The refugee family sponsored by the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Refugee Project (ASREP) will likely arrive in the North Okanagan after June.
The family of five is from Iraq and is currently living in the United Arab Emirates.
“My understanding is the father has a work visa there until the end of June, then they must leave the country,” said Ron Brinnen with ASREP.
The family includes a father with a background in geology, a mom who has experience teaching computer training (both adults have bachelor of science degrees), a five-year-old daughter and twin three-year-old boys.
The parents are well-versed in English.
Brinnen said the family is excited to be coming to the North Okanagan.
“Canada was the father’s choice to come to,” he said. “The daughter apparently has been asking all kinds of questions about Canada.”
The ASREP committee has also received correspondence from the family which includes a poster and photos of the kids wearing maple leaves on their hats.
When the family arrives, they will be set up in a home in Armstrong that had been sitting vacant for three years. The owners have assisted the committee with the rent.
The home has been fully furnished from donations from the community.
Sponsoring a refugee family is a private venture for ASREP, meaning it receives no government funding.
