‘Best day of my life’: Syrian refugee family reunited in Alberta after 10 years apart

An emotional reunion unfolded at Calgary's airport for members of a Syrian refugee family that hadn’t seen each other in almost 10 years.

A tearful reunion unfolded at the Calgary International Airport Monday night for a family of Syrian refugees living in Alberta that haven’t seen their daughter and her family in 10 years.

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After fleeing to Jordan to escape conflict and violence in Syria in 2012, six members of the Mohammad family came to Canada as government-sponsored permanent residents in 2016.

However, their one daughter, Baraah, was 19 years old at the time and recently married, so had to apply separately.

Her initial application was denied, which sparked the family’s decade-long effort to bring her, her husband and eventually their two children to Canada.

On Monday, the Mohammad’s dream to reunite their family became a reality when they touched down in Calgary to a crowd of emotional family and friends.

“I’m so happy. I’m so happy to be with my daughter and all kids here. Right now I’m very happy with her kids, her husband, to build a new future here in Canada,” said Baraah’s mother Attaf, who couldn’t sleep the night before the arrival.

“I’ll sleep a little and just waking up thinking of my daughter, she’ll come soon.”

Baraah and her mother broke into tears as they embraced each other at the airport.

“This is the best day of my life. I never felt this happy in my life together, all the family together,” said Baraah, through translation from her youngest brother Abdullah.

He was 14 years old when he last saw his sister.

“She hasn’t seen me for 10 years,” he said.

“I’m very happy that they’re here and get to build a new future. They don’t get struggle or ever feel like they’ll never wake up again from what they faced or what we faced before.”

According to Global Affairs, Canada has resettled more than 100,000 Syrian refugees since 2015.

It says after decades of oppression and 13 years of conflict, the majority of Syrians now live below the poverty line, with millions in need of humanitarian assistance.

Over the last 10 years, the five initial members of the Mohammed family have worked hard to build a life in Lethbridge and navigated the challenges of starting over in a new country.

“Everything is good in Canada. I like the mountains, the people and it’s safe too,” said Mohammad, another of Baraah’s brothers.

He recently bought a home and renovated the basement where his sister, brother-in-law and children will live as they adapt to life in Canada.

It was a long battle for Baraah and her family to receive permanent residence in what her lawyer describes as an “exceptional” case.

Court documents say there were some concerns about her husband’s Facebook activity.

In that time, her father passed away, having left Syria not knowing he’d never see his daughter again though the family never stopped fighting.

“I never lost hope,” said Mohammad.

The family’s reunion marks the end of a long, painful separation and the start of a new future together in Canada.

“I feel like I’m dreaming I cant believe it’s happening,” said Baraah. “New life, better future as I’m in Canada with my family.”