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Former Syrian refugee stuck in an airport for 7 months finds a new side of Canada in B.C. s north
Former Syrian refugee Hassan Al Kontar was well known for being stuck at the Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia for seven months before being sponsored to come to Canada.
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Hassan Al Kontar, who lives in Vancouver, is on temporary assignment with the Red Cross in Fort St. John
Posted: Jul 20, 2021 7:42 PM PT | Last Updated: July 21
Former Syrian refugee Hassan Al Kontar has moved to Fort St. John to work with the Canadian Red Cross.(Submitted by Hassan Al Kontar)
“This is my first time this far north,” said Hassan Wednesday during a meet and greet hosted by the Fort St. John Multicultural Society.
” I didn’t know there was more north. I thought Canada was north, but, no, there is more north.”
At the top of Al Kontar’s list is visiting an Indigenous community because he feels a special connection with them.
“It’s weird that we are the newest comers to this land, refugees, and they are here since thousands of years. They’re the original owners. But, I cannot start there to start comparing our tragedy with theirs.”