COCHRANE— A family of Syrian refugees have made a new life for themselves in Cochrane.
Five years ago, the Kadmous family was forced to flee their homeland, as civil unrest grew in Syria. They arrived in Cochrane on a cold winter's night in February 2016 and quickly found their place in the community.
One can feel the love and joy when permeating the home of Carolen and Joseph Kadmous and their daughters Shahd, 14, Sebba, 12, Sham, 6, and Halla, 8. The daughters sharing stories from school and memories of Syria as they help their mother prepare a feast for the family.
The family originally hails from Homs, a city of about 500,000 people located in the middle of Syria. Shahd said it was a place they could walk through the neighbourhood surrounded by friends and family that had called the area home for generations.
They were forced to flee that home because of civil war, living briefly in Lebanon until they made their way to Canada.
It took the family eight months to secure sponsorship and find safety in Canada. When the time came for the move, the family had about three days notice before heading to their new country.
With a confident grin, Shahd said, she still remembers when they first learned they would be moving to Canada. It was a warm mid-summer's day when her mom got a call telling them there was the potential for sponsorship to live in Cochrane.
It was a mix of excitement and nerves finding out she would be moving to a new country, Shahd said.
At first she was afraid— Shahd said she broke down in tears as they got onto the plane in Lebanon. It was confusing, she said, because she was in the middle of Grade 4 at the time and on the way to the airport, her thoughts were filled with worries about what the future held.
Looking back Shahd said she used to think she was in a dream when they first arrived in Cochrane. However, she slowly found a way to make the town her home as she and her sisters found their footing in the community.
When they first arrived in Cochrane it was at night, Shahd said, and it felt like the family “had arrived in the middle of nowhere.”
“It was crazy, I didn’t know where I was going,” Shahd said. “I was scared; I didn’t want to come.
“We didn’t know what we were coming to."
The family has good memories of Homs, Sebba said, including the closeness of friends and family within walking distance. She explained it was an adjustment getting used to the new way of life in Cochrane.
She experienced culture shock coming to Canada because it was a new environment where the family does not have the same close relationships with their neighbours.
Sebba still misses her friends and family in Syria. She remembers fondly one of the rare times snow fell and the joy they had playing and building a snowman. Other stories are jubiliant retellings of lip-sync battles with her friends and sisters using forks as microphones.
"It was honestly the happiest time,” Sebba said with a smile. “We were crazy kids.”
She still misses family gatherings the most, especially at Christmas. Shahd said it was different in Syria, because the holiday brought everyone together and they would gather at night feasting with her uncle's family, dancing and singing Christmas songs.
Sebba and Shahd still keep in contact with friends back in Syria using a group chat app.
Arriving in Canada was so different from what she knew, Shahd said, and she has learned so many cool things since they first arrived.
“It’s not just the English, it’s also much more— Culture, food … I got a new perspective. When we were in Syria we were in a small village,” Shahd said. “It’s a really good opportunity because I got a better education, a safe place. It was a good decision.”
She said everything was different in Cochrane— The people, culture, the school— But it was a good thing because it helped her to improve her life.
The only one in the family who knew English before arriving in Canada was Shahd, but it did not help because it was different being immersed in Canadian culture.
Sebba carried a computer with her everywhere she went at first so she could use Google Translate to speak with her classmates and teachers.
Sebba and Shahd learned English from Theresa Balko of The Helping Hands Tutoring and Educational Consulting, soon after arriving in Cochrane. Balko also helped the girls adjust to the new experience of Canadian culture.
Sebba said it was amazing how welcoming people were in the community and the steps people took to make them feel included.
The Kadmous family's move to Cochrane was made possible by Calgary Catholic Priest Father Ephram Kardouh who worked with Joseph in Syria. Kardouh brought Joseph to Canada to work at St. Mary’s church. The family was sponsored through Calgary Melkite Greek Catholic Church, with help from the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.
Nancy Normore, Bernie Cabot and their daughters Natalie and Carly Power sponsored the family. One can see the love the family has for Normore with Sham and Halla embracing her in fierce hugs and whispers of excitement when she stops by for a visit.
Carolen said at the time of their arrival it was just good to re-connect with Father Ephram and know they had arrived in a safe place.
“The first time we saw Father Ephram, he hugged everyone and we started to cry,” Carolen said.
When they first arrived Carolen was holding Sham, Normore said, looking exhausted after a journey around the world to their new home. It was a 13-hour flight from Lebanon to Calgary, Carolen said, and it marked the family's first time on a plane.
Normore said they had four days to get ready for the family's arrival. They got to work quickly preparing their new home.
“She worked so hard and put everything together for us in four days,” Carolen exclaimed. “She worked really hard.”
When they first arrived at a fully furnished home that had been rented for them in Heartland, at first, they could not believe they had a home to call their own, Shahd said with a laugh.
Natalie, who was attending Cochrane High School at the time, got her Leadership Class to rally around the Kadmous family to ensure they had everything they needed when they arrived. She collected donations that were stored at the school just waiting for them to arrive.
“It was a big job for her,” Joseph said with a grin.
Carolen said they were overwhelmed by a basement full of toys when they arrived at their new home. At times, little Sham will check the basement of their current home for toys because the memory is so strong.
Carolen remembers her first visit to Walmart and the amazement of seeing so much in one location. Syria had little markets with tiny shops. It was strange visiting a huge place with everything a family could need in one place.
As time has passed, the family has settled into their new life in Cochrane.
The family recently completed their Canadian citizenship tests and was set to take the citizenship oath in August. Unfortunately, the joyous occasion was delayed due to COVID-19.
It was disappointing, Carolen said, but they are eager for the future when a big ceremony celebrating new citizens can safely take place.
Incorrect information appeared in the original edition of this article. This article has been updated to reflect that Theresa Balko runs The Helping Hands Tutoring and Educational Consulting.
