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Refugee to Canadian Citizen: Welcoming 2016 Refugees

It has been 16 years since Latif Kacuri fled Kosovo because of war and found a safe haven in Canada.

A lot has changed since then, especially when it comes to the negativity surrounding refugees.

“At that time I came to Canada, people were very welcoming and supportive. The first day in Halifax, so many volunteers were there and were so kind. During the stay in New Brunswick, the workers were very kind. Citizens came into the camps just to socialize with people,” Kacuri explained.

When Kacuri and his family arrived in Kelowna, many churches and organizations connected with them, forming lasting friendships. These friendships have involved many dinners and even a few Christmas or New Year’s celebrations together.

But with the positive there is always the negative and Kacuri said he sees that now, in terms of how people are reacting to the Syrian refugees arriving in Canada.

“I feel bad about the situation. I believe now with the changes of government, Canada will be very well known in the world about what they’re doing for the refugees. I see positive changes but I don’t see as much as needed.”

<who> Photo Credit: Government of Canada

There are eight things that come to Kacuri’s mind when it comes to what refugees need:

  1. Housing/Accommodation
  2. Medical support
  3. Transportation
  4. Orientation for schools, medical offices, and community organizations
  5. Support networking within the community
  6. Language studies
  7. Schooling
  8. A welcoming climate

“We know Canadian schools are very well known in the world. Everyone wants to bring children here to complete school. Many immigrants have a lot of education and most of them who can speak English can integrate easily.”

Another important part of a refugee’s transition into a new country is employment. Kacuri said one myth he hears a lot is when immigrants or refugees come to Canada, residents believe the unemployment rates will go up, but he doesn’t believe that’s true.

“Canada is a big country and Canada needs people too. Immigrants and refugees start with low skill jobs that Canadians sometimes aren’t willing to take. This is positive for businesses because sometimes businesses cannot find people to work.”

Another myth Kacuri hears often is that immigrants have low skill sets.

“Most of them had very good lives and jobs in their country, but because of war or some disaster they had to come, and they came with a set of skills.”

Canada has been in the spotlight with Justin Trudeau’s promise to resettle 25,000 refugees in Canada before the end of February. As of the beginning of the February, Canada has welcomed nearly 16,000 refugees.

<who> Photo Credit: Justin Trudeau Facebook

Kacuri said, with these new refugees coming to Canada, Canadians have the chance to welcome people into their new home. A home that is safe from war and disaster, which these Syrians are used to.

One tip the now-Canadian citizen said, was to slowly take the word refugee out of your vocabulary. Kacuri said he believes if children are called refugees they may feel different at schools.

“Even for some adults if you say refugee they do not feel comfortable.”

Within three and a half years of arriving in Canada, Kacuri became a Canadian Citizen. The 61-year-old said he could not wait to learn as much as possible about Canada and get absorbed in the culture here.

Kacuri still goes back to Kosovo to visit his friends and family, but he said Canada is his home now and will always be.

“People work very hard in Canada, I believe, and the system is very well organized, and schooling is very good, much better schooling compared to my country. I somehow trust Justin Trudeau will make things even better.

“Canada has a very bright future ahead.”

This was a multi-part series by KelownaNow.com. To read the previous articles in this series, click here.



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