Canada accrods warm welcome to Syrian refugees

The prime minister greeted over 100 refugees, only some of the 25,000 Syrian refugees the country plans to take in by the end of February.

The refugees arrived just weeks after Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would pull its fighter jets from a US-led coalition targeting Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

“Today, we welcome many Syrian refugees who were forced to flee their homeland because of war and conflict”.

Canada has long prided itself on opening its doors to asylum-seekers.

With just three words, Trudeau made a profound statement about his country’s attitude toward refugees: “You are home”, he said. The first family was Kevork Jamkossian, a blacksmith from Aleppo; his wife, Georgina Zires, a sales clerk; and their 16-month-old daughter, Madeleine.

“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, and I really hope you like it here in Canada”, one boy said. A poll that Canada’s CBC News released last month said that not all Canadians are receptive to the new arrivals.

“CN will join with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders to direct funds to assist the needs of refugees”, says CN board Chairman Robert Pace. While it might be much colder outside than back home, I am sure that you will find warm welcomes from your new neighbours.

See more images from the group’s arrival below.

Syrian refugees receive welcome bags at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada December 11, 2015. The public was actually warned to stay away from the Toronto airport, as officials feared the overwhelming rush of kindhearted people who wanted to greet the refugees with open arms.