My name is Adam, and I am a painter in the Drayton area. I was born and raised in Syria, just over an hour from Damascus. My family and I found ourselves in a refugee camp in Jordan, hoping to create a safer life, but I knew we could not live this way forever. My dream was to settle in Canada, a country full of opportunities for refugees like me.
My family and I were sponsored to come to Canada by the government and a local church in Drayton. Once here, I wanted to get to work right away. I had been a painter back in Syria, and I wanted to continue my work in this trade. When the church heard of this, they gave me my first job – to paint the new minister’s home. You might not think so, but there are significant differences between painting in Canada compared to Syria. However, I embraced the change and gained many new skills as a result. Word quickly spread that I was a good painter, and soon people from the congregation began hiring me to paint their homes, even though many did not need their homes re-painted.
I started working closely with a construction company, as well as others within the community. The construction company owner, recognizing I was a newcomer, was very patient, guiding me in what I needed to start my business and how to get licensed for painting. Now, I have my own business called “The Guy with the Brush Inc.” where I employ 12 people.
“We left families back in Syria… however, we gained a family in Drayton, Wellington County.”
My wife and I may have left our families in Syria but gained many new family and friends here in Drayton, Wellington County. Together with my wife’s and my Canadian families, we celebrate Canadian holidays while they celebrate our Syrian holidays with us. We are blessed to live and work in this area – people are helpful and welcoming. When I am not working, I enjoy camping, fishing, or swimming in nearby local lakes. Everyone in the community is supportive and cares about each other.
The key to being successful is not to hold yourself back. My family found that in not holding ourselves back and investing ourselves in our new community, Drayton gave us the same – and more – in return. Because we were successful our church helped us bring over my brother-in-law's family, and now we are working on helping more relatives move. My heart is full of joy that I get to have both my Canadian and Syrian family nearby. My wife, kids, and I gained many families and friends. You will be in good hands in Wellington County.
