The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMCC) is preparing for World Refugee Day, which takes place Tuesday, June 20. 

"It's a day for people in the community to understand the struggles refugees have to face in their own countries, and in coming to a new country," explained MJMCC Community Connections Coordinator Melissa Mitchell. 

World Refugee Day is a United Nations initiative that began in 2001 as a way to recognize those that flee their countries due to war or other conflict. 

Mitchell says there are many success stories with newcomers being integrated into the city, with many immigrants surprised at the drastic differences, using one woman's story as an example. 

"She said to see a (Moose Jaw) police officer see her on the street and say 'hello' to her was shocking," Mitchell said, adding the woman told her she was not afraid to leave her house in Moose Jaw, as opposed to her life before coming to Canada. 

Mitchell says on average, Moose Jaw accepts 65 government-assisted refugees per year, but in 2016 that figure jumped to over 100, due in part to the Syrian refugee settlement program through the federal government. 

World Refugee Day events are set for the area around the Crescent Park Amphitheatre from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include games, interactive displays and a "Refugee Panel" where local refugees will "speak on their experience before they came to Canada and how it compares to life after arriving in Canada" said Mitchell.

She said many local schools will participate and anyone is welcome to attend.