Refugees in Canada: From Far and Wide: Taking a chance

As an engineer working abroad in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Ahmad Ayash and his wife Fatmeh enjoyed a good life in Syria. But when the war broke out, the family left everything behind. Arriving to the quiet fishing village of Lunenburg, Ahmad began work as his kids settled into school.
David Friendly, the lead of the private sponsor group responsible for the family, spoke with Ahmad many times on Skype before the family’s arrival and felt an instant connection.
David dropped hints to Ahmad that he was Jewish- a fact he worried might make the Syrians wary upon arrival. But he was forthright when they first met- and he says Ahmad sees them as long-lost cousins. “We understand each other more- on a deeper level- because of this shared history from the region,” says David.
Now, the family is determined to be a part of the small, close-knit community. Equally, they’ve been embraced by the residents- highlighting the long history of Maritime communities welcoming immigrants and refugees.
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