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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 11, 2015 | 10 Protest urges Canada to do more, faster, for Syrians by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Nearly 300 residents banded together Wednesday night in downtown Oakville to send the federal government a clear message -- Canada needs to do more to help with the Syrian refugee crisis. Waving signs that read, "Open our Hearts" and "Canada wants to do more," the residents rallied in Towne Square, peacefully protesting the long processing time for Syrian refugees and the need to increase the number of refugees allowed to settle in Canada. Sandra Onufryk, one of the citizen organizers, said the large turnout at the rally is testament to the "depth of concern Canadians have about this issue." "The crowd was very concerned about the lack of response by the government in terms of expediting the refugee process and bringing more people into Canada," she told the Oakville Beaver. The Oakville resident credits the image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi's body, washed up on the shores of Turkey after his family tried to flee Syria's civil war, for also igniting compassion in Canadians. Alan died, along with his five-year-old brother and mother, while trying to escape the Syrian civil war on a boat headed to the Greek island of Kos. Speaking about how her church group It has taken us four months to complete the forms -- four months because they are so onerous. The forms are now complete, however we do not expect the family for 17 months and that is too long. Sandra Onufryk, Oakville Pictured, from left: Daniela Jansson, Sherry Ardell, Carmen Leidh, Gladis Di-Paolo and Hart Jansson, among those who gathered at Towne Square Wednesday evening for a peaceful demonstration to protest the processing time for Syrian refugees and asking the government to allow more refugees into Canada. | photo by Jayson Mills - special to the Beaver Maple Grove United Church has been working with other faith groups over the last couple of months to bring a Syrian refugee family currently living in Jordan to Canada, she noted more and more residents are inquiring about the coalition project and asking how they can help. "We started to become active in terms of bringing a refugee in late April and have been working all summer on the project," she said. "It's only been in the last week however we've been inundated with telephone calls and emails about our project and how people might become involved." She is suggesting those who want to help create change should sign petitions that are circulating, join a group that is sponsoring a family, and email and write their local MP and the Ministry of Citizenship to encourage them to speed up the process of bringing Syrian refugees to Canada. "It has taken us four months to complete the forms -- four months because they are so onerous. The forms are now complete, however, we do not expect the family for 17 months and that is too long," she said. The coalition of faith groups is sponsoring a family of seven Syrian refugees. It costs about $35,000 to settle a family of that size in Canada. see related story on p.13 CREATE YOUR DREAM Comfort Friendly Spa-like l r. M ge aris n A ' aD Caring h t a B r o n e Kitch Compassionate g hiv ani Sag Visit our new dental office, conveniently located on the ground floor of the recently built Palermo Professional Centre (SE corner of Bronte Road and Dundas Street). We offer full Family Dental Services in our brand new, state-of-the-art office in a calm and relaxing environment. We are a paperless office and use digital x-rays. We welcome kids, teens, adults and seniors. NEW PATIENTS are welcome and we will accommodate your dental emergencies. We will directly bill your insurance company and offer convenient evening and weekend appointments. Call to book your appointment today 905-827-8700.Visit us at www.reflections-dental.ca ar D r. S Relaxing o 2525 Old Bronte Road, Suite #130 Palermo Professional Centre (ground floor) Old Bronte Rd. Bronte Rd. Dundas St. W. Pine Glen Rd. 3rd Line è www.reflections-dental.ca 905-827-8700 D 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE | QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP | CUSTOM DESIGNS Call for a Free Estimate N 905-844-3332 Visit our showroom: 333 Wyecroft Rd. Unit 3, Oakville www.aromakitchens.ca