LISTEN | What's Canada's refugee system currently like?: The Sunday Magazine 23:42 Canada opened its arms to Syrians 10 years ago. Now, our refugee system is in flux

Ten years ago, Canada responded to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria with an unprecedented program that rapidly resettled 25,000 Syrian refugees in roughly 100 days.

To meet that target, the federal government accelerated every step of the process — from identifying refugees, processing visas, co-ordinating transportation and supporting their arrival and integration across the country.

“It was surreal to live through,” said Chris Friesen, CEO of the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, which was at the forefront in settling families in that province.

Friesen recalls holding a news conference

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