My name is Ahmad. I was born and bought up in Aleppo City, Syria. My family and I had to flee our home country due to the war. I was living in a camp in Turkey when my family and I received word we would be sponsored to move to Canada a little over six years ago. Our main sponsor was the Minto Refugee Settlement Committee, a local group of volunteers associated with the Presbyterian Church in Harriston. They were a beacon of hope who made it possible for us to start a new life in Canada and call this country home, helping us with appointments and driving us wherever we needed to go.
As a boy, I took interest in learning how to set tiles. Every day after attending the madrasa (school) in Syria, I would run to work as a tiler’s assistant. This work brought me so much joy and happiness. In grade nine, I began pursuing this interest in earnest, joining a tile business to truly work as a tiler. When I came to Canada, I knew I wanted to follow my passion of setting tiles here too. This dream became reality during an interview with a journalist after I had moved to Harriston.
The local community read about my journey. Many community members called upon me to wish me and my family success. One of them was the owner of a local tile setting business. I was offered a job, and since then, there has been no looking back. The owner, my boss, is very supportive and I consider him a good friend. While I was learning the English language to integrate into the community, my boss often relied upon Google to help translate English into Arabic, facilitating easier communication with me and the other Syrian employees he hired. He frequently speaks to clients about my work. It truly makes me feel as though I belong in my workplace, and this acknowledgement not only provides a sense of happiness, but motivates me to continue to do the best work I possibly can.
“My boss speaks to clients about my work, and this makes me very happy. My ability gets acknowledged and I feel a sense of belonging at my job.”
Everyone in the community of Harriston is very warm, helpful, and welcoming. Locals know all my children by their first names, and I do not need to worry about them while they play outside. My family enjoys walking around town, going to the nearby gym, stopping to enjoy ice cream while the children bike and play in the splash pads. It is very peaceful here.
