Refugee family in Regina thankful for Canada's kindness

MohammedShakiris an Iraqi refugee living in Reginawhoseheart issplit over two continents.

He and his family are trying to builda new communityin the Queen City after moving a year ago.

I am very happy. and I thank the government ofCanada because here, my children go to school, my wife goes to school, I go to work.- Mohammed Shakir, Iraqi refugee living in Regina

They've become friends with their neighbours, began taking English classes and tried to adapt to life in Canada.

"I am very happy,and I thank the government ofCanada because here, my children go to school, my wife goes to school, I go to work," saidShakir.

Those were not options for his family in Iraq.

Life in Regina

The familykitchen is often filled with neighbours, the air heavy with laughter, a mixture of accents and languages and the scent of food from their homeland.

But with family still living amongst the chaos in Iraq, it's difficult not to worry with so many loved ones inwar zones.

"My brother was killed in Iraq," recounts an emotionalShakir. He has twosisters still living there.

Shakircalls home everyday, in between the English language classes he is taking at the Regina Open Door Society, caring for his childrenand working full time.

Often, he is greeted with bad news.

"My friend again killed, and sometimesIaskon thephone, 'What about [news]from this man?'My friend, he told me killed, another in jail, another tortured," saidShakir.,

Family back in Iraq tell him that they are often too afraid to leave their homesbecause they do not know if they will come back alive.

BatoolAl-Obaidi,Shakir's wife,saidthat life in Iraq was not always that way.

"I was very happy before 2003 but afterwhen America entered my country, the terrorism entered with them," she said.

Here in Canada, she feels safe.

"I am very happy because the Canadian people are very good to speak with me. My neighbor is very good and all the students in my class are good and the teachers at Open Door help me when Ineed anything."

The family is grateful to be here, and is looking forward to welcoming more refugees.