New Quebecers who came from Syria are celebrating a big milestone: their one year anniversary in the province.
Layla Beylouneh is just one of the many refugees who fled from war-ravaged Aleppo.
She has been living in Quebec for exactly one year and currently attends Saint-Martin High School in Laval.
READ MORE: Syrian refugees: Quebec immigration minister says security won’t be compromised
Monday, she spoke to fellow classmates in the library while staff members and Quebec immigration minister Kathleen Weil looked on.
The teen pointed out one of the biggest differences between life in her native Syria and Montreal is simple: survival.
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Beylouneh explained whenever she left her home in the morning, she would say good-bye to her family.
Why? Because she didn’t know if she would make it back at the end of the day.
Now, she said she no longer fears for her life and is excited about things to come.
“The future: I can be what I want because here we can make whatever we want,” she told Global News.
Quebec plans to welcome 7,300 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, ranking it the fourth destination int he world.
Some people have criticized the provincial government for not doing enough to help the refugees, but the immigration minister argued she’s doing all she can.
READ MORE: Quebec government celebrates one year anniversary of Syrian refugee arrivals
“Not to be worried that the money will be there for them, as well in terms of welfare,” said Weil.
“The French language courses, we have not had any wait time for French language courses.”
Thousands more refugees are expected to arrive from Syria next year as well.
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