Build a Village in Altona was pleased to have had the chance to speak with a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about the asylum seeker border crossings taking place in Southern Manitoba. Jean-Nicolas Beuze toured the Emerson and Gretna ports of entry late last week.

Ray Loewen, of Build a Village, said he appreciates the time and interest given by the UNHCR representative Jean-Nicolas Beuze.

“It’s great organizations like the United Nations and others are looking to see what’s happening here, why things are working here ... obviously the more connections we can make with people like Jean-Nicolas, and others at the United Nations and Canada Immigration, will help us to do a better job of refugee resettlement as well,” said Loewen.

Since beginning in 2005, Build a Village has helped 30 newcomer families settle in Canada, adding up to over 200 people. Loewen noted the organization was one of the first rural locations in Manitoba to begin accepting asylum seekers, noting it was thought at the time refugee resettlement needed to happen in city centres.

Build a Village’s last program accepted 45 newcomers into Altona and the surrounding area in 2015 and 2016. From there, volunteers helped them learn English, settle into their new homes, and directed them toward health services.

Moving forward, Loewen said Build a Village has submitted 10 applications requesting additional family members of the current families living in the Pembina Valley be brought to Canada. He added, however, the immigration processes can take up to seven years from the time the application is submitted to the time the newcomer arrives in the country.

Loewen thinks it is important to support and assist in the integration of these newcomer families, because no one chooses to become a refugee, so it is necessary to provide a smoother transition.

“Our goal is to try to give newcomer families the best possible start to their life in Canada,” said Loewen.