Anti-Syrian sentiment on social media worries Winnipeg school trustee

A Winnipeg School Division trustee isworried students could be pushed by negative social media campaigns toward racismagainstSyrian refugees.

DeanKoshelanykraised the issue at a WSDfinance meeting Monday night, asking how administrators are prepared to deal with the situation should it arise when Syrian students arrive.

• Manitoba using emergency resources to bring in up to 2,000 Syrian refugees

"Many of our students and staff are extremely welcoming. They understand that refugees are scared and needing help," he said.

"[But] if you're not teaching people what the benefits are of taking in refugees, they don't know, and somebody else is teaching them, like social media."

More than 45,000 people have signed an online petition in Canada tostop the federal government's plan "to resettle 25,000 refugees in our peaceful land."

Another petition in Canada has nearly 30,000 signatures, while many more, aimed at people in theUnited States and Europe,are floating around Facebook.

• Immigration minister to give tour of refugee command centre in Winnipeg
• Regina woman 1 of 35,000 to sign petition to stop resettlement of Syrian refugees

"Anyone who is onFacebookhas seen people posting this, these petitions to keep the refugees out and these stupid little pictures equating so many stupid things that make no sense,"Koshelanyksaid in an interview."It is out there and you see them on Twitter as well, people sending these things out.

"Regardless of what anybody says, if you're on social media you've seen it. [And] our kids are on social media, that's all there is to it," he added.

"They see these postings and they wonder what's going on do I need to be scared? And the answer is no, you don't."

After speaking to administrators,Koshelanyksaid he is confident the division is ready.

"I really think that once the refugees start coming in, people will see this as a good thing this is a great thing," he said.

"Once they see the real side of the story somebody just posting random thoughts on the internet everything will be a lot better."