This is a special day for the Mennonite Central Committee as it marks exactly 40 years since it became the first agency to set up the private sponsorship of refugees into Canada. Brian Dyck is the National Program Coordinator for Migration & Resettlement. He says the program grew out of concern among Canadian Mennonites in the late 1970's for refugees from Vietnam who were known as the 'Boat People' as they fled that country in small boats. Dyck adds at the urging of its supporters, MCC then negotiated with Ottawa for the right to sponsor in refugees. He says the program was very successful.

"Privately sponsored groups and also the government brought in about 60,000 people from Southeast Asia and more than half of those were brought in by private groups. Mennonite Central Committee brought in about 4,000 during that 18-month period which was a really remarkable time. We really only came close to that level of activity in 2015-16 when there was again an outpouring of interest to bring mostly Syrians to Canada."Dyck says there is something special about a community coming together and welcoming distressed people from another place.

"This is a really important program that has shaped who we are as Canadians and I think it's important for us to continue to be a part of this, not just to provide a safe place for people who are fleeing war, but also for us. It really is something that builds us as communities."

He notes while it has been very good for Canada to bring these refugees here, he hopes that one day MCC will not have to do this work anymore.

"Today there are more refugees and displaced people because of conflict in the world than there has ever been since World War II. People often ask me, 'What is your goal?' My goal is that we don't have to do this work anymore, that wars will end and that people can go home. It has been very good for Canada and for the communities here in Manitoba to bring people from around the world, but I really hope and pray that some day we won't have to do this work."