide leadership and resources to The Welcome Project,” said Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown. “ Our goal is to provide as much support as possible to the many individuals and groups who will be working directly with the families who will be making Prince Edward Island their new home.”
Over the past number of years, Prince Edward Island’s population has grown, when not all other Atlantic Canadian provinces have seen an increase. Population growth is very important to the province’s future economic prosperity and once the influx of Syrian newcomers have arrived and settled, work will continue to attract more newcomers to Prince Edward Island.