1. Opening Prayer: Norm
Murray offered the opening prayer.
2. Meet and Greet: Anwar
and Nour were greeted by the committee.
Birthday wishes were given to Nour as we celebrated with cake and
refreshments. This was the couple's
first opportunity to meet the entire committee.
3. Agenda: Norm asked for
a review of the agenda.
It was accepted as presented.
4.Approval of Minutes:
Norm asked for a motion to approve the minutes of August !0. The motion was
moved by Theresa O'Connor and seconded by Rudy Habesch. The minutes were approved as distributed and
the motion carried.
5. Introduce Anwar and Nour to the Committee: Done informally under item 2 on the
agenda.
6. Update on the August 31
Meeting with Erin Pease and the Couple: Norm stated that Erin told them
what they needed to know about Canada.
This was in preparation for their meeting with Immigration Canada in
Hamilton on Tuesday, September 6. Anwar
said that he has a younger brother in Turkey who may like to come to Canada in
the future. Erin asked them if they felt
comfortable coming to a Catholic Church.
They replied that they were fine with the invitation. On Monday,
Charmaine Aubut and Sharon Cebrowski took them to the Morden Road DAR Mosque
and they were grateful. Anwar has an app
on his cellphone that plays whenever it is time for prayer.
7. Report on Arrival and
Settlement Plan Actions Taken:
a.
Settlement Plans Accomplished/Scheduled: Sharon Cebrowski said that the meeting at HMC on
Monday, August 29 went well. They
already have 2 designated spots for language training starting on Wednesday,
September 7.
They are to be
tested on September 1 for their language skills. Apparently Anwar can read and write in Arabic
and knows a few English words. Nour is
unable to read and write Arabic.
They will be accompanied to
Service Ontario on Friday, September 2 to apply for their OHIP card. Julia Hillock is concerned because there is
no male Arabic speaking doctor at the office that has been booked for the October
appointment. Nayer Agaiby will ask Anwar
if this is a problem for him. Anwar may
have an allergic reaction on his face,
Charmaine and Sharon will stop at a local pharmacy tomorrow to obtain a
topical cream.
Sharon said that the funding for
free bus passes will run out at the end of September. Connie Booth stated that they will be given
bus passes once they begin Language Classes.
HMC could provide free
translators but would need a week's notice.
HMC has advised them to apply for
subsidized housing as soon as possible because the waiting list could take up
to a year.
Nerina Murray went grocery
shopping with them on Monday to Food Basics.
They should be able to navigate on their own because it is within
walking distance.
She also introduced them to the
downtown library last Friday, where they can get free Wi-Fi.
The day they arrived she took
them to a local restaurant on Kerr Street to familiarize them with the
neighbourhood.
b.
Issues/Concerns/Needs. They need
blankets. If used, blankets must be dry
cleaned with the dry cleaning cover visible.
Clothing is currently sufficient.
A bicycle is needed for Anwar,
along with 2 kickstands and 2 bells and a basket.
Maury Whyte will design a
template that will state when a ride is needed and volunteer drivers can fill
in their availability.
8. Area Orientation: Charmaine stated that a goal of the Settlement Plan is to orient the
couple to Oakville and area. She asked
who would be willing to accompany them either on their own or with their family
to some of the local points of interest.
Karen had said she would take them to the Farmer's Market and/or
Kelso. Connie stated that once they
begin Language Training a bus tour of Oakville is included. If interested in accompanying them to one of
the following, please advise Charmaine: Oakville and Bronte Harbours, Bronte
Creek Provincial Park, Sixteen Mile Creek, Gairloch Gardens, Coronation Park,
Royal Botanical Gardens, Town Hall or the Regional Municipal Building.
There are several
restaurants in the area that serve Mediterranean food: Montfort on Iroquois, Oakville Halal Grill on
Kerr St., Maro's on Kerr, Agabi, Adonis, Sidra at Fourth Line. We must be careful that we don't set them up
for failure, not being able to afford these on their income.
Some recreation centres
and community centres offer low cost programs: YMCA and indoor pools. The movie theatre film.ca at Kerr and Speers
Road offers “Toonie Tuesdays” and there is bowling at South Oakville Centre.
Fr. D'Sa suggested
that we give the couple some space to explore their surroundings on their own
and adjust to Canadian life.
9. Update on
Cell Phone, Data Plan and Internet Service: Brian Thornton arranged a plan
with Fido as it seems to be the plan that requires the least number of
identification specifications.
They have a
Canadian number. Only those who need it
will be able to access it.
He stated that the
refugee fund now stands at $30,000. because of expenses incurred with the
apartment set up and four postdated cheques have been issued for the apartment
rental.
10. Welcome
Dinner Update: Georgina Bourke stated that Thursday, September 8 seemed to
suit the committee. She expressed her
regrets to those who could not attend.
We will gather in the at 5:30.
Dinner at 6 pm. Several members
offered to help with the set-up arrangements.
A suggestion was
made that perhaps around Thanksgiving their could be a Spaghetti Supper where
we could introduce them to the parish.
11. Other
Business:
Sharon reminded us not to post the couples
picture on Facebook and other social media because it is an invasion of their
privacy.
- Karen Dysart has a gift certificate from Diana Saulez for indefinite hair care for the couple at Salon de Soliel at Lakeshore and Trafalgar.12. Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 21, 7 pm Parish Centre
