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Westlock welcomes family of Syrian refugees

A family of Syrian refugees have arrived in the Westlock area after a local group had its sponsorship application approved last week. After months of work, the Westlock and District Refugee Resettlement Association got the final OK on Monday, Feb.
Westlock’s newest residents arrived at Edmonton International Airport on Saturday, Feb. 6. Pictured is Yasmeen Al Masalmeh (left) holding one-year-old Abdullah Al Akrad,
Westlock’s newest residents arrived at Edmonton International Airport on Saturday, Feb. 6. Pictured is Yasmeen Al Masalmeh (left) holding one-year-old Abdullah Al Akrad, Khaled Al Akrad (right) and in front (L-R) Mohammad, 3, Abdulrazak, 5, and Walid, 7.

A family of Syrian refugees have arrived in the Westlock area after a local group had its sponsorship application approved last week.

After months of work, the Westlock and District Refugee Resettlement Association got the final OK on Monday, Feb. 1 and were told to expect the family of six to arrive in Edmonton over the weekend.

“We expected it, but at the same time, not as quick. We thought they would come to Canada, somewhere, and there would be a two week kind of timeframe where we would know a little more about them and then we’d get things ready,” said association secretary Rick Chappell.

“It’s sort of a scramble right now to get everything furnished and in place. But, we’re going to pull it off somehow.”

Accommodations have already been found for the family consisting of mom and dad and four boys, while final preparations are being made for it to be move-in ready.

Chappell said the group is looking to the community for funds to help with things like groceries and house furnishings to get the new Westlock residents started.

“We probably have enough [funds] for a month’s time at the present,” he said. “We’ll need ongoing fundraising.”

Treasurer Fern Klassen explained the group expects the family will cost $50,000-$60,000 to support for the year.

“The federal government is giving the refugee association in Westlock approximately $13,000, so we have to make up the rest,” Klassen said.

“We have rented a house and that house is costing us $1,000 a month. So the federal money will basically cover that.”

An April 16 dinner fundraiser at the Westlock and District Community Hall has been planned to help bolster funds.

Aside from raising cash, the association is also looking to the community to help solve some logistical issues they expect to face.

“They speak Arabic, so we’ll need people to translate to come forward.

“We’ve got four in town that we know of, but if there are others that would be able to help with translation, help with education, that would be wonderful.”

From there the family will need help getting social insurance numbers in Canada, enrolling the kids in school, registering for healthcare, finding a family doctor, establish bank accounts and finding work.

“There are lots of things to think about,” Chappell said.

Those wishing to make a donation towards the resettlement efforts can do so by dropping by either the St. Philips Anglican Church, Westlock United Church, Clyde Christian Bible Church or Westlock Trinity Lutheran Church.

“All you have to do is write on your cheque ‘refugee donation’ so we know that’s where it’s going,” Klassen said, adding that tax receipts are available upon request.

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