Chatham-Kent council introduced the newest members of the community at Monday’s meeting, the Alhajjeh family.
The family – Mohamad Alhajjeh, his wife Noura Alchreifi, and children Hamid, 15, Mulham, 14, Najem, 7, Aya, 6, and Taj, 2 – are the first Syrian refugees to call Chatham-Kent home.
“I’m proud to say the Municipality of Chatham-Kent supports a diverse community,” said Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor.
“A community that values welcoming and attracting new residents. Like many places in Canada, welcoming new residents to Chatham-Kent is an important part of our Municipality’s sustainability. It enriches the cultural and social fabric of our community.”
McGregor added: “From the Black settlers in the 1800s to the Dutch, Portuguese, German and Italian immigrants of the 1950s to recent immigrants from all over the world, CHatham has a history of welcoming newcomers… newcomers that have played and continue to play a vital role in the success of our community.”
McGregor said recently Chatham-Kent reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a welcoming community in response to the international refugee crisis.
“That commitment has been well reflected in our community through the hard work of a number of community groups, faith-based organizations and private individuals that have worked hard to bring Syrian refugee, privately sponsored families here.”
McGregor said he was proud to welcome the Alhajjeh family to Chatham-Kent.
“We know that they have had a long journey,” he said. “We’re very pleased that they are now members of our community. We look forward to welcoming more families in the future.”
Members of the Dresden Christian Reformed Church and the Chatham-Kent Muslim Association were also recognized on Monday for their help with sponsoring refugee families.
The Government of Canada created a plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, which has bee completed.
This is the largest refugee resettlement plan in Canada since the South East Asian refugee crisis in the 1980s.
For more information for and about newcomers in Chatham-Kent, click here.
