A community collaboration of those passionate about refugees in Mission attracted a crowd of 150 people last week at the Clarke Theatre.
Focus for the night was refugee readiness and the forum was facilitated by David Gouthro of The Consulting Edge.
“The forum created a deeper and common understanding of what is involved in welcoming refugees into the community,” said Rick Rake, from the Mission Community Services Society (MCSS) which organized the event.
“This is a first in a series of community meetings to help Mission be a welcoming community to refugees, the next one to be in a World-Café style,” he added.
Featured speakers for the night were Jennifer Mpungu from Mennonite Central Committee, Saba Alam from MCSS, and Pastor Dan Rempel from Cedar Valley Mennonite Church.
Rempel’s church is responsible for spearheading the process among a number of Mission faith groups to sponsor a 14-member Congolese family expected to arrive in the community next month.
The role Mission will play in accepting Syrian refugees is still to be decided.
Mission Mayor Randy Hawes, who opened the event, said he was pleased with the community’s willingness to get involved.