Upwards of 100 new and old Calgarians gathered near the Peace Bridge on Monday to show support for refugees around the world.

The event, hosted by Hillhurst United Church, brought together people from all walks of life to raise awareness about the issues the group faces.

Nour Yassin, along with her parents and three sisters, arrived in Calgary nine months ago after their long journey.

“We walked from a city inside Syria, the city centre, and after we took a car to Lebanon,” she said.

Yassin said they lived in Lebanon for two and a half years before they finally made the trip to Canada.

The event on Monday pales in comparison to the journey most of the refugees made, but the theme of the five kilometre event is gratitude.

Volunteers have welcomed over 1,500 refugees in the city so far in 2016 and they say the city is leading in hospitality.

“We have refugees that have come to us, telling us, you know Saima, what’s so different about Calgary?” said Saima Jamal, a volunteer. “We have our relatives that have moved to Montreal to Toronto, to Sweden, Germany and nowhere did they receive this kind of a welcome, this much help as they’ve received in Calgary.”

But the volunteers also include many who were newcomers themselves so long ago.

The Chaabani family came to Calgary from Saudi Arabia nine years ago and they are doing all they can to help.

“We’re helping a family and they have two girls and we’re trying to support them and help them go shopping and stuff,” said Maiy Chaabani. “It makes me feel proud and that I’m a part of something.”

The weather on Monday was mild, just a taste of what’s to come in winter. It’s something that the newcomers will have to get used to.

“Of course yeah, I’m pretty sure they’re going to get used to it,” said volunteet Mohamed Abdelhady. “I remember my first winter in Canada I was kind of shivering and shaking, but that was the first one. After that, I was used to going to the street without any heavy clothes.”

Hillhurst United Church has information on how you can join the volunteer effort on their website.