Family Father and Government Aircraft

Kevork Jamkossian: The family — the father is a blacksmith and the mother a sales clerk — was the first through processing in the wee hours of Friday morning after the government aircraft landed following a long flight from Beirut, according to Huffington Post Canada. The family fled Syria, spent eight months in Lebanon and now they came to Canada because here, Madeleine will have many opportunities, the family said. "We suffered a lot," Jamkossian said. "Now, we feel as if we got out of hell and we came to paradise." Kevork Jamkossian thanked Canadians for the warm welcome, which made his family feel "respected." Trudeau and Wynne were on hand to welcome the first two families from the plane that brought 163 Syrian refugees to Canada. His wife held their daughter Madeleine, clutching a teddy bear the little girl took with a shy smile from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne as the politicians helped find suitable winter clothing for them. They were joined by the ministers of immigration, health and defence, as well as local mayors and opposition immigration critics. Shadr Mardelli struggled to put the day experience into words. "I can't imagine my feelings here, I'm so happy," he said, weary but smiling, minutes after arriving at the hotel with his wife and son. While there would be less fanfare for the arrival of the rest of the families, all were welcomed by a large contingent of staff at Toronto Pearson International Airport and given winter coats, boots, hats and gloves before resting a few hours in a hotel. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.