Syrian family set to reunite

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

The Alajie family arriving in Kelowna, Dec. 11.

While most people in Kelowna will be celebrating the incoming new year Thursday evening, one family will be celebrating for another reason.

The Alajie family arrived in Kelowna from Syria on Dec. 11, sponsored by the Diocese of Nelson Refugee Committee.

Karla Alajie, the mother in the family, will be meeting her own mother and sister Thursday evening when they fly in to town.

Jacklin Hannawi, Karla’s mother, will be flying in by herself, followed by the Kurkjian family.

The Kurkjian family consists of Karla’s sister, her husband, and their 14- and 15-year-old sons.

Tim Young, of the Diocese of Nelson Refugee Committee, said they first applied to sponsor the Kurkjian family in July 2015.

They were initially told to expect them in August 2016, making their December arrival a pleasant surprise.

Young credits the federal Liberal Party’s ambitious Syrian refugee resettlement goals for the family's early arrival.

Despite their ambition, the federal government will miss their goal of bringing 10,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of 2015, which itself was an amended goal from their election promise of 25,000 refugees by the end of the year.

Jacklin Hannawi will be staying with her daughter Karla’s family when she arrives, while the Kurkjian family will be set up temporarily in a motel.