Looking Back: The Abdo Story Continues
Back in 2018 a hard-working special committee here in the Crowsnest Pass succeeded in jumping through an incredible amount of red tape and facilitated the arrival of a Khurdish family by the name of Abdo. That family had fled Damascus in 2012 where the city had become a central battleground and suffered major bombings as the Syrian uprising of opposition forces escalated into a full-scale civil war. Bahzad Abdo, his wife Farha and their three children wound up in a huge refugee camp called Darashakran in Iraqi Kurdistan where they spent the next six years. In fact, their fourth child Sham was born there.
On arriving here, the family was immediately embraced by our community and have thrived here ever since, on their own. Bahzad became a Canadian citizen in January of 2023 and by the end of the year all other five family members had been sworn in as well.
I don’t think I will ever forget the look on Bahzad’s face that day, hand-held up proudly, swearing the oath of allegiance.
It is now eight years later, and the four children and their parents are moving ahead with their lives. The oldest girl Jolari is now 20 and in third year university with an eye towards becoming a doctor. Mohammed , now 18 has just entered first year at the University of Lethbridge. Younger brother Ahmed and Sham are now 13 and sister Sham is now 9. It just makes me smile to see what a successful immigration story this is. And this is the same story of immigration that built this country in the first place. People fleeing political oppression and poverty looking to build a new life. Working hard towards a brighter future and ensuring that their children could get a higher education and build their better tomorrows. Any one of us can look back a few generations and find, in our family roots, a variation of this record.
Now this narrative is to be continued with a new chapter and a new chance for yet another family to be part of this wonderful country. That family is none other than Bahzad’s brother Saaid, his wife Viyan and their three children Muhsin (13), Hevin (11) and Havrin (6). The family has spent 13 years in a refugee camp in Iraq, and all seek, as anyone would, a chance for a better life.
On September 23 they arrived at the Calgary airport where they were met by members of the facilitating committee and Bahzad’s wife Farha. Finally, they were landed on Canadian soil and on arriving here were immediately welcomed into our community with open arms. School registration was almost immediate, the once again generously donated Saretsky apartment was meticulously prepared for them and any sojourn out into the community has brought welcoming support.
Whether it be Tuesdays Book Store, the Women’s Resource Centre, the Blairmore and Fort Macleod Lions, or our local health clinic, everyone sees that supporting this family in whatever fashion they can is part of who we are here. Donations of furniture and household items were given unhesitatingly.
The process of facilitating this family’s immigration into Canada can only be described as onerous and the paperwork and communications issues are legion. The central characters of this team have endured endless bureaucratic processes, but when all the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed the final approval came with great relief.
In discussing some of this with facilitator Judy Cook it boggled my mind to contemplate the hoops. There are always translation issues of forms from Arabic to English, identification cards to be generated and everything must be accurate and verified. Dates of birth and marriage, complete work histories by month for the last ten years, any education statistics, the list is endless and cannot vary in its consistency. One small information conflict can derail the whole process. So, checking and double checking every fact and number is the order of the day. Of course, when they arrived there was yet more to be secured like a bank account, school registration, and driver’s license. The list is long for proper integration. Committee members like Tom Head, Judy Cooke, Michele Fraser, Debbie McKinlay and of course Saaid’s brother Bahzad and his wife Farha have all worked to facilitate this families blending into our country. As was the case with Bahzad and family members worked once again with the Anglican Diocese of Calgary, who have an official agreement with the Government of Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. There has been some money raised already to help the family transition to the point of standing alone but donations are gratefully welcomed. One can either donate to the following: The Synod of the Diocese of Calgary- Abdo Refugee Account - 180, 1209-59 ave. S. E. Calgary, AB, T2H 2P6 or to the Grace Anglican United Church - Refugee Account Box1044, Blairmore, AB, T0K 0E0 Donations to the Calgary account are held in trust but the Grace account can issue a tax receipt. Donations can also be made to the Grace Anglican United Church through “Canada Helps”.
Be sure to watch for this family when they are out and about learning our customs and language (big job). It will fill your soul to see yet one more family given a second chance at a new life and that it is happening here in the Crowsnest Pass.
Photos top to bottom: Bahzad and family at Canada Day parade - Tom Head photo
Family looks on as Bahzad swears his oath of allegiance - John Kinnear photo
Saaid and Viyan with Muhsin, Hevin and Havrin in Iraqi camp” - Judy Cooke photo
A joyful arrival of the Abdo’s at Calgary airport” - Judy Cooke photo