Canadian Sikhs lauded for helping Syrian refugees

Canada's Immigration and Refugees Minister John McCallum has lauded the efforts of Sikhs to help thousands fleeing Syria, a media report said.

McCallum, who was in Jordan over the weekend, on Wednesday described the refugee effort as a "national project", the Globe and Mail reported on Thursday.

He praised the generosity of British Columbians, particularly the Sikh community.

According to the report, Sikh Khalsa schools in Canada have offered one year of free education to 1,000 refugee students.

The gurdwaras in British Columbia's Lower Mainland are even willing to provide free meals and collecting non-perishable food, clothing and blankets.

A Sikh grocer has offered free groceries to refugees for up to three months.

"It was the Sikh community, which I belong to, which stepped up and said we wanted to do a coordinated effort. And when we got them together, it was an overwhelming response," Randeep Sarai, MP for Surrey Centre, was quoted as saying.

Sarai said job offers have also started coming in from trucking companies.