Dave Scharf, Centretown News
Syrian refugee Mohammad Alaah puts skates on his nephew at the Rink of Dreams. Alaah has skated daily since his arrival in Canada on Jan. 10. This was his nephew’s first attempt.Dozens of Syrian refugees put on skates for the first time since their arrival in Ottawa at a special Jan. 26 outing to the Rink of Dreams, a symbolic first stride in their new Canadian life.
Volunteers tightened up the skates of beginners, while others were taking family pictures with a hot chocolate in hand. The smiles lit up the cold January night, reflecting the group’s delight over the newcomers.
Standing by the rink, Syrian refugee Mohammad Alaah said via a translator that he’s planning to come back every Wednesday of the winter. “It’s hard for me to integrate myself in the society, because I barely speak English,” said Alaah who arrived in Canada on Jan. 10. “Events like tonight are a great opportunity to meet people and learn the Canadian lifestyle.”
The Centretown-based Catholic Centre for Immigrants is organizing weekly skating events for recently arrived refugees every Wednesday of the winter. Through word of mouth, volunteers have been gathering skates that can fit as many people as possible. “A lot of our volunteers are from a hockey or skating background, so we are able to get a range of sizes pretty quickly,” says one of the main organizers, Jody Beeching.
Participants ranged from youngsters to the elderly, all lacing up their skates with the help of 20 volunteers, often to take the first glide on ice in their lives.
“It feels like freedom,” says Alaah.
Most of the refugees attending the skating event were still in Jordanian refugee camps, only a couple weeks ago. “They are just so ready to embrace their new life, learn new things, meet new people and make new friends,” says the lead organizer of the event, Anneke Van Nooten. “It’s really exciting for everybody.”
In fact, what most Canadians would see as a cold and snowy Wednesday night was for the newcomers, a new family experience. Standing by the rink looking at her siblings, Rahya Sleby says via a translator that she loves to be in this country.
“We already got used to living here,” she said. “Canadians are very welcoming, friendly and fun to be with.” Standing beside Sleby, her mother shouts: “We are in love with Canada!”
The skating events will go on as long as the weather allows it, said Van Nooten. “If we had more skates and more volunteers, there would be more people on the ice,” she added.
Advanced skaters or beginners, anyone interested in giving out their time to help refugees can register online at the centre’s website: cciotawa.ca
“We are always happy,” said Van Nooten, “to meet new people who want to share their love of winter with new Canadians.”