Thursday, the first 163 Syrian refugees, of the planned 25,000, arrived in Canada. This is what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said before their arrival:

“First of all, thank you for being here. And thank you for the gorgeous smiles I see. This is a wonderful night where we get to show not just a planeload of new Canadians what Canada is all about, we get to show the world how to open our hearts and welcome in people who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations.

“But it’s not just about receiving them tonight. It’s about the hard work we’re all going to do in the coming weeks, months and indeed years to ensure that everyone who passes through here tonight and in the weeks and months to come are able to build a life for themselves, for their family and also contribute fully to the continued growth of this extraordinary country.”

After which this was how they were greeted by the Prime Minister and by the people of Canada:

This is the first of many planned refugee flights to land in Canada. The next one is already scheduled for Saturday the 12th. The goal is to provide permanent refuge to 25,000 Syrian refugees within the upcoming months. With a special focus on families, women at risk and LGBTQ.

If you need some restoration in your faith in humanity. check out #WelcomeToCanada on Twitter or have a look at this twitter overview.