Businesses stepping in to help Syrian refugees

Businesses and entrepreneurs across the country are stepping in to help settle the thousands of Syrian refugees coming to Canada over the next few weeks.

Real estate companies are contributing apartments, airlines are offering seats and individual business leaders are chipping in cash.

Calgary-based Mainstreet Equity Corp. offered at least 200 apartments across western Canada to house refugees at a discounted rate.

Wednesday’s offer follows a similar one last week by fellow Calgary-based Boardwalk Rental Communities to provide 350 apartments across the Prairies and in Montreal, and Westbank Corp.’s donation of 12 fully furnished and stocked apartments in downtown Vancouver.

Bob Dhillon, the CEO of Mainstreet, said his experience immigrating to Canada from war-torn Liberia with his family in the 1970s helped motivate him to assist the refugees.

“I can relate to what these guys are going through. They’re going through turmoil, hardship, a difficult time, and if we can make their lives easier on their entry to Canada, why not?’’ Dhillon said in an interview.

“I think how we made this country so beautiful is to open our hearts up at times like this.’’

The company says it hasn’t finalized what kind of discount will be provided, but said it could include temporarily waiving the rent or offering the discounted rate for a longer period of time.

David McIlveen, director of community development at Boardwalk, says his company will be offering discounts of $150 a month for the first year, similar to what it offers in its other affordable housing programs.

“We follow the news like anybody else, and we knew there was a need,’’ said McIlveen.