The group arose out of meetings held in late 2015 when attention was given to the growing refugee/migrant crisis spilling out of the Middle East and Africa into Europe. There was a feeling the community working together could bring newcomers to town and a much better life. They worked with government and non-governmental agencies to sponsor families, and by the summer of 2016, they were successful.
The first family came then, Yemane Teklemichael, his wife Mibrak Teka and their son Sam. Then a year later came Biniam Debasey, his wife Birkti Birhane and their children RL and Misgana. Both families were settled in homes successfully, found work and became members of the community.
However, pretty much from the beginning, there were questions about other family. The committee had it in the back of their mind about Yemane’s brother Geremeskel and his family. They too were refugees, and separated from not only their Canadian family, but also each other. Geremeskel was in a refugee camp in Israel, while his wife and two children were in Ethiopia. Some progress has been made.
“Yemane’s brother arrived here in August. He has been here for a few months.”
Tthe family needs to be unified. This is the goal of the Resettlement Committee.
“In our relationships with the other family members,” Goertzen explained, “we had decided we wanted to move in this direction. We decided that instead of another family right now, we would focus on reuniting the family.”
This is a somewhat different process than previously. Before, the group could work with a federal government program in which the two partners would combine to pay a family’s expenses for a year. Because the request this time is specific people, they will have to shoulder all of the responsibility.
Goertzen said they know this, but there are other advantages this time. For one, the family structure is already in place in town and can help to integrate the new arrivals. As well, the committee has been able to raise some money from different sources. For example, 2018 is the first year they have been on the Donor’s Choice list and they were able to see $2,702 from that canvass. The community has always been generous in this regard.
“We’ve made a couple of rounds, meeting the same community members. Now that we are doing private sponsorship, we need to demonstrate we have the cash in the bank.”
She said they wanted to have $30,000 to start with and at last count were at about $27,000, so they are close to their goal.
When the family might come to town is hard to say. There is a lot of paperwork to get through, as they need approval from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Canada. They are working to get that together. There will need to be medical and background checks and a lot of waiting. Goertzen said she has great empathy for them, as she and husband Wes, American citizens, are working on getting their permanent residency status in Canada, so they know the patience required.
Traditionally, the committee has had 6-8 weeks notice before a family arrives, but that is not set in stone. It would be nice if the newcomers could be like their predecessors and make it in the summer, so they have some decent weather before the cold hits. Goertzen said they do not even know if they will make it in 2019. At any rate, they will continue to work for family reunification, knowing they are helping people get a better life.
“People go wherever they can,” she said, “but people really want to come to Canada. The people here are kind and friendly. The families here feel blessed to be here. They are hoping to share this experience.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff