New Syrian refugees in Toronto feel safe after years of turmoil

TORONTO — 24 hours after arriving in Toronto, Sarin Poladian and her family are now beginning the process of starting over again after escaping the civil war in Syria.

“We were so excited that if all went well, we will be in a peaceful place, legally, safely and by an airplane,” Poladian said.

“We’re not risking our lives anymore.”

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Poladian flew into Toronto Pearson International Airport with her mother, father and two brothers on Tuesday.

On board that same flight were at least two dozen other refugees from different areas involved in the Syrian conflict.

On Wednesday, the family went to federal government offices to file the paper work needed to begin their new lives in Canada.

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“It will take time but at least for now they will stay safe,” former Canadian citizenship judge Atris Babikian said. “For now that’s the most important thing. We are trying to help them in any way we can.”  

Babikian has sponsored the family and, along with the local Armenian community, has found them a place to live for now.

Three years ago, Poladian and one of her brothers left the city of Aleppo for Lebanon to flee the violence and continue their education. The rest of the family stayed as the fighting escalated.  

“At the beginning, kidnapping, car bombing and the situation deteriorated more quickly,” Poladian said.

“We were hearing gunfire and we assumed everything would be fine after a period, after a couple of months, but these couple of months turned out to be years.”

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Now that they are in Canada, their thoughts have turned to those struggling to either stay in Syria or risk their lives leaving the country.

“I still feel sorry for all the people that are still there in Aleppo still suffering in very bad conditions,” Poladian said. “In very bad circumstances. No water. No electricity.”

At this point, Poladian would prefer to look forward to new opportunities rather than dwell on the life she was forced to leave behind.

“I don’t want to go back,” she said. “I want to remember Syria as though it was before the war not during the war.”