The first Syrian refugees to come to the Maritimes are settling into their new apartment in Halifax.
The young family of four arrived at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport from Toronto Wednesday afternoon – the last leg of a long journey from their war-torn homeland.
Thirty-six-year-old Mohammad Al Habash was a businessman in Syria. He and his wife, Almasa Habash, five-year-old daughter Nada, and four-year-old son Taimullah left a refugee camp in Beirut.
Eight thousand kilometres later, they’ve arrived in their new home.
Nova Scotia Immigration Minister Lena Diab, acting as a translator, says the family is expressing gratitude for all the work done to bring them to Halifax.
The family's quick arrival wouldn't have been possible without the private sponsorship of Saint Benedict's Parish, which has been quietly bringing refugees to Canada for years.
The church raised $25,000 and has vowed to support the family for a year.
"Food, rent, clothing and all logistical support. To get them to the doctors, dentist, everything you can think of you do in the run of a day, that's what we're there for," said Chris Yetman, chair of the St. Benedict’s Refugee Committee.
Many other refugees coming to Canada often wind up with a bill from the federal government. But those working with immigrants were delighted Ottawa agreed to waive travel and medical costs for the Syrians.
“They don't want to arrive with a loan, and they don't want that burden on their backs, and the default rate is incredibly low,” said Gerry Mills of Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia.
The Al Habash family will make their new home in a three-bedroom unit in Clayton Park, provided by the church.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko.
