P.E.I. to welcome more refugees in the coming days

Thirty more Syrian refugees are expected to arrive in P.E.I. this week, according to Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown.

To date, 18 refugees have arrived on P.E.I. through both private and government sponsorships.

Brown couldn't say exactly when the new refugees might land, but he said government-sponsored families are beginning to arrive.

It was expected P.E.I would take in100 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015, with another 150 coming by February 2016.

Two families arrived at the Charlottetown Airport during the stormy weather on Dec. 28. Brown, who met them at the airport, said they were extremely happy to finally be in Canada.

"The plane was arriving in the middle of a snow storm and when they got off the plane I said, 'It's a little colder than where you came from,' and they just laughed. But you could see the joy in their faces and the happiness," said Brown.

"These families are going to be contributing members to Prince Edward Island and to Canada."

Brown said where the families are living is not being made public, adding the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada say respecting the families' privacy is important as they settle into their new lives.