Refugee family reunites in Kamloops after over a decade apart

The reunion plan began about four years ago. Brothers Rojeh, and Rodan Labbad had recently come to Kamloops through Canada’s Syrian refugee program and became friends with a family in Clearwater who also sought refuge in Canada. The connection to the North Thompson led to the brothers approaching the Clearwater Sponsorship group about sponsoring their other brother, father, mother, and 12-year-old sister to come to Canada from Lebanon.

Sandra Holmes works with the sponsorship group and says at one point they weren’t sure the family would be able to come right away.

“It’s been an extremely emotional time for the last couple of weeks,” she says. “Because the situation in Lebanon has been very unpredictable. At one point the airport was closed earlier this week. Some flights of folks that the parents know in Lebanon didn’t get out.”

Now that the rest of the Labbad family has made it safely to B.C., the work is not over for the people working behind the scenes of the Clearwater Sponsorship group.

“Our program requires that we support this family for a year. Not only financially, and it’s a very minimum financial commitment — basically what they can live on,” she explains. “They need to get some help with English, they need to get some help with easing into the community.”

Getting settled in a new country will be made easier through the support of friends and family members already in Kamloops and Clearwater.

While Rodan and Rojeh arrived years ago, their brother Robert and his wife and daughter arrived in June. Recently, the brothers have been working together to get their new restaurant, Shawarma Time, up and running in Kamloops.

Translating for his father in the Kamloops Airport today, Rodan says the family is grateful.

“He says to everyone who came behind us to bring us to Canada, I want to say thank you very much to them. Especially to Sandra, and the community of Clearwater.”

Working their way up from entry-level jobs, the brothers have been able to lay the groundwork to make sure their family is taken care of.

“We have a big celebration planned at home,” says Rojeh, “We have special food and special drinks prepared, and we’ve got a big day today.”

An emotional time for the men who spent more than 10 years waiting to meet their now-grown sister, and knowing that their parents are safe and secure.

“I can’t explain for you how we feel now. It’s unbelievable,” Rojeh explains. “It’s been 12 years since we’ve seen each other, and finally we get to meet her and have the whole family together.”

“When I left my country I was literally 18 years old, I’m 26 now, and almost 27 so I cannot tell you how I feel,” agrees Rodan. “It’s just like you’re born again.”

by Dylana Kneeshaw

Refugee family reunites in Kamloops after over a decade apart

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