It's been over a year since efforts to bring a Syrian refugee family to Portage la Prairie began, and in just over a week, one family will be in the city.

Steering committee spokesperson John Doloff says they received word last Friday this will happen November 2nd. He adds with the family almost here, the committee has preparations to do.

"We had arranged housing, but it's a matter of cleaning and tidying up, and making sure everything's ready, and ensuring the cupboards are stocked. And arranging for transportation back here, and making sure that we have a translator available, so we can actually speak to one another. So, it's a lot of things suddenly kicked into high gear."

Doloff says the committee will spend the next week preparing for their arrival.

"When you first think about it, you start to jump to the biggest priorities, like employment and schooling. And then you start thinking about it, and it really goes down the the very, very basics, so there's a lot of work to do, but we also feel confident that we have people in place who are going to be working with our family, and seeing what it is they need to help them make the transition."

He says even though bringing the family here has taken longer than expected, the committee feels helping a family live in a safe environment makes all the work worth it.