Sudbury residents invited to learn more about sponsoring refugees

Sudbury-area residents interested in sponsoring a Syrian refugee can learn more about the process at a public information session onWednesday.

Debra Simpson is a trainer with the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, which is funded byCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and aims to assist anyone interested in private sponsorship.

Simpson saidthe event, which will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Tom Davies Square foyer in downtown Sudbury,couldpotentially lead to private sponsorships.

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"If you have people in the audience who are originally from Syria and have family members who have fled Syria, they're asking 'how will I find Canadians who will sponsor my family?'" Simpson said.

"We also might in the same audience get a Canadian saying, 'How do I find a Syrian refugee?'"

Simpson saidprivate sponsorship is complex and not cheap, adding it costs about $13,000 to help bring a Syrian refugee to Canada.

"Part of the challenge is matching up the request for sponsorship with those who want to sponsor," Simpson said.

For full details on private sponsorship costs, visit the CIC website.