Knowing what it's like to flee their homes with little more than the clothes on their backs, dozens of Syrian refugees in London have stepped up to help residents displaced by wildfire in Fort McMurray.
The refugees, who began arriving in London in December, gathered at city hall Monday to present a donation cheque totalling $1,000 to the Canadian Red Cross.
"We know what losing your home means. We know what it is like to say goodbye to your life-time souvenirs and to start from scratch," says Mohammad Kurdy, who arrived in London from Syria on January 10.
Since coming to Canada after escaping their wartorn country, the refugees have been working to learn English, find permanent housing, and employment. But even with so little of their own they still wanted to help.
"We know the true meaning of what it is to be Canadian. It is to be generous and to help our fellow Canadians in times of trouble," says Kurdy.
In addition to the money, Kurdy says the group is ready to volunteer in any physical way needed.
"We are happy to help our fellow Canadians," says Kurdy.
Prior to presenting the cheque, a group of Syrian children sang O'Canada to the group and a young girl presented Mayor Matt Brown with a handmade Canadian flag tissue cozy.
"I think this is a very emotional day, I think this is a very important day for London," says Mayor Brown. "We've talked about welcoming our new neighbours and our new friends for months and months. We've talked about how refugees, when they come to our country make our nation stronger and we are demonstrating that today. They are already giving back."
More than 1,100 refugees have settled in London, the third-highest number of any Ontario city. Another 900 are expected to call London home by the end of the year.
