It was 2012 when he and his family arrived in Canada from Syria. But the feelings were rekindled Tuesday as a group of refugees from his home country — that he and other members of Richmond’s St. Gregory Armenian Church helped sponsor — arrived at YVR to a warm welcome.
“I knew I had to leave Syria. It was before things started to get really bad,” said Koujian, the evening before three families (a total of 10 people) touched down after their lengthy journey from Lebanon, via overnight stops in Toronto and Montreal.
Koujian, who has resumed his career as a pharmacist in Canada, said, despite his church’s small congregation — there are just 300 members — it has been successful in bringing over refugee families by being proactive.
The church has already sponsored four families — nine individuals in total — from Syria. They arrived starting in late August. All are staying in the Lower Mainland, three in Burnaby and one in Vancouver. In total, the church has committed to bring over 92 people, a number that could swell to 120 by mid-February with the new federal Liberal government promising to open up the doors to 10,000 Syrian refugees by early 2016.
“When we saw all these bad things going on in Syria, I knew that people were suffering and what the situation was,” Koujian said. “So, we applied to the (Canadian) government to become Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH).”
That helped clear the way to quickly process the required paperwork to bring refugees to Canada where the church and its members acted as co-sponsors.
“They (church members) will help them in settling down,” he said. “Of course, the church will have its duties, as well,” Koujian said.
He also worked his connections in Syria to get the wheels moving.
“Knowing the rules, getting the paperwork done, and knowing Arabic, English and Armenian made it much more easy,” he said.
Among those arriving Tuesday afternoon were Viken Majarian, his wife Aline, and children — four-year-old daughter Karni, and seven-year-oldson Haig.
Viken is a dentist and Aline is an engineer. Both said they are happy to be in Canada and look forward to creating new lives here. One of the families arriving Tuesday will initially stay in Richmond. The other two will set down roots in Vancouver and New Westminster.
Koujian has previously helped house two refugee families in his own home during their brief, settling-in phase.
“It’s been very worthwhile because you are changing peoples’ lives,” he said.
While the congregation at St. Gregory’s has been successful in raising funds to help with the refugee settlement, additional assistance is welcomed, said Koujian.
Donations to help St. Gregory's refugee program can be made here:
