Heart-Warming and Inspiring: Canadian Prime Minister Personally Welcomes Syrian Refugees

The 163 refugees who arrived Thursday night in Toronto came on a military plane from Beirut, but others have been trickling in for weeks on commercial flights.

The pledge to bring in the refugees was part of a campaign promise by Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau.

Government departments across Canada having been warming up to the country’s biggest refugee resettlement programme and the results are quite evidently exceptional. Trudeau was eagerly waiting at the airport to welcome the “new Canadians”.

Toronto’s mayor tweeted a welcome, while the Toronto Star, the country’s largest newspaper, covered its front page with a “Welcome to Canada” banner headline in English and Arabic, along with an article explaining Canadian weather, ice hockey and slang. Mr Keoushkerian, a Syrian refugee of Armenian descent, said he and his family have been in Canada for 10 months and did not apply for asylum in the US.

“The feeling that I got yesterday was a very similar feeling when I arrived in Canada when I was five years old”.

Buses ferrying refugees began pulling up to the hotel shortly after 3 a.m. but Youssef didn’t immediately spot her relatives.

His wife held their daughter Madeleine, clutching a teddy bear the little girl took with a shy smile from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne as the politicians helped find suitable winter clothing for them. The United States has committed itself to taking in 10,000 through September 2016.

In the coming days, CN will join with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and other Canadian business leaders to direct funds to assist with housing and other needs of Syrian refugees.

Sponsors must commit to being responsible for the refugee for one year.

“Our message on behalf of the arts community to newcomers is ‘welcome, we are so happy to have you in our communities, we welcome you to our spaces, performances and events when you are ready”, he said.

“Clearly we’re not far off the 1 million mark the way things are going”.