Newly arrived Syrians enjoy snow day on Mount Seymour
Hundreds of refugee families invited to North Shore mountains, many experience snow for the first time
Hundreds of refugee families headed to Mount Seymour on Sunday to play in the snow, try skiing or snowboarding and have a barbecue.
"I can only imagine if our family went though what they've had, how much we would appreciate it if they reached out and welcomed us and [made] us feel comfortable and part of the country," said Eddie Wood, general manager for Mount Seymour.
All the winter clothing was donated while hundreds of volunteers, from translators to ski instructors, came to help as well.
The families came from all over Metro Vancouver and for many, it was their first time in the snow.
"They're apprehensive, in awe, a little tentative but just having a great time," said ski instructor Carol Griffiths. "Look at their faces, they're just smiling and coming back for more."
"What I can relate to is seeing the excitement and the nervousness ... being out here in the snow, and that I can relate to and it gives us all goosebumps," said volunteer, Jenny Wesanko.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MtSeymour?src=hash">#MtSeymour</a> has invited a number of refugee families up to just have some fun. And fun they are having. <a href="https://t.co/vbqRCBN8uU">pic.twitter.com/vbqRCBN8uU</a>
—@CBCDeborahGoblewith files from Deborah Goble