Below is the letter, written by the father of the Syrian refugees who arrived in North Bay last week, to the citizens of this city and to Canada. It was written in Arabic and translated by Yasser Mohammed.
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Thank you Canada.
On behalf of my family, our loudest and deepest appreciation and love to Canada, the people, the land and the government, to this great country that in all aspects, nowhere else in the world is like it.
Since the Canadian government took care of us in Jordan we felt relieved from the first moment we landed at Toronto airport.
We felt safe, that feeling that we lost for more than five years.
The people of Canada welcomed us with such generosity and kindness; they did not treat us as strangers, but rather as their own family.
In particular, we were overwhelmed by the welcoming of the people of the beautiful city of North Bay, their meeting us at the airport and what happened after that was beyond our imagination and no words can describe it.
The people of North Bay has done everything a man can dream of or wish for even in his fantasies.
It is like Plato in his fantasy for the hometown of utopia, but we did not know that this utopia do really exist on the face of the earth. It's here in North Bay, it's Canada.
Our greetings and thanks to the city mayor who showered us with his generosity and love.
This great nation has gathered to meet us represented by all age groups and classes of society; youth and elderly, students and their teachers, men and women.
They gathered to meet such a weak and miserable family for no benefit or reason other than showering us with their love and support, which only shows their high morals and principles.
It is the pure nature and good souls of the great people of Canada. The love for fellow humans is nurtured in their souls.
I have not seen such love, sympathy and generosity in my life anywhere but in Canada. The people of this great nation have set the standards very high for others to follow.
On the other hand, my family and I are keen and strongly care about serving and loving Canada, our new and only homeland.
This nation who gave us everything from day one without expecting anything in return. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Syrian refugees, my thanks and gratitude to the Prime Minister, the government and the great military of Canada, who made us, feel humble and guilty through the care they showed us, starting from Jordan till we arrived in Toronto.
All thanks to the good people of North Bay who who still care for us since we arrived.
Thanks to Virginia Vincent,Tami Deibel, Julie Grant, Don Mclean, Carol, Vanessa Harrison, Karen lemieux, Kaneez Mirali, Eric , Mohammad and Yasser and forgive me if I missed anyone. Thanks to all people connected to this group, the city of North Bay, to all Canadians.
Jabr Family
See original story here: Chilly greeting for North Bay's first Syrian Family (PHOTOS)
