Syrian family arrives

Ilia Alajie and his family stepped off an Air Canada flight late Friday, into their new home.

Ilia, his wife Karla, son Lion, and daughter Raine fled Syria almost two years ago. Seeking refugee status in Canada, they had been living in Beirut, Lebanon, until now, in rental accommodations provided by a Catholic church.

Ilia had worked in the garment industry, in Aleppo, before fleeing his country. 

“We are so happy,” he said at the Kelowna Airport. His 10-year-old daughter chimed in saying she too, is excited.

Diocese of Nelson Refugee Committee member Janet Attwell will help the family settle into their Kelowna accommodations. She said the committee has been preparing for months for their arrival.

“I already have school district appointments," she said. "(The children) will be doing English lessons at school and will be put right into their peer group.”

The parents will also be taking lessons to improve their English.

“The idea is by the end of (2016), they will be fully independent and integrated into Canadian society,” said Attwell.

She said Canada "has opened its hearts and its doors to these refugees."

Another family of four from Iraq, who are also being sponsored by the committee, is set to arrive any day.

Attwell said it has been a scramble getting organized as the families are arriving in rapid succession.

“We were originally expecting the Iraqi family in September; we were told the latest October. We were also expecting our two Syrian families next July, but now we’ve had five families in one week.”

The response from the community has been overwhelming, she said.

“In the last three days, I have answered 50 phone calls and emails, everybody wants to be involved. It brings me to tears."

The Alajie family is privately sponsored by the Diocese, meaning the committee will cover the family's expenses for a year.

“There are 14 more families in the pipeline coming to the Interior, and now Salmon Arm is partnering with us as well, so there will be another seven families up there,” said spokesman Keith Germaine. ”This is a long-term thing. We are in this for the long haul; there will be families coming for a while – the next five years.”

Photo: Contributed