Syrians in Canada Reflect on Home and Future a Decade After Resettlement

An initial small gathering in Mississauga’s Celebration Square celebrated the news that the Syrian city of Homs, located 10,000 km (6,200 miles) distant, had been captured by rebel forces. However, upon the announcement that President Bashar al-Assad had departed the nation, effectively concluding the country’s civil conflict, the square in this modest Canadian city was inundated with revelers. Many of these individuals had sought refuge in Canada from Assad’s government approximately ten years prior. Khaled Abdulwahed, a 31-year-old Syrian who relocated to Toronto as a young man and assisted in arranging Sunday’s spontaneous gathering, stated, “I was crying for more than 45 minutes.” Mr. Abdulwahed, now a Canadian citizen, began participating in anti-government demonstrations in Syria at age 17. He has since persistently championed human rights for his homeland, a commitment that has led to him being known as the “Syrian mayor of Toronto.” Although numerous individuals have started arranging visits to relatives and acquaintances, they have also expressed that Canada will largely continue to be their home. He commented, “Right now, is our turn to help our people, to rebuild our country and to support them from here.” Mr. Abdulwahed was among a significant influx of Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada from 2015 to 2016. This resettlement effort was supported by a campaign pledge from then-newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assist in relocating 25,000 Syrians during a period when many were perishing while attempting to escape their homeland. Canada’s hospitable reception sharply contrasted with that of its southern neighbor, where Donald Trump was conducting his initial presidential campaign with a commitment to prohibit Muslims from entering the nation. He subsequently attempted to restrict immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Similar to Mr. Abdulwahed, Muzna Dureid was compelled to travel to Canada alone as a young woman. Within the initial three months of the revolution, the then-21-year-old experienced her brother’s apprehension, the hacking of her social media profiles by Assad intelligence operatives, and the murder of an uncle due to his pro-democracy involvement. Speaking from her older brother’s new residence in Spain, she remarked, “This was the tipping point.” Her brother was freed a year following his arrest, but by then, the family had departed Damascus and dispersed globally. Ms. Dureid’s parents remained in Saudi Arabia, while she successfully obtained a fellowship in Turkey, followed by another in 2016 to pursue studies in Montreal. A request posted on Facebook for temporary accommodation quickly evolved into a lasting connection. The Quebec family who hosted her for that initial night—and for the subsequent year—later proceeded to privately sponsor the remainder of her family to reunite with her in Canada. Since 1979, Canadians have facilitated the resettlement of more than 390,000 refugees via private sponsorship. This approach differs from government-assisted programs because the expenses associated with resettlement are covered by an individual or a group. When Canada expedited the resettlement of Syrians escaping the conflict, private sponsorship proved crucial in achieving this objective; almost half of the arrivals came through some form of private sponsorship, as reported by the Government of Canada. Canada has subsequently resettled over 100,000 Syrians, utilizing a combination of government-assisted and private sponsorship initiatives. This figure is modest when contrasted with the number of refugees accepted by countries bordering Syria—specifically Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan—since the Syrian civil war commenced in 2011. Nevertheless, their cordial reception in Canada has fostered a sense of belonging within their new community, according to Ms. Dureid. She stated, “This is why people believe they belong to this country, not for a temporary period, but that this is their country.” The human rights advocate and policy advisor, who has collaborated with Canada’s ministry for gender equality, indicated that with Assad’s departure, she anticipates dividing her time between Syria and Canada. She expressed, “My dream is to have a ministry for gender equality in Syria and be part of this work.” She added, “I think a lot of us are gonna be between both countries and serving both countries equally.” However, indications suggest a recent change in Canada’s welcoming stance, as Trudeau’s administration aims to decrease the number of permanent residents within the nation while addressing ongoing challenges related to the cost of living and a housing shortage. The potential impact, if any, on Canada’s refugee resettlement program remains uncertain. In 2023, the nation ranked as the fifth-largest recipient of asylum seekers globally. Maya Almasalmeh, a sociology student at Western University, was merely 17 years old when she, along with her family, arrived in London, Ontario in 2016. In the Syrian city of Deraa, she lost her grandfather, whom she described as “a second father figure,” and her residence during the city’s siege, which later became recognized as the origin of the rebellion against Assad. She stated, “He stole our childhood.” As the eldest of seven children in an immigrant household, she explained that she also perceived herself as a secondary parental figure to her numerous siblings. This feeling of responsibility transcends her immediate household in London. Ms. Almasalmeh affirmed, “Canada is the country that gave us peace, it [gave] me my education and helped me to develop to the person who I am today.” However, she emphasized that they “will go back” to assist in “build the new generation.” She proceeded to elaborate extensively on her long-term aspirations. She clarified, “I want to be a social worker, because the people who helped us in the beginning, it was a lot of kind social workers,” adding that Deraa, her “second home,” will require individuals possessing her expertise for reconstruction. Yet, similar to Ms. Dureid and Mr. Abdulwahed, the 25-year-old does not envision Syria as a permanent residence. She declared, “Canada is our home. I would say, it’s our heart.” She concluded, “We will never forget how Canada gave us the chance to live happy again.” Nevertheless, some of the celebrants are also exercising significant prudence before arranging travel to visit distant family members. Basel Abou Hamrah, 36, who resettled in the Canadian prairies with his mother and three siblings in late 2015, clarified, “Edmonton – this is my home. This is where my family is.” Mr. Abou Hamrah expressed reservations regarding a potential return to Syria. A portion of his initial difficulties upon arriving in Edmonton originated from not yet having disclosed his sexual orientation to his family. Furthermore, uncertainty surrounds Syria’s future, as the country was liberated by an Islamist rebel faction that, despite rebranding in recent years, was formerly an offshoot of Al-Qaeda. Speculation has arisen concerning the nature of the government the group intends to establish and the extent of liberties Syrians will experience under this new authority. He clarified, “It’s not safe for LGBTQ refugee people back home in Syria.” Before the 2011 revolution, instances of police targeting gay men were reported. Mr. Abou Hamrah indicated that this is why the week’s news, reporting that some European nations are opting to suspend asylum determinations for Syrian refugees, deeply troubles him. Mr. Abou Hamrah stated, “There are lots of LGBTQ refugees that – no matter what is the new government of the new Syria – they will not be safe,” noting that the country’s situation remains “in flux.” For other individuals, a more permanent return to Syria might represent the long-awaited news since the civil war displaced them from their residences years prior. From her residence in Prince George, British Columbia, Israa El Issa, a mother of four, articulated, “Canada gave us safety and dignity.” She added, “There has never been a day where I felt like a refugee or not Canadian or unwanted.” She and her family escaped Aleppo and were subsequently sponsored from Lebanon by a collective of private citizens residing on Canada’s western coast. Until this week, she had intended to continue her education in Canada with the aim of becoming a nurse. However, she stated that these plans are now suspended: “God willing I’ll finish in Syria instead.” A significant reason for her desire to return to Syria is a profound sense of “estrangement” she has experienced regarding the family she left behind, following unsuccessful attempts to bring her father and mother to join her. She clarified, “That’s all I wanted.” However, her father succumbed to cancer approximately eight months after her relocation. She attempted to bring her mother, but reported difficulties in navigating the immigration process. She remarked, “I tried so many times, but no result.” Despite these challenges, she does not resent the nation that welcomed her, viewing the desire to return home as a natural inclination. She asserted, “At the end of the day, Syria is our country. And why are we refugees in the first place? Because there was war in our country and it wasn’t safe to stay.” She concluded, “But now that Syria is free from the oppression of Assad, and God willing safety returns to Syria, then of course we will return too.”