Stories of newcomers celebrated on World Refugee Day

For World Refugee Day, local officials are hoping to shed light on how newcomers can be better integrated.

Frank Bauer with Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE) says the fact that the United Nations has declared June 20 as World Refugee Day is a sign we should be concerned for all people in this world.

“At the same time, it makes me personally realize how lucky we are to be living in a free world like Canada. We don’t have to be worried about our lives, there’s no shortage of anything,” Bauer says. “I’m happy that we have the opportunity – we at immigrant settlement agencies – to help those people find a place in Canada and central Alberta.”

Bauer says Red Deer receives between 70 and 80 refugees each year, a number which more than doubled in 2016 to around 200 with the influx of refugees from Syria. He says there are about 1000 refugees in the city right now.

“Our mission is to support immigrants and refugees in becoming full participants in Canadian life – and full participants meaning they feel at home, but also contribute to our community,” he continues. “For that, we provide services and we want to collaborate as much as possible with any organization, individual or business that could play a role in welcoming new immigrants and refugees. At the same time, understand the values and talents that these people bring and make optimal use of them. We do more than just a few services like ESL or direct settlement support.”

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Tonight, CARE presents Journeys of Hope, a show at the Welikoklad Event Centre which documents through film, dance, mime, poetry and music, the journeys of five local refugees. The show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are free at the door.

For those who attend, Bauer hopes the show helps diminish some prejudices.

“[People say] ‘Well, refugees just come here and get everything for free and they don’t have to do anything.’ Really, it’s a big step to run away from your home country if it’s really not safe. People don’t just do that to have free stuff on the other side of the world,” Bauer says. “For some people, I hope it will be an eye-opener and for others, maybe confirmation of what they already know.”