New Brunswick welcomes first Syrian refugees

The first group of Syrianrefugees who willmake New Brunswick their home arrived in Fredericton Saturday.

The flight with 24refugees landed at the Fredericton airport at3:30 p.m.

Church sponsors and other supporters gathered at the airport to await their arrival.

They welcomed the refugee families with homemade signs and smiles.

Premier Brian Gallant wasamong the delegates expected to be on hand to greet them.

The Citizenship and Immigration Canada website says the 24 are among 1,186 that have arrived in Canada over the last few days.

Eight of the refugees will be headed to Hampton, seven to New Maryland and nineto Saint Andrews.

Others are expected to arrive in the next day or so and will be located in Fredericton and Saint John.