New Canadians had their chance to guess who was dressed as mummers on Thursday, as the Association for New Canadians (ANC) held its annual Christmas party for English As a Second Language (ESL) students.
Director of language services at the ANC, Jim Murphy, said this year they decided to welcome not only their students, but all immigrants and refugees who have come to Canada within the last year and their children.
“It does become a family,” Murphy said. “Many of them have been with us for several years learning language, so it does become quite a family affair.”
Shortly before he began entertaining the crowd on guitar by playing Christmas songs like "Jingle Bell Rock" to the accompaniment of piano and a hand drum, he spoke of what the association does for new Canadian’s.
“We help them become citizens by helping them with language, helping them with settlement, helping them finding employment, and learning to live in Canada,” Murphy said.
One of the people in attendance was Luma Rabeeah, who arrived from Iraq in May. Of her experience so far, she says everything has been good.
“In my country, there is no peace,” she said. “For this reason, I left my country. Here, everything, there is peace. Everything — human rights — I get it here.”
She said she enjoys the safety she feels in Canada.
As Murphy tried his best Elvis impression for "Blue Christmas," Lauren Dibbon, a volunteer from the Waterford Valley High Mental Health Committee, spoke about why she took part in the celebration.
“We collected supplies and put together stockings, or little gift bags, for the kids,” she said. “We’re here to deliver them and help them out and play with the kids.
“It’s nice to be able to hear about other cultures and teach them about our culture.”
Originally from Egypt, Aisha Elgayar moved here last January, although her sons have been studying at Memorial for several years.
She is a freelance writer now, but back in Africa, Elgayar spent years as an investigative journalist, focusing on education, women’s issues, human rights, and human trafficking in Kuwait.
She says many of her colleagues who reported from places like Syria and Yemen, were in real danger, but she felt safe in comparison.
Her motivations for moving to Newfoundland came after careful study.
“I’ve come to believe in Canada,” Elgayar said. “I believe in positive energy … and I think Newfoundland has positive energy — the land, the sky, the people.”
Since moving here she’s had the opportunity to speak with many new people, including fellow immigrants and refugees.
“Behind everyone — (a) different story,” she says.
She hopes to go back to school to study documentary film making, but for now she is studying English.
Elgayar says she has taken English courses in several places around the world, but hasn’t been taught in the way Pauline McCormack teaches at the ANC.
“(She’s) Very honest (and) works hard” Elgayar says.
She recalls asking McCormack why she was committed to teaching her so carefully and can’t forget the simple answer she was given — “Because it’s my job."
While the music was loud, and English is her second language, Hidat Birhane, who was at the event with her daughter Rahwa Tesfamariam Gebrehiwot, still found a way to communicate to The Telegram her thoughts about Newfoundland and Labrador in a succinct manner.
“Cold, snow — not good,” she said. “People — good.”
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