“You are safe here, and this community loves you.”

The message was simple and clear as Yukon Cares’ head Raquel de Queiroz welcomed the refugee family of 11 her group has been working to sponsor since last year.

The family arrived in Whitehorse on Saturday night to a reception of well over 100 people.

Many held up welcome signs in both English and Arabic.

Others had come with balloons (including one decorated with maple leafs), flowers and a red and white soccer ball bearing a maple leaf logo that two Whitehorse youngsters presented to one of the youngest of the newcomers.

The crowd had gathered early awaiting the 8:30 p.m. flight arrival.

Yukon Cares had already cornered off an area at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport designating spots for officials from the territory, city and Kwanlin Dun First Nation and others to greet the new arrivals, as well as areas for the media and the general crowd.

As they awaited the flight, excited chatter could be heard throughout the area.

Some people talked about the work over the last several months to bring the family to Whitehorse.

Those efforts included several fundraisers, making housing arrangements and sorting through a steady stream of donations that flooded in.

There has been overwhelming support from the general Whitehorse community in helping to bring the family here. 

Mike Gladish, who volunteers with Yukon Cares, noted there were so many donations of items that the group has been able to pass them along to the Riverdale Baptist Church, which is working toward sponsoring a family of four to come to the territory.

As de Queiroz said in a statement that followed the family’s arrival: “I have always been impressed with how welcoming and generous Canadians are.

“This community effort has proven this again, and Yukoners were especially generous with their time and donations allowing us to make this happen.

“We, as a community, are really helping to change the world by helping others in their time of need and uniting our efforts to those being done world-wide in order to respond to this true humanitarian crisis.”

Premier Darrell Pasloski and Yukon MP Larry Bagnell also reflected on the generosity of Yukoners in welcoming refugees into the community.

That welcome was clear at the airport Saturday night as the crowd anxiously awaited the thumbs up from the Yukon Cares volunteer tasked with keeping her eyes out for the family as a translator and Bagnell led them down the hallway to the crowd.

“Here they come!” Gladish said as the other volunteer gave the thumbs up.

Applause erupted as the family walked through the doors.

The older members of the family smiled and happily shook hands with the dignitaries.

It was no secret that the family was probably tired from their journey, with the youngest – at 16 months – clinging to an older family member who used one hand to meet the Yukoners and the other to hold the little one close.

de Queiroz then told the family they were safe in Whitehorse surrounded by a community that loves them before getting down to the more practical advice in telling them to “bundle up; it’s cold outside.”

Before they were led outside though, Kwanlin Dun councillor Sean Smith formally welcomed them to the First Nation’s traditional territory.

Those who had brought balloons, flowers and the soccer ball for the family also had a chance to pass them the gifts.

It was then time to “bundle up” for the weather.

Both de Queiroz and Bagnell helped the younger family members with zippers on the winter coats that had been set aside for each family member.

As they donned their winter gear ready for the outdoors, applause erupted once again through the crowd.

The formalities were kept short to get the family home as soon as possible after their long journey overseas to Montreal, where they had stayed for three days, and finally on to Whitehorse. The family, however, wasn’t quite ready to leave just yet.

They soon told the translator they’d like to shake hands with those who had come out to welcome them.

They then reached out to the smiling crowd, greeting their new neighbours in their new community.

As they made their way to the main part of the airport and out the door, de Queiroz excitedly raised her hands and gave a big thumbs up to the onlookers, who again erupted in applause.