There are 10 Syrian families on their way to Prince George and the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) is ready to welcome them.
Due to the severe snow storms experienced in eastern Canada, the Syrian families, who were expected to arrive Tuesday, have been delayed.
"We feel very supported by the community and we feel comfortable enough that we've put out there we would receive 30 families in Prince George," said Laurie Dillman, employment counselor at IMSS.
A big part of successfully preparing for the incoming Syrian families has been due to the unending help for what Dillman calls the First Family - the first Syrian family to arrive in Prince George Jan. 8, the Toume family, who comes to the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society office to help every day. Daughter Sarah, who is a teacher and translator, now works for IMSS.
"We have the capacity to support the Syrian families' language and education needs at IMSS."
The IMSS just launched Connect PG to allow newcomers like the incoming Syrian families to network with long-standing community members so they can quickly acclimate to their new environment, said Dillman.
"We'd like to get newcomers attached and engaged as quickly as possible so that we can retain them so they choose to stay in Prince George," said Dillman.
"It's an amazing community project."
The program, which has people pairing up based on mutual interest, has newcomers ultimately connect with 12 community members in 90 days, said Dillman.
"We actually match the newcomer with three community members right away," said Dillman.
"So then they meet the connectors and those connectors will introduce them into the community."
Dillman cited a newcomer interested in soccer as an example.
The newcomer will then be introduced by the connector into the soccer community, meeting new people, shown what organizations to access soccer in Prince George, giving the newcomer many options to meet new people.
IMSS listened to the challenges of newcomers when arriving in Prince George and one of the biggest issues was to get information about different organizations and that they simply didn't know enough people to keep them anchored in the community, said Dillman.
"We all know that in life you need to have a balance of family, community service, play and work so Connect PG will build capacity in every way, shape and form for Prince George," said Dillman.
For more information visit www.connectpg.ca.
