Fredericton is 1 of 36 destinations for Syrian refugees
Federal government has extended the deadline to accept 25,000 refugees to the end of February
The executive director of the Multicultural Association of Fredericton (MCAF) has confirmed Fredericton is one of 36 identified "destination" cities for Syrian refugees.
Lisa Bamford-De Gante says the MCAF has a contract with Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada to provide assistance.
"We have contracts with them to deliver resettlement services for government-assisted refugees … we are one of the 36."
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At a news conference on Tuesday, the federal government announced it has delayed its deadline to welcome 25,000 refugees to Canada, setting the end of February, 2016 as a new target date.
While unveiling details of the massive resettlement program Tuesday, the government said it will identify all 25,000 selected refugees by Dec. 31, 2015, but only 10,000 will arrive by year's end.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum said the extra time was needed to give host communities more time to prepare to receive the refugees.
"There are a lot of moving parts here," said McCallum at a news conference, "so we are happy to take a little more time because that allows us to be more prepared."
Bamford-De Gante says she still doesn't know when the refugees will arrive, but expects to get more details soon.
In the meantime, the multicultural association says it's ready to accept the newcomers.
I think this can be our finest hour.- Lisa Bamford-De Gante, Multicultural Association of Fredericton
"So many people have come forward and offered so many resources," said Bamford-De Gante.
She says she's been heartened by the local response to the crisis, with 39 people who speak Arabic having volunteered their services to help the new arrivals.
"People who can speak Arabic will be important because people are arriving based on their need for resettlement, not based on any assessment of language skills, so we anticipate that there will be people who will not have a high level of proficiency in English and French."
The MCAF is also looking for people to help the refugees become acquainted with the city once they arrive.
Bamford-De Gante calls them "First Fredericton Friends."
"They [volunteers] will have a chance to really know the new arrivals and share information and introduce them to the community, and let them know they are welcome here," she said.
There will be information sessions on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 for anyone interested in being a First Fredericton Friend.
She says there are a number of groups working together to make the resettlement happen as smoothly as possible.
"The city has really stepped forward and set up a committee working specifically on a welcoming response to resettling Syrian refugees," said Bamford-De Gante.
Finding housing is one of the first challenges, and Bamford-De Gant says her group is working on a mapping of housing resources available.
"Housing capacity both with families who've come forward, or individuals who've come forward with available housing, and also with NB Housing, with Social Development and with large apartment owners, looking at furnished and unfurnished apartment availability."
She says the province is working with schools to ensure Syrian children are welcome in the school system, "that there are resources there for them, that students and teachers have some awareness of Syrian culture and are able to welcome and integrate and help the new children to participate."
"I think this can be our finest hour. Fredericton does this very well,"