Ladner should be welcoming its third Syrian refugee family within the week.
Delta Safe Haven announced last weekend the organization had met with its third family, a young Syrian couple with a Kurdish background.
"As they shared with us in the initial conversation they were pleased to come to this lovely community and meet such warm people," Rev. Jim Short said in an email.
The Kurdish people are a persecuted minority in Syria and Iraq and have been struggling for independence.
The couple has already had a chance to meet the Al Nuaimi and Al Mohammad families, who moved to Ladner last month after spending three years in a refugee camp, and were delighted to discover they all come from the same town in Syria.
When they arrive in Ladner, the couple will move into a legal suite offered by a local family. The family has kept the suite vacant in order to have it ready for a refugee family.
"They wish to be more than landlords and remind me of a 'host family,'" Short said. "We all look forward to helping this couple make their new home in our lovely community of South Delta." The couple is at Welcome House in Vancouver to fill out the paperwork needed to begin their new lives, but will be moving to their new home within the week.
The Al Nuaimi and Al Mohammad families are settling into life in Canada after arriving in Vancouver on Christmas Day.
The children started school a few weeks ago and the adults are all in the process of learning English, both formally and informally.
"They have experienced ice skating and are enjoying the rec centre and library," Short said. "I want to thank all the people of the Delta school board for making this transition smooth and seamless."
Delta Safe Haven is still welcoming financial donations to help the families transition into their new lives in Canada. The group is only looking for financial donations, through cash or gift cards, and will in time circulate any needs for personal or household items.
Donations can be dropped off at Ladner United Church from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. weekdays. Cheques should be made out to Delta Safe Haven - Ladner United Church.
Credit card donations are also accepted online at deltasafehaven.org.
