This month marks the one-year anniversary of the first Syrian refugees to arrive in Fredericton and although it’s a long road for the new Canadians, several are starting to create opportunities for themselves at the local Cultural Market.
READ MORE: Refugee family offers Fredericton a ‘Taste of Syria’
In May, the first Syrian vendor started selling authentic cuisine from their home country at the market.
Since then, two more food vendors have set up tables on a regular basis.
“The idea behind the cultural market, it’s two-fold, as I call it,” co-founder Charit Khatri said. “One was to give our local community a chance to experience different food from around the world but, at the same time, have the new residents start integrating in the local community.
“The best way to experience a culture is through food and crafts.”
Fawaz Alhishan started by helping his mother Suphieh sell her Syrian cuisine several months back.
His hard work eventually landed him a job at the Multi-Cultural centre, including helping out with the Cultural Market.
Now, in the country for less than a year, his English speaking skills have vastly improved and he credits his job.
“I’m feeling better because I understand English, talk with people easily,” he explained. “Now I understand it, I feel now better.”
“When he first came, you know he couldn’t speak English,” Khatri said. “But now, interacting on a day-to-day basis, his English has improved.”
In that sense, Alhishan seems to be experiencing exactly what the founders hoped vendors would when they opened the market at the end of 2014.
“From a point of view of integration, it helps the language – talking with the customers coming in, understanding the culture, getting to know the community,” co-founder Dan Taylor said.
Now, just about a year in operation, already two vendors have gone from starting at the market to opening their own food trucks, with talk of opening restaurants being common as well.
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