Okotoks could soon be the home to some new families from Syria, in as little as 6 weeks.

There are groups in Okotoks that have been working hard to bring these families here, and the town has created a committee to make their transition to Okotoks as smooth as possible.

Mayor Bill Robertson says "they are going to talk about coordinating services, making sure that everything is in place to make our community as friendly and welcoming as possible".

He adds that for anyone who is interested in supporting these Sryrian refugees, there are several ways you can do that. The first way is by giving to your local church, there will also be a fund set up at one of the local financial institutions, and following Christmas an account will be set up at the Okotoks Bottle Depot, where all funds from bottles and cans will go to the Refugee Relief Fund. In addition to that, volunteers will also most likely be needed to help get the families settled into their new homes.

While the focus may be on the Syrian refugees right at this moment, the welcoming committee is committed to offering a warm welcome to anyone and everyone who is looking to call Okotoks their new home, no matter where they are from.

The new welcoming committee has met three times so far, and will continue to meet to discuss additional ways to make the Town of Okotoks inviting to newcomers.