Welcome Place ready to house Syrian refugees in Winnipeg

The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council says it's ready to take in Syrian refugees, as a group bound for the province is set to land in Toronto today.

The group of 17 includes nine refugees who are headed for Altona, Man., and eight who are expected to stay in Winnipeg.

• Syrian refugees destined for Manitoba arrive in Canada

At least some of those who will be in the city are expected to stay at Welcome Place, which is run by the council.

Details of exactly when those bound for Winnipeg will arrive in the city are not yet clear because of the increased influx of refugees heading to Canada.

"It's not until they arrive in Toronto that we will know who will be destined for Winnipeg," said Rita Chahal, executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council.

"Normally we get three weeks' notice, but under these circumstances we might only get 12 hours or maybe less. Confirming flights is difficult because of the distances people are having to travel," she explained.

"The arrival process may take additional time and flight times may change very quickly. We're anxious to know when people will be coming in, but we have no specific information of arrival times."

Once the refugees do arrive in Winnipeg, Welcome Place will be ready to give them a temporary home. The organization has been greeting newcomers to Canada for more than 70 years.

"This is who we are and what we do on a daily basis," Chahal said. "Our staff is well-trained. I have complete confidence that we'll be able to get the job done."

Welcome Place will assist government-sponsored refugees who come to Manitoba. For refugees who are privately sponsored, the groups that sponsored them will look after them when they reach Manitoba.

"The energy that has come forward from the people has energized us to be part of this national initiative that I believe really does belong to the people of Canada and to the people here in Manitoba," Chahal said.

"It's an exciting time. It's great to be a Canadian and it's great to be a Manitoban. I'm very proud of that."