First of all, I'm sure you're aware of the sponsorship agreement holder arrangements. At the agency I work with, we are a sponsorship agreement holder.
I think of the Alberta situation. There are not many sponsorship agreement holders in our smaller communities. In Medicine Hat, Red Deer, and Brooks, there are a few organizations. So I think a lot of communities don't even know about that. I think you have to find people, and that's actually what we have done in a project called “Touching the Hearts of Albertans”. We went around Alberta and talked about refugee sponsorship.
I agree with you. It is fantastic. I think the positive response we get is amazing. However, people really need to realize this process exists. There should be community awareness. A lot of them don't know. At my agency, I sign on behalf of Bishop Henry—which is an honour—but we also do sponsorship for southern Alberta. I know in southern Alberta there are only three or four groups that do that. They could have 50 groups doing that.
I think the issue for the communities is to campaign, basically, and to raise awareness that this exists. And then there obviously needs to be the training and support to make sure they are able to do it.
Again, historically, the religious faith organizations have been leaders, and I think they are still the best to become a champion in smaller communities.