Refugee living in Canada writes welcome letter to Syrian newcomers

A Somali man who first settled in Reginaas a refugee has written a welcome letter to the new refugees arriving in the Prairies.

• 1st group of Syrian refugees arrives in Regina

• 14 Syrian refugees arrive to applause, singing in Saskatoon

Mohammed Leyl, whogrew up in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya,was sponsored by World University Service of Canada and attended the University of Regina after settling in Saskatchewan.

He now lives in Edmonton.

Below is the welcome letterLeyl wrote in English which also been translated to Arabic script. Use the tool to scroll between the two versions.

Syrian refugees arrive in Canada

TheCanadian government haspledged tobringin 25,000 refugees by the end of February.

There were 163 Syrians who arrived in Toronto this December in the first government aircraft carrying refugees.

They were greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In Vancouver, it was a tearful reunion for former Syrian MP Mamon Alhomsi and his two sons.

He had been waiting five years for his sons to join him in Canada and the family was finally reunited on Dec. 10.

Tears and joy as Syrian family reunites in B.C.

8 years ago

Duration 0:55

It's been 15 years since Mohamad-Mamon Alhomsi has seen his two sons

Refugees arrive in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's first group of government's sponsored refugees arrived in Saskatoon on Dec. 19 to applause and songs from strangers awaiting their arrival.

Syrian refugees arrive in Saskatoon

8 years ago

Duration 0:29

Fourteen refugees from Syria arrived in Saskatoon on Dec. 19.

There were 14 refugees who stepped intoJohn G. Diefenbaker International Airport to the crowd of supporters.

Al-Bardan, his wife Safaa Khamees, and their son Rida received a warm welcome at the Regina International Airport last Monday.

Theyspent the past three years living in a refugee camp in Jordan.

For eight-month-old Rida, this is his first time living outside of a refugee camp.