New family arrival!

Against all odds, a family living in South Africa arrived in their new home of Whitehorse mid-March. The day that the family left Johannesburg, our Prime Minister announced that Canada would be limiting the arrival of internal flights. The Settlement Committee and the family were nervous and very hopeful that they would make it all the way to Whitehorse.

And they did! The greeting at the airport was very low key; this was to be COVID-compliant. The family self-isolated in a new home, in a new country without physical contact from others for 2 weeks. The family got to know the Settlement Committee members over Zoom.

Since that time, the family has definitely settled into our community. The kids are enrolled in school and liking it. The Settlement Committee has celebrated two of the childrens’ birthday with outdoor birthday parties. The family has gone cross country skiing and ongoing ski lessons are planned for winter.

As you may know, the Settlement Committee members of Yukon Cares make a one-year commitment to assist the family to settle into their new country. A big thank you to the Settlement Committee leader Meagan Christie and the members of the Committee: Polly Madsen, Chrissy Murray, Jeni Rudisill, Jen Williams, Tyler Heal and Michelle Edwards.