Cochrane welcomed two more Syrian refugee families on Feb. 14.
The first family, newlyweds Safaa Alkhoury and Louay Ghassan, landed at Calgary International Airport at 5:30 p.m., making it through the gate by 6 p.m. to a warm welcome from their sponsoring group, the Cochrane Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Group (CSRSG).
CSRSG members spoke with the Cochrane Eagle moments before the couple’s arrival expressing their excitement and personal reasons of why they joined a group to sponsor refugee families.
“I saw a young mother throw her baby to a stranger on a beach as she was exiting… jumping from the boat as it was arriving in Greece and I thought, these people are desperate and we should reach out,” said Elizabeth Giles, co-founder and co-ordinator of CSRSG.
“Cochrane is a good community and I think this is a gift and I think it will strengthen the community. This is the right thing to do.”
The CSRSG is partnering with the Franciscan Friars at the Mt. St. Francis Retreat Centre, a parish that has been working to resettle Syrian families, with help from the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.
Antoinette Godbout, sponsorship co-ordinator with Calgary Catholic Immigrant Society and Father Ephrem Kardouh from the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, originally from Syria, were also part of the welcoming group with CSRSG at the airport.
“I am very excited and very happy, especially with my first experience,” Kardouh said.
“The people are very hospitable, very welcoming and embracing the families. The first family felt at home and we are very grateful for Cochrane and the people in Cochrane.”
Kardouh helped translate for the couple as they held roses and Canadian flags, gifts from the CSRSG.
“They said they don’t feel like strangers. They feel that they are family and at the same time they are very excited, and (Ghassan) said there are no words to describe their feelings,” Kardouh said.
“They are eager and looking forward to seeing the city. (Ghassan) said this was his gift, to bring Safaa here. They thank you so much for this reception and they feel that they are among their friends and their family.”
The second Syrian family to arrive that night (third overall to move to Cochrane) landed on Feb. 14 at 10:45 p.m. at Calgary International Airport.
Ramez Assaf and Farah Roba, with their three children, Butrus age 5, Maressa age 3, and Sharbl born Jan. 14, made it through the gate by 11:10 p.m. to the same warm welcome from CSRSG.
CSRSG member Mike Poettcker said this was the right thing to do, as he explained his family came to Canada three generations ago, seeking refuge from the Bolshevik revolution.
“I think that it is important to be good global neighbours and be compassionate – also I think diversity has always been a thing that has made our country so strong,” Poettcker said.
Some of the welcoming CSRSG members remained at the airport after the arrival of the first family, waiting to welcome the family of five. The Assafs arrived tired after their long journey from Syria, with a stop-over in Montreal before arriving in Calgary.
Roba said the welcome was overwhelming when their family came through the gate.
“I was about to cry. I am not used to good people that take care of us – I just want to thank them, it is so sweet,” Roba said tearfully.
The newlyweds and family of five, that arrived from Beirut, Lebanon, know each other from Syria and will be supported together by CSRSG. All seven people will be in temporary housing until they move into their apartment on March 15.
CSRSG’s financial target for all seven people in the two families is $40,000 with $21,000 already raised. The group of seven arrived earlier than expected and the CSRSG committee is asking for donations of household items. If anyone would like to donate to either or both families, contact Al or Donna Lyon at 403-932-9090.
