Residents applauded for assisting refugees

WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region raised $800,850 last year to help resettle Syrian refugees in the community.

The donations funded 42 local projects aimed at making the transition easier for the Syrian newcomers and give them the “best start possible” for their life in this region.

“There’s been an incredible showing of support,” said Tara Bedard, executive director of Immigration Partnership.

“They have really made a lot of great initiatives possible in this community.”

The Immigration Partnership Fund for Syrian Newcomers was established in early 2016, following the federal government’s commitment in late 2015 to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada.

“Many more arrived,” Bedard told the regional community services committee on Tuesday during an update on the fund.

This region anticipated getting 1,150 refugees within a short time, but about 1,800 came here. The fund was quickly established to channel and disperse local donations.

“The fund enabled local residents to donate to local initiatives supporting the resettlement of Syrian newcomers, keeping their support in this community,” Bedard said.

The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation and the Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation each established a separate fund to which local residents could donate, and the Kitchener and Waterloo foundation matched donations up to $400,000.

Funds were distributed to local agencies and private sponsorship groups based on allocation decisions made by a volunteer committee.

All the money has been allocated, with many of the 42 initiatives still ongoing.

Bedard highlighted one of first grants given to Reception House for its family partnership program, which matched government assisted refugees with local host families to help them settle into the region and develop community ties.

“The support from this program has been invaluable to those families involved,” Bedard said.

The plan is to retain and rename the fund as The Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives.

The agency is working with the two local community foundations on the terms of the legacy fund that will respond to gaps in local settlement supports.

We “will be inviting ongoing giving to the fund to show support and welcoming to all immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region,” Bedard said.

Coun. Elizabeth Clarke asked Bedard what she saw on the horizon.

While the initial resettlement needs have been met for the Syrian refugees, Bedard said she expect this group will have needs that continue for years, including addressing mental health issues.

As well, new refugees and immigrants arrive in the region every week.

“I think it’s just an ongoing cycle of need,” Bedard said.

Douglas Bartholomew-Saunders, the region’s commissioner of social services, added that the influx of Syrian refugees sparked partnerships between local organizations to better serve newcomers.

“Agencies are partnering in different ways now to share resources,” he said.

Coun. Sue Foxton, who filled in as committee chair, commended all the efforts to resettle the influx of Syrian refugees here.

“It was a daunting task.”