Laila Saeed and Christmas Present

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard: Fransis ran out to greet them, twirling his cousins and embracing the adults, according to Hamilton Spectator. His grandmother, Laila Saeed, was the last one through the door, her face wet with tears. "They'll be here for Christmas, they'll be here for New Year's," said Fransis, who came to Canada from Syria in 2008. "Their arrival is a Christmas present ... a real Christmas present." His 13-year-old cousin Laila Beylouneh was excited for her family new start. "My future is starting now," she told reporters in English. "I wish all my dreams will come true." Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard was on hand with Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre to greet the refugees, who landed about 8 p.m. . Numerous other federal and provincial cabinet ministers were also in attendance. Anas Fransis and his mother were at the welcome centre near the airport to welcome his uncle and his wife, their two teenage daughters and Fransis grandmother, who were among the 161 privately-sponsored refugees to make the trip from Beirut to Canada aboard a government aircraft. Speaking to volunteers ahead of time, Couillard said he was taking a special interest in the proceedings because he and his wife will be sponsoring a refugee family who are set to arrive in early 2016. The arrival comes less than 48 hours after a government aircraft brought 163 refugees to Toronto on Thursday. He said he was proud of Quebec and Canada efforts to welcome the newcomers. "It makes me extremely proud that we are able as a people to return a horrible situation like these people are fleeing, and to show them the face of freedom, the face of welcome, and the face of brotherhood," he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.