ELMSDALE, N.S. — “We are home.” With those three words, Ninar Shahoud expressed what she, her father Afif and her mom Chirsteen Mousa were feeling as they walked through arrival doors at Halifax Stanfield Airport and into the friendly arms of her brother Anas and members of the HEART Society on a stormy Monday evening in February.
It was a three-year process by the volunteers with the Hants East Assisting Refugee Team (HEART) to get the family to Canada from Syria.
After two days of travel — including their first-ever experience with snow in Toronto — the family was ready to crawl into beds they can call their own in their new community of Elmsdale.
“I’m very, very excited and so happy,” said Ninar. “I hope my life will be better than before.”
As the family of three stepped onto the escalator in the arrivals area, the excitement from the crowd of about 20 people ramped up.
The volunteers were decked out in Canadian paraphernalia, with everything from small flags to a red cowboy hat and even the traditional Canadian umbrella hat, which volunteer Catherine Miller wore. She said she only brings it out for the Canada Day parade in Elmsdale and welcoming HEART Society-sponsored refugees to Canada.
As the family came through the gates, Anas was there to welcome them to Canada, and received big hugs first from Ninar, and then wrapped his parents in his arms in an emotional moment. After the embrace, each of the family members shook the hands of those who had worked diligently to bring them to Canada.
Ninar was surprised at the reception the family received at the airport.
“It means we have friends on the other side of the world,” she said.
Bittersweet arrival
For HEART Society vice-president Natalie Horne, the excitement over the family’s arrival came with mixed emotions because the last time many of the HEART Society were at the airport was three years ago, in September 2017 when they welcomed the Barho family to Canada.
The Barhos lost all seven of their children (Ahmed, 15; Rola, 12; Mohamad, 9; Ola, 8; Hala, 3 and Rana, 2, Abdullah, born on Nov. 9) in a house fire on Quartz Drive in Spryfield on Feb. 19, 2019.
“We had signed up and sponsored our first family, the Barhos, and because of the outgoing community support, we wanted to sponsor a second family,” said Horne.
“It’s been a lot of years in the making, but we’re happy they have finally arrived. It’s a really exciting day to meet some new Canadians, who will settle in our community.”
The Feb. 10 arrival of the Shahoud-Mousa family was nine days before the first anniversary of the tragic fire that resonated across the world. Kawthar Barho was able to escape the blaze, while Ebraheim suffered burns to more than 80 per cent of his body and is still in the hospital.
“It’s a little bit bittersweet. You can’t help but think about the last time we were here at the airport welcoming another family, and how that ended all so tragically,” Horne said.
“You have to be happy, too, for the opportunity for new beginnings and the chance to show another family Canadian hospitality and what being a Canadian is all about.”
Our precious angels
Ninar said the two weeks before their arrival in Halifax were crazy for the family, who flew to Toronto from Lebanon on the weekend of Feb. 8-9.
“It’s been so exciting and I’m so happy to meet everyone. I just wanted to meet them and start our new lives with you all,” said Ninar.
“The HEART Society is our precious angels.”
The expression of what it meant to be in Canada and welcomed with such friendliness wasn’t lost on Afif, 62, who appeared to hold back tears of happiness as he awaited the rest of the family’s luggage.
Arriving in Canada, the family was met with snow, which was a first for them.
“We find it cold and aren’t used to seeing all the snow everywhere,” said Anas. “But we will be, eventually.”
While it wasn’t initially evident two days of travel had taken a toll on the family, as the adrenaline and excitement wore off, it became clear travel was wearing on Ninar, Chirsteen, and Afif.
They were ready for a good night’s sleep in their new community.
Together their new family members from East Hants, the reunited family walked outside, into their first Nova Scotia winter night, anxious to tackle the storm-weathered Hwy 102 and head to their new home.
What is the HEART Society?
The Hants East Assisting Refugee Team (HEART) Society was formed by community members looking to help bring refugees to Canada, and more specifically the East Hants area. They're also there to help those refugees reach their full potential, become settled in our communities, productive, and good participating citizens that contribute to the Canadian economy.
