On Saturday, Novenber 5, the Summerlea Refugee Support Coalition welcomed folk from the community and the coalition congregations who had in any way been involved with the project to meet for a soup luncheon. The committee wanted to thank all for their continuing support and to hear about the progress to date in the sponsorship process.
We were informed that the provincial and federal approvals and the documentation were received by the Canadian officials in Abou Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates of July past. It remains for the Canadian consular officials to interview the applicants and have security and health checks performed. We have been informed by Action Réfugiés Montréal (our sponsorship agreement holder) that this could take several months to a year (!) to be completed. Upon successful completion of these steps the transportion (from Saudi Arabia where the family has fled to from Syria) of the family of six will quickly follow.
The attendees were treated to five different homemade soups, homemade bread and various other delights.

With lunch underway, SRSC chairperson Sheila Laursen (left) addressed the guests welcoming all and gave a brief history of the coalition and the larger group West Island Refugee Network (WIRN) and described the application process and where we are at present.

Sheila then introduced our special guest, Salman, who is cosponsor with us of his brother and sister-in-law and their four young children all currently in Saudi Arabia (more on this in the News as of April 2016 and the The News as of July 2016.

Salman, a Syrian refugee himself, spoke to all of the difficulties and struggles refugees must face as displaced people.

Update: On Thursday evening of November 10, Sinclair Harris and I took advantage of our federal MP Anju Dhilhon's Open House at the Lachine Riding Office to describe the efforts of our group and to ask for help in expediting the process. We will, as asked, give the pertinent information and file numbers to Dhillon's parliamentary assistant to follow up on our application.
We will keep you informed of any progress.