Matching Syrian refugees with local families provides link to community
NANAIMO — It’s been a hectic past several months for staff and volunteers at the Immigrant Welcome Centre in Nanaimo.
The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society is helping 135 primarily-Syrian refugees adjust to their new life in Nanaimo since arriving last spring, according to acting executive director Kelly McBride.
She says helping the government assisted refugees was particularly a challenge last spring, when 95 arrived all at the same time.
“It was a learning curve at the very beginning and I’d like to think we’ve really come together as an organization to provide a really strong service to our ongoing client base,” said McBride.