Switzerland International Organization Migration and Syrian Refugees

Syrian refugees: According to the Missing Migrants Project, an initiative of Switzerland International Organization for Migration, 2,701 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2015, as of Sept. 3, according to Hamilton Spectator. El-Sherif, 39, said she felt it was important for her kids, aged 9, 11 and 13, to understand this week news. They were among the roughly 50 people gathered at the corner of Bay Street North and York Boulevard who, together, lit candles in remembrance of the 12 Syrian refugees who drowned last week trying to get to Greece. She explained it to them in the car on the way downtown. "I mean we were just at Wild Water Works," she said, gesturing toward the orange admission band still on her wrist. "We can't just go on having fun in our lives and pretending it has nothing to do with us." The vigil, organized by Sanctuary Hamilton, was one of many that took place across Canada over the weekend. People met in front of the Federal Building to light candles and listen to brief speeches from Sanctuary organizer Black McCall and Ken Stone of the Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Similar events were held in cities including Ajax, Calgary, Fredericton, Quebec City and Regina. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.