Cornwall’s Syrian Refugee Task Force to host public meetings

Cornwall’s Syrian Refugee Task Force to host public meetings
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry riding federal Liberal candidate Bernadette Clement speaks with local residents at public forum on Friday (October 2) at her campaign in Cornwall

CORNWALL, Ontario – A new task force is getting ready to help Syrians find homes and build a new life in Cornwall.

The city’s newly formed Syrian Refugee Task Force is hosting a pair of information sessions at the Cornwall Civic Complex (100 Water Street East) on Wednesday (Feb. 17).

The meetings will take place at the second floor concourse from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We already have some community organizations that are working together to sponsor a Syrian refugee family to settle in Cornwall,” said Councillor Bernadette Clement, chair of the task force. “These information sessions will give us a chance to gauge community interest in sponsoring additional families and to learn more about the process of sponsoring families.”

Clement says attendees will learn how private refugee sponsorship works and what the sponsors’ responsibilities are. In addition, a federal government representative will be on hand to answer questions.

“Some communities are working collectively to sponsor a number of Syrian refugee families and we could see something similar take shape here in Cornwall. We have a proud history as a caring and welcoming community and this is an opportunity to build on that history,” she added.

The task force was established by city council in mid-December 2015: “to open lines of communication with organizations and individuals that have an interest in assisting with the possible settlement of refugees in the Cornwall area.”

For more information, contact Deputy City Clerk Manon Levesque at (613) 930-2787 ext. 2316.

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