Syrian refugees to arrive in small Cape Breton community by Monday

It appears the waiting is over for a volunteer group in Marion Bridge, Cape Breton,preparingto welcome Syrian refugees, with afamily of six scheduled to arrive in the community byMonday, andperhaps as early as Sunday.

"The latest wordis they are getting on a plane in Beirut, Lebanon, either today or tomorrow,"said Stephen Read, the leader of the community group sponsoring the family.

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He said this will be the first groupof Syrianrefugeesto arrive in Cape Breton since the federal government pledged this fall to bring 25,000 to Canada by the end of February.

The husband and wife and their four childrenfly to Toronto first, Read said, where they will acquire their social insurance numbers and interim health cards. Thenthey are scheduled to fly into Halifax "very early Mondaymorning."

But Read hopesto arrange for a direct flight on Sunday from Toronto to Sydney.

"We're all excited here in Marion Bridge," he said, addingthere's another aspect of thearrival to celebrate at the beginning of next week.

"One of the children is going to turn two on Monday."

The family will live with Read and his wife, Irene, in their large home until they find suitable accomodationelsewhere in the Marion Bridge area.

"We'll fill the pantry with food over the weekend," he said, noting they've received advice from people they know in Sydney's Lebanese community about what kind of food to buy.

He saida local group known as the Saudi Clubhas offered help with translation, among other things.

Marion Bridge Elementary, he said, is also planning a play daylater in the week to which the school-aged Syrian children are invited so they can meet future classmates and get to know their way around the property.