Bedeque committee hopes to sponsor refugee family

A rural group on P.E.I. is looking to welcome Syrian refugees to the area.

The Bedeque Area Newcomers Relocation Committee has applied to sponsor a family through the Bedeque United Church Pastoral Charge.

The committee has made an application for a blended sponsorship through the United Church of Canada which has an agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Committee chair Randall Affleck says members are working to fundraise$20,000 to help with relocation.

"There was some conversation in the beginning whether, you know we should just try and support the folks in Summerside, but we really thought it would be valuable for our community and you know, for the families to be here," said Affleck.

"Just that cross-cultural experience within our community would be of benefit for everybody too, trying to help awareness of what's going on in the world."

Affleck says people in the area are not new to this type of initiative.

He said a Japanese family displaced after the Second World War and a Vietnamese family have both settled in the community in the past.

The committee expects to be matched with a Syrian family that will arrive in the new year.

Affleck says the group has already approached local businesses and will continue with fundraising efforts.

Donations can be made through the Bedeque United Church Pastoral Charge.