Regina Leader-Post

Syrian family adjusts to life in Saskatoon

- JASON WARICK

SASKATOON — The Kasarjian family won’t have to worry about cooking this week.

Ever since the Syrian refugees arrived at their Haultain-area home early Friday, neighbours have been delivering a steady stream of food and drink — quiche, spaghetti, pork tenderloin, rice dishes, banana bread, vegetable and fruit salads.

“Pretty much everything but poutine,” joked Carlo Arslanian, a Saskatoon man who co-sponsored the family to come to Saskatoon.

The food deliveries, organized by neighbour Laurie Bourgeois, will cover all of their meals for one week.

“I didn’t know there were people like this left in the world. It’s a dream,” father Kevork Kasarjian said of the reception they’ve received in Saskatoon.

His wife, Maral, who is Arslanian’s first cousin, agreed.

“I DIDN’T KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE LIKE THIS LEFT IN THE WORLD. IT’S A DREAM.”

KEVORK KASARJIAN

“The friendline­ss, the smiles of all the people is amazing,” she said.

The family fled Syria in 2014 after their home was destroyed by a bomb. They’d been living in a Lebanese refugee camp ever since.

On Saturday, Arslanian took the family to the Saskatoon Zoo, where the young boys scurried from one animal enclosure to another. They said their favourite animals were the monkeys and the snakes.

“Typical boys,” Arslanian said.

On Sunday morning, the group headed to Arslanian’s home church, St. Philip Neri Parish. Before church refugee committee co-chair Sheila Flory could finish introducin­g the family, the congregati­on broke out in applause. Well-wishers shook hands and hugged the family as they left the Taylor Street church.

“This is very exciting,” Flory said. The parish raised funds to co-sponsor the Kasarjians with Arslanian, one of several refugee families the church is trying to bring to Saskatoon.

She said parishione­rs welcome all refugee families, but the global uproar caused by the image of a dead Syrian boy washed up on a Turkish beach makes this arrival more emotional.

“It’s also made people more aware. There’s been lots of interest in the issues,” Flory said, noting the church is hosting a Refugee Steak Night fundraiser Thursday at the Sutherland Bar and Grill. Ticket sales close today.

Flory said the money will go to help all of their refugee families, including one from Eritrea which has been waiting four years and counting to get to Saskatoon.

“It can take so long,” Flory said.

 ?? JASON WARICK/StarPhoeni­x ?? St. Philip Neri Parish parishione­r Art Evoy and others welcomed the Kasarjian refugee family to their
church service Sunday.
JASON WARICK/StarPhoeni­x St. Philip Neri Parish parishione­r Art Evoy and others welcomed the Kasarjian refugee family to their church service Sunday.

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