Selma Shaltan wore a cross around her neck as she and her family arrived to their new home in Westville Wednesday evening March 20.
In her home country of Iraq, the necklace could have cost her her life at the hands of ISIS who invaded her family’s hometown of Bartella in 2014.
In Turkey where they lived as refugees, it was a sign treated with suspicion and would likely have been stolen.
“You can wear it here,” said Lennie White, a member of WarmHearts, the organization that sponsored the family.
The Al-Shaltan family includes Selma and her husband Sleaman and their adult son Sinan.
The family said they were grateful for the chance to live in Canada.
“We are very happy to live in Nova Scotia and Westville,” said Sleaman, who knows a bit of English. “You are our people now.”
As excited as the family was to arrive in Canada, the volunteers who have worked behind the scenes to make their arrival happen were perhaps just as excited.
“It’s almost surreal because we’ve been talking about them for three years,” said White. “I said to them it was almost like we knew them before they arrived.”
He said the family could not stop saying thank you as they drove from the airport to Westville.
A reception was held at the Westville Town Hall to welcome them.
“It’s been a long time coming and it’s very nice to have them here,” said Westville Mayor Roger MacKay. “Obviously, Pictou County is a place that welcomes everyone. We’re glad to have them. Hopefully people in the town will reach out and support them.”
