Officials who helped coordinate the two Syrian families integration into the community say the two families are adjusting fine to life in North Bay.
The Jabr’s, a family of four boys and a husband and wife, arrived in the Gateway City in late January, while the second family, the Maam’s, also a family of six, arrived in late April.
But like any newcomers to North Bay - whether it’s Syria or Sarnia - the Jabr’s and Maam’s were surprised to see the annual shadfly onslaught.
“They are somewhat puzzled by shadflies,” admitted Don McLean, Chair of the North Bay Refugee Committee.
“Both the Jabr and Maam families are settled in our community and are actively involving themselves as regular citizens would do with the things we all enjoy doing. All the kids are actively involved in playing on teams with Youth Soccer, quite passionately I might add, they go to the beach to swim, and they have taken up fishing.”
McLean says Jabr family is further ahead in the process towards independence than the Maam’s; simply because they have been in North Bay longer.
“Both families are following the same structured process of care and support we have created for them, and we fully expect that the Jabr’s and the Maam’s to be completely independent functioning members of this community in the very near future,” said McLean.
McLean describes this portion of their transition to life in Canada as the Skill Development phase.
“All members go to school, the parents at Chippewa Secondary, the youngest children at Trussler, and the older ones at Widdifield Secondary,” said McLean.
“Although the schools have ended for the summer, the families will continue to attend English as a Second Language training.”
McLean says the quicker the family learns english the closer the family members are to finding employment within the city.
Despite being in a foreign land with a foreign language, McLean says both families clearly already feel at home in North Bay.
“Both the Jabr and Maam families continue to express their relief at finally finding a safe and stable environment,” admitted McLean.
“They are appreciative of this country opening it’s door to them at a time of need, but clearly they are overwhelmed with joy and happiness at finding a community so generous and welcoming like North Bay has been with them.”
