By — Ross Sylvestri Ross Sylvestri Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/syrian-refugees-receive-warm-welcome-in-canada Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Syrian refugees receive warm welcome in Canada World Dec 11, 2015 2:16 PM EDT A group of 163 Syrian refugees received a special welcome early Friday morning from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other politicians at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. “Today, we welcome many Syrian refugees who were forced to flee their homeland because of war and conflict. Canada is doing the right thing by providing refuge for those so desperately seeking safety. This is a significant step in fulfilling our plan to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada in the coming months,” Trudeau said in a statement. Among the refugees who arrived last night were Kevork Jamkossian, his wife Georgina Zires, and Madeleine, their 16-month-old daughter. The Toronto Star reported that Jamkossian expressed his gratitude to the Canadian leader. “We really would like to thank you for all this hospitality and the warm welcome and all the staff–we felt ourselves at home and we felt ourselves highly respected,” Jamkossian said. Canada has promised to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, and 25,000 by March. Trudeau said last month that he is “very much committed to keeping Canadians safe” while continuing to bring Syrian refugees into the country. See more images from the group’s arrival below. The first Syrian refugee family to disembark at Toronto Pearson International Airport makes their way into the Canada Border Services Agency’s processing area on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Kenneth Allan/Canada Border Services Agency/Pool/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Syrian refugees are presented with a child’s winter jacket by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, on their arrival from Beirut at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Mark Blinch/Reuters Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helps a young Syrian refugee try on a winter coat after she arrived with her family from Beirut at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Mark Blinch/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Ross Sylvestri Ross Sylvestri
A group of 163 Syrian refugees received a special welcome early Friday morning from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other politicians at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. “Today, we welcome many Syrian refugees who were forced to flee their homeland because of war and conflict. Canada is doing the right thing by providing refuge for those so desperately seeking safety. This is a significant step in fulfilling our plan to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada in the coming months,” Trudeau said in a statement. Among the refugees who arrived last night were Kevork Jamkossian, his wife Georgina Zires, and Madeleine, their 16-month-old daughter. The Toronto Star reported that Jamkossian expressed his gratitude to the Canadian leader. “We really would like to thank you for all this hospitality and the warm welcome and all the staff–we felt ourselves at home and we felt ourselves highly respected,” Jamkossian said. Canada has promised to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, and 25,000 by March. Trudeau said last month that he is “very much committed to keeping Canadians safe” while continuing to bring Syrian refugees into the country. See more images from the group’s arrival below. The first Syrian refugee family to disembark at Toronto Pearson International Airport makes their way into the Canada Border Services Agency’s processing area on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Kenneth Allan/Canada Border Services Agency/Pool/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Syrian refugees are presented with a child’s winter jacket by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, on their arrival from Beirut at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Mark Blinch/Reuters Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helps a young Syrian refugee try on a winter coat after she arrived with her family from Beirut at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Mark Blinch/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now