Syrian refugee honoured to call Canada home
BELLEVILLE, Ont. (02/11/20)—Slieman Al-Jasem and his little brother Fadl, along with their father Abdel-Malik, mother Sawsan, and many more family members arrived together in Canada, after leaving their war-ravaged Syrian home in 2013 with hopes of a better life.
Barely 15 years old at the time, Al-Jasem lived and experienced Syria in ways his little brother Fadl could only imagine. He first traveled alone to Lebanon in search of work, before finally and unexpectedly being hosted by Canadian sponsors. Now 22, he has since been able to learn proficient English, then the fishing trade through a local apprenticeship with Kendal and Joanne of Dewey Fisheries, who are retiring and have been looking to pass down the family business.
"I never imagined doing any of this. I had never heard of Canada, or even knew what language was spoken here. It was complicated, to learn English. But it was worth it. The Dewey's are a part of our family now, and we still have sponsors who are true friends — people who were only supposed to help us for one year, but they never left us alone." He laughs, "And what they started, helped get me a business of my own."
In only a couple of weeks, Al-Jasem will finally be able to receive full Canadian citizenship. The County Catch — named similarly to The County Foundation which originally helped bring attention to the PEC Syria sponsorship of Al-Jaseem and his family — is already the last fish-processing operation in Prince Edward County. But its his trade now; one that he understands, and will let him provide, both for his family, and contribute to the community that first, helped them.
"Of course, we would have preferred to stay in Syria. That was once our home. But it became a place filled with so many bad things happening, we just could not stay there any longer. We had run out of food and opportunities there." He pauses, then notes, "A lot of people don't understand what refugee means. War? Yes, we've been through it. But that doesn't mean we're bad people. We came to Canada to find a new life, work hard, and find just a little bit of happiness. We could not have expected another home, so far away, was waiting for us. But it was. And I am so grateful for that."
Photos by Jonathan Matthie.