Private Sponsorships and Calgary

mass layoffs: Of those, 502 are through private sponsorships — one of the highest numbers for Canadian cities, according to federal government figures, according to Huffington Post Canada. All this as mass layoffs in the oilpatch become a regular occurrence and year-end bonuses are slashed. Calgary is expected to take in up to 1,300 refugees in the coming weeks, though final figures have not been pinned down. Gilani, born into a comfortable life in Canada to East African immigrant parents, said it important to put Calgary economic woes into perspective. Gilani is part of a group of five who are sponsoring a Syrian family. "I just think people get so used to their high level of Canadian standards that we're not as resilient in the face of a downturn as we should be. Naheed Gilani poses for a photo outside his office in Calgary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.