TORONTO — Other than a shared cultural heritage, the Ohannessian family and the Adjoydan family were complete strangers. Both are Syrian-Armenian: one lives in Toronto, the other is from Aleppo.
Soussi Ohannessian, immigrated to Canada 25 years ago, by choice. She and her husband raised three Canadian-born children and own a home in North Scarborough. She worked in a fast food restaurant before retiring.
Vrej Adjoydan and his wife Ani Tchaderian have two children, who were born in Aleppo, Syria. He was a graphic designer and his wife a kindergarten teacher. But two years ago they had to flee.
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It was too dangerous to stay. They feared their home could get bombed by Syrian government forces or could be attacked by so-called Islamic State militants.
They travelled 20 hours by bus to the Lebanese capital — with no food or water, a newborn baby and a toddler on their laps.
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They spent two years waiting, in Beirut, for someone in Canada to sponsor them, along with their children and Tchaderian’s parents and brother.
Toronto’s Armenian community has answered the call for hundreds of refugees. The Armenian Community Centre of Toronto is expecting the arrival of nearly 1,100 more refugees in the next three weeks and it’s still taking applications.
Sponsoring a refugee family means taking full responsibility for their resettlement. Sponsors must find schooling, clothing, provide transportation and find employment for the family without any help from the Canadian government.
The Adjoydan family’s sponsor is Ohannessian’s cousin, who asked if she’d be willing to donate part of her home.
“I’m from Syria too,” said Ohannessian. That’s all it really took for her to open up her basement to a family of seven strangers. “When I heard about them, I thought I know how they feel now. That’s why I opened my house and I told them to come.”
READ MORE: Canadian military preparing to help Syrian refugees coming to Canada
It’s been six weeks since Adjoydan’s family found refuge in Ohannessian’s basement.
Having an address meant he could find a job. He’s now working as a mechanic; his wife as a waitress. His daughter is in school and his wife’s parents watch their baby.
Adjoydan and Tchaderian now share a room with her husband and two children; her parents and brother share the other room. But Tchderian doesn’t mind the cramped quarters.
“My life and my kids life are first,” said Tchaderian. “I saved my life and my kid’s life.”
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