While plenty of Ontario cities have pledged financial support for Syrian refugees, Stratford is taking a different tack.
The city is co-ordinating a number of churches and non-profit groups in an effort to raise enough money to bring in five families of refugees – and to take care of them once they arrive.
Coun. Kathy Vassilakos says the idea started weeks ago, when the mayor’s office started getting calls asking what the city could do to help refugees.
“This is groups of people that have come forward and said ‘What can we do? How can we help?’” she said in an interview.
The families will be brought over through the Mennonite Central Committee’s refugee sponsorship program.
MCC executive director Rick Cober Bauman says he’s “very excited” by Stratford’s plan, and expects other municipalities to follow suit.
“Stratford is the first municipality here in Ontario … that has said ‘We want to take responsibility for five families – not only the funding, but the on-the-ground support,” he said.
“It’s a huge message of hope.”
Vassilakos says the families will be brought over one at a time, as enough money is raised.
That’s when community groups will take over, providing food, shelter, education in English as a second language and perhaps even employment, eventually.
“It’s more than just pointing them in the right direction,” said Ryan Erb, executive director of the United Way of Perth Huron.
“It’s actually befriending them, caring for them … listening to their concerns, and then making sure that on a day-to-day basis, they have the help they need.”
Cober Bauman estimates that it could be anywhere from one to five months before the first refugees arrive in Stratford.
The fundraising target of $225,000 – enough to bring the families over and see them through 18 months in Stratford – has already been buoyed by a private donation of $30,000.
The Stratford Festival is also hosting a special benefit performance of The Last Wife on Oct. 9.
Tickets are priced from $100 to $250, and available through the festival’s box office.
