Committee looks to bring Syrian refugees to Prince Edward County

By Sean McIntosh

BELLEVILLE – A committee in Prince Edward County is looking to bring a family of 15 Syrian refugees into the area.

Organizers of the Prince Edward County Syrian Refugee Fund held their first meeting Tuesday night at Bloomfield Town Hall.

During Wednesday night’s all-candidates debate for the Bay of Quinte riding, Liberal candidate Neil Ellis spoke about the initiative.

“I’m just so proud of the people that were there,” Ellis told QNet News on Friday. “Bringing them to the County would be just great for the area and (is) great community involvement.”

Ellis said the Syrian family has been in refugee camps for five years. He praised the organizers of the fund for assisting the family.

“It’s about getting the job done and helping people improve their lives, and I think this group needs to be commended for taking this action, solving an issue and making one family’s life a lot better,” he said.

The next meeting, open to the public, is at the United Church in Wellington Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.

Four million Syrians, 75 per cent of whom are women or children, have fled the country since a civil war broke out in 2011, according to a statement on the fund’s website.

The website also states Canada has brought in 2,500 refugees since the war began.

QNet News has reached out to the committee for more details.