Iraqi couple win SREDA entrepreneurial award

About 14 years ago, Wajid and Maysoon Toma owned a house and two hair salons in Iraq, but war made their country so unsafe they had to flee.

"It was getting really dangerous in Iraq, wars and you know, people getting angry, and you're hearing lots of accidents and you know, people dying," Wajid said.

When they arrived in Saskatoonwith their three children,Wajiddid not speak English and the couple did not have enough money to open another hair salon.

He convinced his brother-in-law to give him a job as a cleaner and the family started building a new life, but it was not until 2007 that they were able to open First Impressions Hair Design in Saskatoon.

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On Monday, the couple received an entrepreneurship award from the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA).

Wajid said the success of his new business came to light because ofhard work.

"But in Canada here ... I think anyone is able to do it," he said.

It's hard enough to be an entrepreneur, imagine doing that when you arrive and you can't speak English.- Alex Fallon, SREDA

"It's very easy to be successful in Canada if you work hard."

That perseverance stood out to the judges of the SREDA competition, who selected the Tomas for theNewcomer Entrepreneur of the Year "Spirit" Award.

SREDA president Alex Fallon said the couple were chosen partly because they had overcome extra hurdles to achieve their success.

"It's hard enough to be an entrepreneur, imagine doing that when you arrive and you can't speak English," Fallon said.

"You don't know anyone and you're not connected, you can't go get a loan, you don't have a credit score, you've been through years of struggles that most of us would struggle to imagine."

The awards were presented at a gala at TCU Place on June 6.

The others winners were as follows:

• Start-Up Award: Colors of India, SnehaChakraborty
• Growth Award: Baydo Development Corp., Yufeng Wang
• U39 Award: Odd Couple, Andy Yuen
• Connect Award: Manila Cleaning Services, Florentino and MyrnaAranda