Safa Neccar and Mustafa Taha Neccar arrived in Medicine Hat nearly two years ago from Syria, and say the family is now thriving in the city. (Photo by Ross Lavigne)

By Charles Lefebvre

Syrian family adjusting to new lives in Medicine Hat

Oct 21, 2019 | 11:30 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Two local Syrian refugees say they are thriving in Medicine Hat nearly two years after settling in the city.

Mustafa Taha Neccar and his wife, Safa, along with their five children, have called Medicine Hat home for the past 19 months, after fleeing the Syrian Civil War.

“It’s a small city, very good for a family, having children,” Mustafa said during a recent interview.

The family called Aleppo home before coming to Medicine Hat. Mustafa worked in an auto parts shop, while Safa stayed at home with their children.

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Due to the civil war in the country, the couple made the decision to flee, travelling to Turkey, where they lived for five years before coming to Canada.

“This is not safe for my children and my family,” said Safa.

However, when they first arrived in Canada, the couple admitted it was a struggle at first, noting the language barrier.

“(It was) very hard, because I don’t understand any word in English,” Mustafa recalled. “When I came to Canada, I just had one word; Hi.”

The couple worked with Saamis Immigration, who help them make the transition to the new country. Staff and volunteers with the centre help immigrant families deal with the shock of arriving to a new country, aiding them in getting children enrolled in school, helping them find a place to live, and enrolling the family in English classes, which are taught through the centre.

Sara Brar, a settlement worker with Saamis Immigration, says dealing with the culture shock and language barrier is important for helping new Canadians get settled.

“Our goal at the end of the day is to just hope that they become independent and are able to navigate through the system on their own, and we continue to support them as they need,” she said.

In 2016, at the height of the Syrian Refugee crisis, Saamis Immigration helped settle 195 Syrian refugees in Medicine Hat. The organization notes some of those people that were settled have now moved to other cities in Alberta or Canada, but others, like Mustafa and Safa, have continued to stay.

Mustafa and Safa say they have been enjoying living in Medicine Hat, noting that their children are making friends and involved with activities.

“Now, it’s doing good, better than before,” said Safa. “Now that we understand how to live here and making friends, learning English, now understanding everything, it’s very good here.”

The couple have a goal of eventually opening up an Arabic restaurant in Medicine Hat, with Mustafa saying food can help bring different cultures together.

“The last four months, I opened a table at the Farmers’ Market,” he said. “I’m selling baklava and Arabic cookies and the Canadians like it. I have many Canadian customers.”