Canada is the only country in the world that allows its private citizens to play a role in the resettlement of refugees. Through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, groups of Canadiancitizens and permanent residents can bring refugees and refugee families to Canada.

They pay for all expenses, welcome them to the community, and help themestablish their new lives in Canada.

The Creston Refugee Committee is one such group. The residents of Creston, a small town in interior British Columbia, have been sponsoring and resettlingrefugees from war-torn countries for the past 30 years. As private sponsors, the committee supports the refugee family financially for one year (which canbe extended). They pay the cost of food, rent, clothing, furniture, utilities, and all other daily expenses. They also provide interpreters, help withfinding a job, enroll the children in school; basically, they coach them in the ways of Canadian life.

“Different people do it for different reasons,” says Ed Turner, one of the original members of the committee. “I just feel that this is what Canada isabout.”

It was in 1978 that the Government of Canada first allowed private citizens to get involved in the resettlement of refugees. They declared that for everyrefugee resettled by a private group, the government would resettle another. From 1979 to 1980, 34,000 Vietnamese refugees were sponsored by privatecitizens and 26,000 by the federal government.

That was when the Creston Refugee Committee got started, and to date, they have played host to more than 20 refugee families.

Private sponsorship of refugees showcases the best of Canadian values: inclusion, compassion, and helping others who are less fortunate.

Today, July 1st, is Canada’s 141st birthday. A day to celebrate Canada and the community spirit that welcomes newcomers from around the world.