Syrian refugees hit the slopes at Mount Seymour
MOUNT SEYMOUR: Hundreds try skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing
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Refugee Ali Nabeel calls himself half Iraqi and half Syrian, and on Sunday he was a full-on dude on a snowboard.
Nabeel, 16, who lives in Coquitlam, has been in Canada for nearly two years and was on Mount Seymour with a group of 350 refugees to try his luck on the sunny, snow-covered slopes in North Vancouver.
“I like it, I had never tried snowboarding before,” he said after his first experience sliding down the slopes. “I’ll be back. I’m going to buy a snowboard for next winter.”
His sister, Dalia Nabeel, 17, had a similar experience during the promotion by Mount Seymour to get the refugees skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing.
“It is so much fun up here,” she said.
Both said they have seen traces of snow before, but marvelled at the winter-like conditions at the top of the mountain.
Staff and pass-holders from Mount Seymour, along with other volunteers and staff with the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., spent the day helping the refugees get a taste of a Canadian tradition.
Hala Habib, a youth case worker with the ISS, said for some it was the chance to stand in snow for the first time.
“A lot have never seen snow before,” she said.
She said some of the teens she works with have already found out what a Canadian winter is like.
“Two of the boys here have already found their way to the mountain this winter,” she said. “They got parttime jobs and bought a pass.
“Once they started snowboarding up here, they loved it.”
Habib said many of the new Canadians are still adapting to the cooler conditions.
“Some are feeling the chill up here, for sure,” she said.
“Many were in refugee camps, and they were in deserts where it was hot.”
Deyab Gamal was volunteering for the day as a translator. A professional engineer, Gamal works for Metro Vancouver and said the day on Seymour was a sea of smiles.
“They are happy to see this mountain and excited to learn about what Canadians do up here,” he said.
And, of course, he said many were in awe of the deep winter snowfall.
But even on a fun-filled day, Gamal was cognizant of the tough times refugees have gone through before arriving in Canada.
“They have experienced a lot of difficulties and a day like this will help,” he said. “They appreciate very much this welcome.”
Teacher Una Babuin brought a group of eight students from Saint Patrick Regional Secondary School in Vancouver.
“Our kids are excited about the opportunity to meet these families,” Babuin said.
Sam Van Haren, 16, a Grade 11 student at Saint Patrick, spent the day volunteering in the toboggan park.
“I grew up in the snow and to see all these people have fun up here, it is very enlightening,” he said.
“It has been a great way to meet all these people and it has been a lot of fun.”