Newcomer forum in Surrey aims to demystify police role in Canada

Mountiesin Surrey, B.C., are working to build trust with refugees and othernewcomers to Canada.

"The countries that they were from,there was genuine mistrust or outright avoidance of the police," said Sgt. Paul Hayes with SurreyRCMP.

Officers held a forum in Arabic at Guilford Park Secondaryon Wednesday night to help address those issues and answer questions from the audience of about three dozen people.

Hayes has been working with Syrian refugees since they started arriving and says trust has been one of the biggest hurdles. Hesaidthe goal of the forum wasto help them understand who is on their side and how they can help keep their community safe.

Sam Jaroudi,acivilian member of theRCMPwhohas been travelling across the country to help police connect with Syrian refugees, also led the workshop.

"We just wanted to put a positive image and show that police are approachable and they are there to help," Jaroudisaid."They are a part of your community, they coach hockey, they coach soccer, they are your neighbour."

Exposing myths

Syrian refugeesEmanElhalaqa and her husband attended last night's event.

Speaking through an interpreter, she said people back in Syria told her any interaction with police in Canada would mean losing her four kids.But once she arrived in Surrey, she was put at ease.

"When we walk beside the police or nearby them, they laugh and smile in our faces, so we just felt very comfortable," she said.

Hayes said some newcomers asked if there is a charge to call 911, andwhether police would take their immigration papers away if they called an ambulance.