Tired but happy the six member refugee Hirmiz family arrived at the Regina International Airport December 20 afternoon greeted by members of the Save Iraqi Christians Committee. Iraqi Christians suffer various forms of discrimination and in some cases, violence and the committee was formed by the Regina Archdiocese to try and bring at least some families to Canada. “It’s been a long process,” said committee chair Judy Klenk, “but we kept at it and now they’re here.” The committee worked with Abdul Ali, Archdiocesan refugee coordinator, who handled most of the required paper work.

The family consists of the father Ghiyath, mother Nora, 15-year-old Rita, 12-year-old Romel, eight year old Rosealinda and two year old Remsen. The committee is renting a house for the family and making arrangements for English classes through the Regina Open Door Society.

The family didn’t have much to say when they arrived at the airport but Ghiyath said he is happy that the family is here. Through an interpreter, the family speaks Arabic, Ghiyath said he is looking for stability in what apparently has been a tumultuous existence since he and his young family 10 years ago left the Mosul region in Northern Iraq. They spent the last 10 years in Syria where the two youngest were born and it was from Syria that they applied for refugee status to Canada. “Immigration gave us a list of families who have applied to them and we had to choose from that list,” said Klenk. Ghiyath is trained as a chef in French cuisine according to the interpreter.

Committee members had little time to make arrangements for the family’s arrival as they received their first notice early in December. Since then they managed to locate a house, fill it with furniture, kitchen supplies and even managed a Christmas tree, decorated and with gifts for each member of the family under the tree. It was a delightful surprise for the family when they first entered the house. “We’ve had donations from as far as Maidstone and the people have been very generous. We’ve also raised about $22,000.00” said Klenk, “but we need to raise more to keep the family for a year as is our obligation.”

The Hirmiz family is the first Iraqi family the committee has brought to Canada and Klenk expects the committee will begin working to bring another family after the Hirmiz family is well settled.