Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helps a young Syrian refugee try on a winter coat after she arrived with her family from Beirut at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada December 11, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Toronto's airport authority urged Canadians not to come to the airport to greet the refugees or drop off donations, saying: "We're so proud that our community wants to help, but such a response would be very overwhelming for those arriving."

The request did not deter Shai Reef, 20, who held up a sign that read: "Welcome to Canada" in Arabic.

"I'm here to show my solidarity for and support of the Syrian people going through genocide in Syria," Reef said. "As Jews, we were also locked out, I know what it feels like."

Toronto's mayor tweeted a welcome, while the Toronto Star, the country's largest newspaper, covered its front page with a "Welcome to Canada" banner headline in English and Arabic, along with an article explaining Canadian weather, ice hockey and slang.

The reception in Canada contrasted sharply with that of the neighboring United States, where fear of Syrian refugees following the deadly Nov 13 Paris attacks spurred opposition to allowing them entry. Some US governors said their states would not accept Syrian refugees.

With security concerns, immigration paperwork and the flight's late-night arrival, refugees on the military aircraft were to be put up at a nearby hotel for the night before meeting their sponsors and resettlement agencies on Friday.