It’s been a year since Fadi Yacoub and his family fled from war-torn Syria to Lebanon.
Once in Lebanon they applied for refugee status, and a year later Calgary is their home.
Yacoub says the year-long wait was well worth it.
“I’m happy that I’m here,” he says. “I want a good future for my kids; it’s been four years that they didn’t go to school. “
There are currently more than three million Syrian refugees in the world, a number that climbs daily.
Yacoub’s wife, Ralda, knows how lucky her family is.
“Canada, I heard from a lot of people that it’s a safe place, “says Ralda. “Thank god now that I’m here, I feel like my life is back again.”
While the family is grateful, the transition from Syria to Canada has had its challenges. Their daughter Perla is still adjusting to life in Calgary.
“It’s very hard for me because the culture is different, the language is different and the weather is a big thing,” she explains. “I miss my friends and I miss my family back home and I miss my country.”
What the family doesn’t miss is the violence. As long as it continues they know there is no going home.
Right now the head of the Calgary Catholic Immigration society says that Canada does have the capacity to take in more Syrian refugees.
Fariborz Birjandian thinks the process could be quicker.
“The hope is that we do actually expedite the process for the families,” he says. “We’re having more difficulty because the crisis over there is quite severe, people are really being hurt.”
So far Canada has taken in 1,500 Syrian refugees.
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