Winnipeg's newest Syrian refugees hope for 'a great life here in Canada'

Winnipeg's newest family from Syria expressed great relief at the airport Tuesday to see smiling, welcoming Canadian faces after spending several months in a refugee camp in Turkey.

HasanHamidiheld his youngest son's hand as he descended the stairs to the arrivals area at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, his wife and three other sons close behind.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he embraced the man holding a sign with the family's name written in both Arabic and English. It wasNaserIbrahim, the family's translator, whobelongs to the University of Manitoba'sRadyFaculty of Health Sciences, the group of faculty and students that privately sponsored the family to Canada.

"He's very happy to be here," Ibrahim said, translatingforHasanHamidi, whose sons range in age from seven to 13years old. The boys clutched stuffed animals given to them by people who greeted them.

"They were so scared that they would not find anyone to receive them, but they really appreciate the fact that we are here and we are here to receive them." he translated for Hasan's wife,KevserAbduvahid.

The family said their months spent in the refugee camp were difficult, and they worked hard there to afford the basics and struggled to survive.

Home, in the war-ravaged city of Aleppo, is harder to talk about.

"His house was completely destroyed in Syria, bombarded, basically there's no house anymore, it's completely destroyed," said the interpreter, translating for 13-year-oldSalihHamidi.

The family's home in Aleppo was bombed twice, explained Salih. After the second attack, the Red Cross helped the family flee Syria for Turkey two years ago.

When asked how Canadians could help him adjust to his new home, his answer was simple.

"His first concern is to be safe, and if he's in a safe house, no war around him, that's all he's dreaming about. To be safe."

'It's not this family, it's any family'

The idea to sponsor a refugee family came to Alan Katz last spring, after seeing images of the exodus of refugeesin Europe. Katz isdirector of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy andis leading the Refugee Response project.

"People pushed onto trains, fighting to get the help they need," he said, of the suffering he saw."I reached out to my colleagues and said, 'We need to do something about this.'"

Winnipeg's newest Syrian refugees hope for 'a great life here in Canada'

8 years ago

Duration 1:53

Winnipeg's newest Syrian refugee family arrived Tuesday morning after spending months in a refugee camp in Turkey and thanked a group of people from the University of Manitoba for privately sponsoring them to come to Canada.

He said some are helping the family with their education, language and health needs while others, including students,came together to raise the $35,000 required to privately sponsor the family.The Mennonite Central Committee supported them in the process of privately sponsoring a family from Syria, he added.

They only found out last month that it was theHamidisthey would help.

"It's not this family, it's any family," he said."It didn't matter to us. We are able to support people in need."

Starting over

The family is living in a house in the south end of the city temporarily, but they're looking to find a three-bedroom apartment in the same area, where there are many connected to the university who can support them.

Katz says he understands how the family feels, as he fled South Africa, and apartheid, for Canada many years ago.

"This is one tiny little bit that I'm feeling very emotional about: being able to help this family have a better life."

Seven-year-oldYahyaHamidihad never been on a plane before, and looks forward to going swimming in a lake when it warms up. He smiles when answering what he wants most from his new life in Canada.

"He would like to go to school," he said, through the translator.

The family thanked the University of Manitoba groupfor bringing them to Canada, as well as everyone who gathered to greet them.HasanHamidi, who isa pastry chef and baker, is eager to start working in Canada once they get settled.

The family was exhausted after traveling more than two days to reach Winnipeg, but Salihwasall smiles when talking about his future.

"He says he feels really good and he thinks that he's going to have a great life here in Canada."