VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WELCOME AND INTEGRATE AFGHAN REFUGEES INTO CANADIAN SOCIETY

Dear friends,

On behalf of the Conference of Defence Associations and the CDA Institute, I am writing to seek your support and assistance in helping to welcome and integrate Afghan refugees into our communities.

Last week, in a public statement, the CDA urged the government to move forward on plans to being those individuals who served as interpreters, translators, drivers, and fixers during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. They are deemed to be in grave danger as western backed forces withdraw and the Taliban advances. They have been targeted and threatened.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino confirmed that they are considering this as a priority and have pledge to take rapid action.

In support the government’s initiative to bring these Afghan partners to Canada, we believe that members of the CAF and affiliates of the CDA can play a vital role in their success by helping to facilitate a smooth transition and effective integration into Canadian society. To achieve this goal, we are seeking 1,000 volunteers from coast to coast to coast who are willing to help these new Canadians on a voluntary basis. Tasks might include helping them with paper work to assisting them with a basic introduction to Canadian society, schools, shopping, etc., especially in the first months upon arriving

We hope that you can join us in this initiative by visiting this sign up page that includes further information: www.cdainstitute.ca/afghanrefugees (if the link has been stripped, please remove the space after // and copy paste this one into your browser: http:// cdainstitute.ca/afghanrefugees

Thank you for considering this request.

Thanks,

LGen Guy Thibault (ret’d)

Former VCDS & President of the Conference of Defence Associations