Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate and thank the people of Châteauguay—Lacolle, especially Jean-François Lavallée, founder of the Comité d'accueil de réfugiés du Grand Châteauguay, and Anik Sauvé, president of Entraide Mercier, who set up a sponsorship group for a Syrian family, the first in our community.
The group was established last fall and has been very effective, as the Al Daas family, which has three children and another expected soon, arrived in Canada on February 18. The refugees recently moved into their own home in Châteauguay. This is the first time refugees have been welcomed to Grand Châteauguay, but based on how well they have been received by residents, it will not be the last.
I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Claudette Lévesque, Catherine Hooper, and Father Clément Laffitte, and I would like to thank all those who have donated to this wonderful project.