Christmas Dinner: Syrian Newcomers and Calgary

christmas dinner: The idea was about giving back to the city that's made them feel so welcome and sharing similarities rather than differences, said organizer Rita Khanchet Kallas, according to CBC. When I hear this word for the first time, 'homeless', I think it describes people who lose their home, and we already as Syrian newcomers we lost our home. They hosted a special Christmas dinner near the Calgary Drop-In Centre Thursday evening with dozens of homeless Calgarians lining up for a taste of Syria, breaking down barriers with food and some small talk. Organizer Rita Khanchet Kallas says Syrian newcomers to Calgary wanted to return some of the goodwill they've received themselves since arriving in Calgary over the past year. We have to take care of each other, she said. Dan McGarvey/CBC We have to pay back, we would like to pay back. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.