The first Syrian refuge family to move to Cochrane settled into their new townhouse on Feb. 9.
Joseph and Carolen Kumous, with their four daughters, Shad age 9, Sebba age 7, Halla age 4 and Sham age 2, landed at the Calgary International Airport at 6:12 p.m., coming from Lebanon, making it through the gate by 7 p.m. to meet their Cochrane family sponsors and a crowd of supporters.
Before the arrival, sponsors Bernie Cabot, Nancy Normore and family waited anxiously at the arrival gate with “Welcome” signs, as they explained to the Cochrane Eagle, why they decided to sponsor a Syrian family.
“This all came about from the tragic accident with that little boy in Turkey this past summer - we’ve been working on this ever since then and the last four days have been very intense getting everything ready for the family,” Cabot explained.
Three months ago the Cabot’s found a Syrian family to sponsor through the Calgary Melkite Greek Catholic Church, the parish that has been working to resettle Syrian families, with help from the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society explaining sponsorship duties to the Cabots. The local family has been fundraising for the last couple of months with a goal of $30,000 and just over $18,000 has raised by the end of January. The Syrian family was originally due to arrive in March but the Cabot family was notified four days before, that the Kumous’ arrival would be three weeks early.
“We are not just sponsoring them… we are going to adopt this family. It’s good to get them out and get them in here, this is the best country in the world to raise a family and Cochrane is a good community,” Cabot said.
Father Ephrem Kardouh from the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, originally from Syria who knew the Kumous’, helped translate for Joseph so he could explain to the Cochrane Eagle how he was feeling that night.
“He is very happy for this reception – he did not expect this and he is overwhelmed with everything. He heard before he came about the people here, how they love each other and he is experiencing now what they described. So he is now very happy that he is here and experiencing the love and care of the people firsthand,” Ephrem said.
“And I just want to say thank you and thank Canada.”
This is the first Syrian family to arrive in Cochrane, with two more families due to arrive next week according to Anoinette Godbout, sponsorship co-ordinator with Calgary Catholic Immigrant Society.
The Cabot’s are still accepting food and cash donations for the Kumous’ with St. Mary’s Parish in Cochrane. For more information call 403-932-2944 or email Natalie Power at [email protected]
