Hollywood blockbuster San Andreas screening in Gander rakes in donations for Syrian refugees

A screening of the Hollywood blockbuster San Andreas in director Brad Peyton's hometown of Gander, has boosted his parents' efforts to bring Syrian refugees to the community.

​"We're reaching out and we're really serious. We hope that we can bring some of these families here," said Dunley Peyton, who said the Friday night showing raised around $2,400.

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Dunley and Ann Peyton spent $533 of their own money to rent out the Arts and Culture Centre to show San Andreas, which had never been screened in Gander, as the town has no movie theatre.

Brad Peyton couldn't be at the showing, but his parents said he is very supportive, from afar.

"He was very much behind us to do this for the refugee cause," said his father.

Several churches in the community are also on board for fundraising.

Syrian refugees in Central Newfoundland

Peyton added the screening helped bring people together to start discussing the logistics of bringing Syrian refugees to Gander.

"One person has already come up with a translator," said Peyton.

"Gander has the hospital and the airport and the schools and the vocational school and the driving school and all the things that these people are going to need to learn English."

Peyton said he was motivated to help after seeing the story of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned in September, as his family was trying to reach Europe.

"In my mind, all I could picture was my two grandchildren," said Peyton.

"You didn't see his face, but everybody knows somebody with children that age and it's breaking Canada's heart."

Peyton said there are more fundraisers to come in Gander, starting with a benefit concert at the Arts and Culture Centre on Thursday night.