A Syrian refugee family who came to Corner Brook last December has moved on to be closer to family in Ontario.

The al Homsi family was the first of two Syrian families who came to western Newfoundland, under the sponsorship of the Refugee Support Group – Corner Brook Region.

Group member Ivan Emke said that saying goodbye was hard, but it's important to remember that people in Corner Brook succeeded in giving a Syrian family a chance to start over.

"We wanted to bring them to safety, to give them a start as a Canadian family here. And they continue to say how much they appreciate that," Emke said.

"It's very gratifying to know that we did what we set out to do."

Jamila al Homsi enjoys pizza at a community potluck Jan. 3, just days after her family arrived in Corner Brook. (CBC)

Family ties

Mohammad al Homsi, his wife Faten Fouad al Shahadat and their children, nine-year-old Khaled and eight-year-old Jamila, arrived in Corner Brook on Dec. 28, 2015.

They had extended family in Kingston, Ont. and after spending the winter and spring in Newfoundland, the al Homsis expressed an interest in possibly reuniting with their relatives.

Thank you was probably one of the first English words they knew, and they used it a lot. - Ivan Emke

A group in Kingston was willing to provide support to the al Homsis if they relocated, so that group now looks after day-to-day help for the family.

The Corner Brook group continues to provide financial support, in keeping with their commitment to do so for one year after the family's arrival in Canada.

"They're doing well, they're adjusting," Emke told the Corner Brook Morning Show. "They miss Corner Brook, even though they were here at not our probably best season, from December through to the summer."

"We miss them, too, obviously."

Mixed feelings

Emke acknowledged that some who helped bring the al Homsi family to Corner Brook have experienced disappointment that they've left.

But he said people here should connect with their motivation.

"For folks in Newfoundland and Labrador, clearly they understand the draw of family and community and tradition."

Ivan Emke is a volunteer with the support group that helps refugees adjust to life in the Corner Brook area. (Bernice Hillier/CBC)

Emke said it's also important for sponsoring groups to be clear about their own motivation in helping refugee families.

"It wasn't that we were trying to bring people here and make them over in our own image, or something like that," he said.

"There's a terrible war going on, there are people in crisis, families in crisis, children who ... are in real danger ... So the point is to bring them here and get them into safety and then let them become Canadians and have the freedoms that all Canadians have."

Still sending thanks

Emke said the al Homsi family keeps in touch with friends in Corner Brook, and the family continues to express gratitude for all the city's residents did to welcome them to Canada.

He said they've sent photos and texts from time to time since they left, and the family is "forever grateful and thankful" for the welcome they received.

"Thank you was probably one of the first English words they knew, and they used it a lot, and they continue to use it, so there's no doubt in their minds or in our ours, that that was a success."

Mohammed Almaidani and his family are still living in Corner Brook, where he works as a barber. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

"All of the refugee resettlement is all just about that, getting them here, getting them safe, getting them established and connected and, beyond that, we're just glad that they have the freedom to enjoy, the same as anybody else here."

Emke said the work done by his group is fulfiling.

"I think that sponsoring refugees probably does as much for the community that sponsors them as for the refugees themselves."

The other Syrian family who came to Corner Brook, the Almaidanis, are still living in the city. Mohammed Almaidani is already well-known as a barber, which was his trade before coming to Canada, and he has an established clientele at Bob's Barber Shop.

Emke said there are plans to welcome even more refugees in the coming months.

Applications are in for two more families, and everything is ready to welcome them.

But he said things have slowed down with getting approvals at the federal level, so there's now a backlog waiting to be cleared up.