SURE SHORE KOSOVO STORIES IN CANADA

This publication was supported by members of the Kosovo A heartfelt thank you goes to the following people and their families for sharing with us their photos, thoughts, and community in Canada. It is a warm and kind note of gratefulness stories: and friendship. Afrim Gashi, Ahmet Gallapeni, Alban Rrahmani, Anita Vandenbeld, Anne and Dave Black, Anne Moore, Arbnor Krasniqi, Ardion Kozhani, Arta Rexhepi, Arton Sallahi, Artor and Visar Gashi, Avni Lushaku, Bedri Toqani, Bedrije Rexhepi, Bujar Zejnullahu, Burim and Arbër Ademi, Chad Rogers, Dan Asllani, Dani Brajshori, Daniel Maksymiuk, Photographs and stories published here are family assets, kindly Dashnor Hasku, Edon Arapi, Erveina Gosalci, Fadil Selimi, Faik Shabani, Fisnik Kuki, Fitim Thaçi, Kumrije Ashimi, shared with the Kosovo Embassy in Canada and the author. Lirim Hajrullahu, Lulzim Hiseni, Lumturi Bejkosalaj, Mehdi Toqani, Mimoza Hajdini, Naser Berisha, Remzi Cej, Shaban Gosalci, Shani Pnishi, Shqipe, Lavdim and Aurela Kozmaqi, Tringa Rexhepi, Valbona Ugzmaili, Vjollca Bytyqi, Zeqirja Rexhepi

This book is not intended for sale.

“SURE SHORE - Kosovo stories in Canada” is produced and published under the guidance and for purposes of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Canada. All rights belong to the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Canada.

Author and editor: Fiona Kelmendi

Editorial Designer: Rina META Photo Editor: TADI Design and Layout: Ngadhnjim Nuhiu Gazmend Nimani

Cover Art: TADI website: www.ambasada-ks.net/ca twitter: @KosovoinCanada facebook: Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Ottawa EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC facebook: Sure Shores of Canada June 2017 OF KOSOVO IN CANADA Ottawa, Canada #KosovothanksCanada Humanity over indifference Having the first official celebration of the anniversary of this act of solidarity in the same year that Canada celebrates its 150th A anniversary is very symbolic, especially in today’s global context. This year, Canada proudly celebrates its traditions and values that opened the doors to Kosovo refugees in 1999, and continue to open UU doors for refugees even today – values of diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness. MM NN

Lulzim Hiseni I am deeply honored to be the first resident Kosovo It is such an honor to represent Kosovo in a Ambassador of the Ambassador to Canada, especially considering the country, which, in defense of basic human rights Republic of Kosovo to very special relationship that our two countries and values, joined the NATO alliance that put an end to the ethnic cleansing campaign against Canada have. Eighteen years ago, when over 1.4 million Albanian Kosovars were forced out of their homes, Albanians in Kosovo in 1999. Canada’s Canada and its people opened their doors to over humanitarian intervention ensured freedom for 7,000 refugees from Kosovo in an exceptional show the people of Kosovo, and it is a pleasure to P S of solidarity. Today, this extraordinary welcome of promote this publication on the occasion of the P WW RR S Kosovars by Canada constitutes the main pillar of 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s liberation and of the admission of Kosovo refugees to Canada. Members of Vjollca Bytyqi’s family, our bilateral relations. smiling on the shores of Canada. The recent opening of our Embassy in Ottawa is a Having the first official celebration of the Fredericton, New Brunswick, May 1999 E E show of Kosovo’s gratitude and determination to anniversary of this act of solidarity in the same further reinforce those excellent bilateral relations. year that Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary is very symbolic, especially in today’s global context. was met with great enthusiasm from our Our community shared countless photos from their community, who continue to build bridges between very first days in Canada for this project. While not Canada and Kosovo every day. all of them are shown here, there is one element that stands out whether you look at 5 or 500 photos. Even this publication would not have been possible What might surprise you, as it did me, is that not a without the generous contribution of our single one of those refugees is hurting or afraid. This year, Canada proudly celebrates its worldwide. And this is why in both my community, as well as my wife, Fiona, who These men, women and children who had lost their traditions and values that opened the doors personal and professional capacity, I volunteered to collect and share these stories with family members, their homes, and their identities, to Kosovo refugees in 1999, and continue to admire profoundly what Canada did – it you. Many more stories remain yet to be told, which are finally safe, peaceful and smiling. open doors for refugees even today – values opened a parasol of hope to 7,000 people is why I look forward to this book’s future volumes. of diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness. that had lost everything. But even more Dear Canadians, it was you who put those smiles importantly, it valued them as human Thanks to the efforts of Canada and its people, the back on our children’s faces. Reading about the details of Canada’s beings and encouraged them to continue book you are holding is more than a collection of aptly-titled Operation PARASOL, which in their stories here. refugee stories – it is a mosaic of integration. This book is by refugees, for refugees, and in 1999 airlifted thousands of refugees from gratitude to all those who choose humanity over camps just outside Kosovo, flooded me with It brings me great pride that after 18 years, The stories you will read are a testament to the indifference – in 1999 as well as today. memories of a time when all I needed was a our community is so well integrated that importance of upholding liberal values and of shelter, a safe haven from the horrors back Kosovo is now being mentioned as a treating fellow humans without prejudice or home. As a former political refugee of Kosovo successful example for accepting other discrimination. They are a reminder that people can in France in the 1990s, and a former legal refugees. Canadians opened their hearts achieve remarkable things when they feel worthy, officer of the French National Court of for Kosovars in 1999, and today we see loved and accepted. Asylum, I am very familiar with the plight of those Kosovars opening their hearts too. refugees I am very happy that the opening of This book is a demonstration of the healing powers Kosovo’s diplomatic mission in Ottawa of human kindness. Reaff irming values

The refugees from Kosovo also deserve Canada’s thanks, for enriching our nation’s social, economic, and cultural life. Canada is stronger not in spite of our diversity, but precisely because of it. The stories of the Kosovars help us appreciate the fundamental truth of this principle, reaffirming the values that define Canada and that we seek to project around the world.

Daniel Maksymiuk Today, in the busy cafes along the glamorous I have encountered them as successful Ambassador of Canada to displaced people around the world than ever before. Mother Teresa promenade in Pristina, or arriving in professionals, entrepreneurs and community There is steady progress in overcoming mistrust the Republic of Kosovo But the refugees from Kosovo also deserve the impressive modern terminal of Adem Jashari leaders across Canada. I have also encountered between different groups and restoring a truly Canada’s thanks, for enriching our nation’s social, international airport, or talking with the dynamic, them in Kosovo where a growing number now live, pluralist, multi-ethnic society. As a result, there is a economic, and cultural life. Canada is stronger not optimistic young Kosovars who are full citizens of a with their activities enriching the relations between growing interest in Kosovo among Canadian in spite of our diversity, but precisely because of it. global, digital community, it is hard to imagine the our two countries. And as a representative of investors, and there are many opportunities to work The stories of the Kosovars help us appreciate the desperate conflict almost twenty years ago that Canada, I have been honoured to share the story of together to advance common values. Canada will fundamental truth of this principle, reaffirming the drove hundreds of thousands of Kosovars from their the Kosovar-Canadians as an example of Canada’s continue to support the full integration of Kosovo values that define Canada and that we seek to homes, and over 7,000 of them to safety in Canada. unique multicultural society. within the international community. project around the world. It has been my privilege, as a representative of the Today, Canada and Kosovo are partners, and the The movement of refugees from Kosovo to Canada Canadian government, to meet many of those flag of Kosovo flies from Kosovo’s Embassy in is one of many cases of Canada opening its doors to in photo: Kosovars who came to Canada, and became Ottawa. Kosovo has built institutions, a rapidly provide a safe refuge, and a new home, to the most The ‘All Together’ dance group, created by Remzi Cej with Canadian. growing economy, a vibrant civil society, and is on a vulnerable. We must remember these examples at a members from China, Kazahstan, Russia, Bulgaria, Egypt, and clear trajectory towards the European Union. time when there are more other countries, dancing traditional Kosovar dances. The Kosovo-Canadian comunity has exemplified the Canadian immigrant success story They have had children who are as proud to be Canadian as they are proud of their origins. They are living proof that the Canadian ideals of multiculturalism, pluralism and openness make us stronger as a country.

Rexhepi family celebrating their first Canada Day, 1 July 1999

Anita Vandenbeld Canada has and always will be a home to those Member of Federal fleeing persecution and seeking a better life; it is an indelible component of our national character, a Parliament of Canada and at the time when Kosovo declared independence. cherished value, and a principle that transcends they have gone on to create businesses, enrich our Chair of Canada - Kosovo political division or partisanship. For today's young Canadians, that story will be that The experience of watching a new country born will country's economy and culture, and build families Parliamentary Friendship of the Syrian refugees, for the older among us, it stay with me for my lifetime. I am proud that Canada and livelihoods. Group When it comes to refugees, the Canadian narrative was the Vietnamese, but my generation will always was one of the first countries to recognize the new is recursive and generational. For the last half remember the Kosovars. country of Kosovo, just as I am proud of the way in They have had children who are as proud to be century each generation has had its own refugee which our communities welcomed Kosovo refugees Canadian as they are proud of their origins. They are story, a moment of national unity wherein For myself, the Kosovar community - here in 18 years ago. living proof that the Canadian ideals of Canadians have come together as a country and as Canada and across the ocean - hold a place of multiculturalism, pluralism and openness make us a people to welcome families from abroad fleeing profound personal significance. I was in Kosovo in Since their arrival in Canada, the Kosovo-Canadian stronger as a country. I am proud of the turmoil to create a new home, and a new 2007 and 2008, working with OSCE as an advisor community has exemplified the Canadian contributions of the Kosovo-Canadian community community, in Canada. to the Assembly of Kosovo immigrant success story: to the fabric of our nation. Canada in 1999: The need is great. But our compassion is greater. If anyone ever wanted a description of what this country is all about, if they ever wondered why we have accomplished so much as a nation, they need only look at that tremendous, spontaneous reaction of people

Excerpt from Former Prime Minister of Canada, Right Hon. Jean Chretien’s address to the House of “I cannot close without talking about the one aspect Toll-free telephone lines and faxes are being Commons, Canada, during of this crisis that has lifted our hearts and raised our flooded with offers of help Communities are the debate on Kosovo, April spirits. The conflict in Kosovo is a depressing opening their hearts and are eager to open their 12, 1999, Ottawa. reminder of the past. But the generosity and homes, in that typical Canadian way. The need is concern that Canadians are showing for the great. But our compassion is greater. And on behalf Kosovar refugees is an uplifting reminder of what of this House, I want to thank everyone who is makes our country so great. pitching in.

A week ago, the UNHCR asked Canada to help ease If anyone ever wanted a description of what this the growing refugee crisis by agreeing to take in country is all about, if they ever wondered why we Lavdim Kozmaqi with his sister, Kosovar refugees. The minute the government have accomplished so much as a nation, they need happily adapting to their new home. agreed to bring in 5,000 refugees, the outpouring only look at that tremendous, spontaneous reaction Argonaut camp, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 1999 from Canadians was nothing short of a of people in every corner of this great land.” phenomenon. And it is still going on.

Following the decision to revoke Kosovo’s autonomy in 1989, Serbian President and war criminal How do you allow Milosevic started a systematic gross violation of “As a result of President Milosevic's sustained policy human rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. of ethnic cleansing, hundreds of thousands of people to be trampled Kosovar people are seeking refuge in neighbouring “We must stop an authoritarian regime from countries, particularly in Albania and the Former repressing its people in Europe at the end of the over? Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Others remain in 20th century.” Dr. Javier Solana, Secretary General Kosovo, destitute and beyond the reach of of NATO, Press Statement, March 23, 1999. international relief. These people in Kosovo are struggling to survive under conditions of Kosovo was faced with state organized oppression: exhaustion, hunger and desperation.” NATO Press from the early 1990s, Albanian language radio and Release, April 12, 1999. television were restricted and newspapers shut down. Kosovar Albanians were fired in large were prevented from entering school premises for Almost 80% of the population was forced out of their numbers from public enterprises and institutions, the new school year beginning in September 1991, homes. 12,000 people – including elderly, women and children – were killed in Kosovo, mostly in including banks, hospitals, the post office and forcing all Albanian students to study at home. schools. In June 1991 the University of Prishtina massacres committed by state-directed Serbian assembly and several faculty councils were “Our objective is to prevent more human suffering forces. 20,000 women were raped by Serbian dissolved and replaced by Serbs. Kosovar Albanian and more repression and violence against the YOU forces, according to an estimate by the World teachers civilian population of Kosovo.” Dr. Javier Solana, Health Organization. Secretary General of NATO, Press Statement, March 23, 1999.

In 1991, Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia. In a span of less than five years, Serbia had declared war on them and later Bosnia and JUST Herzegovina, where Serbian state forces committed the first genocide in Europe since World War II. Serbia continued the state oppression towards ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, culminating in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing in 1998-1999.

in previous photo: Kosovar refugees fleeing their homeland. Blace area, The former DON’T! Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Statement excerpt from Dennis Nash, 1 March 1999. Blace. UN Photo/R LeMoyne Canadian sponsor family of Kosovo refugees, Edmonton, Canada “Once NATO bombing began on March 24 “At the height of the war in Kosovo in April 1999, [1999], Serbian security forces violently Macedonia closed its Kosovo border to the uprooted hundreds of thousands of ethnic hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing Albanians. By the end of May, about 1.4 rape, terror, and death perpetrated by Slobodan million Kosovars had been uprooted, Milosevic’s 100,000 military members waging a including 442,000 in Albania, 250,000 in campaign of ethnic cleansing on the majority of Macedonia, more than 600,000 displaced Kosovo’s population. within Kosovo, and more than 67,000 displaced into Montenegro.” Roger Winter, For days, Kosovar refugees remained on Executive Director of the US Committee no-man’s land, in rain, fog, and cold, begging to for Refugees, “The Year in Review.” in be allowed into Macedonia, as that country’s World Refugee Survey 2000. authorities called on states around the world to shoulder their share of the refugee burden. The aftermath was a humanitarian Scenes of people covered in mud, crying for disaster that garnered reactions mercy reached the living rooms of households worldwide. around the world.” -Remzi Cej, former Kosovo refugee, excerpt from “When the Refugees “The unrestrained assault by Yugoslav Came” for OpenCanada.org, 2017. military, police and paramilitary forces, under the direction of President Milosevic, on Kosovar civilians has created a Agim Shala, 2, is passed through a massive humanitarian catastrophe which barbed wire fence as members of his also threatens to destabilise the family are reunited at a refugee camp in Kukes, Albania. surrounding region. Hundreds of “The images of the Kosovo conflict reaching the thousands of people have been expelled Pulitzer Prize winning photography by world through television are also hauntingly ruthlessly from Kosovo by the FRY Carol Guzy for The Washington Post familiar - tractors pulling flatbed trailers with authorities.” NATO Press Release, April 12, entire families and the few possessions they 1999. could salvage - burned out homes and shops - and, worst, shocked and grieving parents at the funeral of a small child.” Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, lecture at University of Ottawa, 4 November 1998. Hello Parasol!

Avni Lushaku’s family waving from the room where they slept in CFB Kingston, Ontario 22 flights The need was so great, that these incredible people in 22 days were often working 48-hour shifts or longer in the bases – they wouldn’t sleep so that the refugees could. Responding to this humanitarian Canada, despite being thousands of miles away evacuation, the federal government also agreed to from the war zone, responded to UNHCR’s fully fund the refugees’ living expenses for two international appeal for help and pledged to accept thousands of years, a practice that had not been established thousands of refugees from Kosovo. The Canadian before. Forces were asked to airlift the refugees from the refugees camps near Kosovo, and in response, Operation But one of the most unique aspects of this operation PARASOL was launched. was the overwhelmingly generous response of the Canadian public. Before the refugees arrived, a This immense operation had a 72-hour window to public appeal was made to all Canadians for In 22 days in May 1999, 22 chartered flights prepare for the reception and assistance of 5,000 sponsorship. Canada and its provinces set up a carrying 5,051 Kosovar refugees landed in Canada. refugees. Canadian Force bases Borden, Trenton, “Kosovo Hotline”, which was inundated by calls from 2,266 refugees were later fast-tracked for Kingston, Petawawa, Meaford, Valcartier, people looking to help the refugees. admission to Canada, including refugees who had Greenwood, Aldershot, Gagetown, and Halifax were relatives in Canada and came as part of the family all ready in record time. They were given hot meals, hot showers, clean clothes and The Canadian sponsor families were the practical reunification process, or those considered to have clean beds to sleep in. There were countless other and emotional support of these refugees long after special needs. volunteers from the local Lions and Rotary Clubs, The Operation PARASOL was concluded. Through daily contacts with the refugees, they provided them with Support came from all levels. Citizenship and Salvation Army, members of the local community, and CF orientation into the Canadian community – they Immigration Canada, the Department of National personnel. offered accommodation, furnished apartments, Defense and the Canadian Red Cross were taking found doctors, enrolled children into schools, lead in accommodating the refugees in CF bases found language classes, went shopping for upon arrival. groceries, took the Kosovars out to see the town and introduced them to new friends. Sometimes, they even served as a shoulder to cry on. was met with great enthusiasm from our community, who continue to build bridges between Canada and Kosovo every day.

Even this publication would not have been possible without the generous contribution of our community, as well as my wife, Fiona, who volunteered to collect and share these stories with you. Many more stories remain yet to be told, which is why I look forward to this book’s future volumes.

Thanks to the efforts of Canada and its people, the book you are holding is more than a collection of refugee stories – it is a mosaic of integration.

The stories you will read are a testament to the importance of upholding liberal values and of treating fellow humans without prejudice or discrimination. They are a reminder that people can achieve remarkable things when they feel worthy, loved and accepted.

This book is a demonstration of the healing powers of human kindness.

Without these amazingly selfless people, the generosity integration of Kosovo refugees would have never been possible.

Operation PARASOL brought together thousands of volunteers, sponsors and interpreters to help heal the wounds of 7,000 refugees. While working such long hours even under normal conditions would be a taxing job, volunteering to share the emotional burden of the extreme trauma experienced by these refugees was a rarely seen gesture of humanity.

In this book, we share a few of the stories of these people as well. To the thousands of other heroes whose stories we could not feature – we remain forever indebted to you for opening your hearts and souls to our people.

Information from mission operation notes, National Defence and the Canadian Forces, and “Lessons Learned: An Evaluation of Northern Alberta’s Experience with Kosovar Refugees (3 Two refugee children watch as relief supplies are unloaded from U.S Lirim Hajrullahu, the last of the refugees to be MH-53E. Sea Dragon helicopters at Camp Hope near Fier, Albania on May volumes)” Abu-Laban, B., Derwing, T. M., Mulder, M. & Northcott, 13, 1999 during Operation Sustain Hope. airlifted to Canada. Trenton, Ontario, May 27, 1999 H. (2001). Fier, May 1999, by Senior Airman Michelle Leonard, U.S Air Force Some of the heroes of Operation PARASOL. Left - Hank, a Red Cross volunteer in CFB Kingston, Ontario, still dearly remembered by the refugees. Right - translators at the Halifax base with Zeqirja Rexhepi. Thanks for having us Canada!

Mimoza H is a Kosovo Canadian musician, living and working in Montreal. Her first LP released in 2016 and her music is enjoyed by both communities in both Kosovo and Canada. WHEN THE REFUGEES CAME

“You are us and we are you, and we welcome you, and honor you, and salute you.”

Shafiq Qaadri, member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, referring to Kosovo and Albania community during speech in Ontario Parliament in November 2016, on occasion of proclamation of November as Albanian Heritage Month.

Images of Kosovo refugees making Canada their home When the plane landed in Canada, the reception was so warm that we felt like we were coming to a wedding... and we were the guests of honor”

Azem Ademi, former refugee, for the Pasqyra Shqiptare documentary “1999”, 2009

Images of Kosovo refugees making Canada their home Images of Kosovo refugees making Canada their home

Opening doors in the name of humanity

From these volunteers who helped strangers, I learned much about humanity. I knew that I belonged in a place where strangers became family overnight, perhaps because their generosity reminded me of the traditional

Kosovar values of helping out of their homes onto the highway, we people in need lost my uncle. Ten years later, my cousin at any cost. found his remains in a mass grave of Kosovar civilians.

OPENING At the tail end of Canada’s Kosovar refugee My brother Adnan, deaf since the age of DOORS resettlement effort, my parents and I came to three, was missing from the war for nearly IN THE St. John’s in late 2000, after living in seven six years. Endless enquiries to the United NAME OF different refugee camps in Albania. Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross yielded no news. HUMANITY We brought little more than three bags with us, our only belongings. We lost much in the We came to Newfoundland and Labrador with many memories of suffering, loss, and Remzi Cej war - our home was first ransacked after we Remzi Cej were expelled by Serbian masked deprivation, the wounds of war on our paramilitary members, then burnt to the minds. We were anxious about our new Is a Rhodes scholar, and former Chair of the Newfoundland ground. home, worried about all the challenges that and Labrador Human Rights Commission. lay ahead: my parents could not speak He is currently a public servant with the Government of In the chaos of the endless queue of English, we were unfamiliar with Canadian Newfoundland and Labrador thousands of people forced to walk culture, and we did not know anyone here. OPENING OPENING DOORS DOORS IN THE IN THE NAME OF NAME OF HUMANITY HUMANITY

They drove us to our new apartment, where two This expression of modesty was exceptional to cakes were waiting for us: one for my mother, whose war survivors who had just witnessed the worst of birthday was the next day; and another for me, as my humanity. Fr. Andrew Hall, a retired Anglican birthday was two days later. priest who was also part of our family volunteer group, drove my parents to the St. John’s mosque So heartwarming was this welcome that we instantly for the Friday prayers until my parents learned Remzi Cej felt loved. These generous strangers only knew us by how to get there. From these volunteers who our names, but over the past seventeen years, have helped strangers, I learned much about become family and are very much the reason we call humanity. I knew that I belonged in a place where St. John’s home today. strangers became family overnight, perhaps because their generosity reminded me of the Years after arriving in St. John’s, I asked our family traditional Kosovar values of helping people in friends what inspired them to join the dozens of need at any cost. We landed in the St. John’s airport on a foggy All that changed as soon as we stepped off groups of volunteers helping Kosovar refugees. “We October afternoon, to the sounds of Moby’s the tarmac. At the arrivals gate, we were wanted to help –we may not have been able to Porcelain. The day could not have been more greeted by strangers waiting with warm change your lives, but we could extend a helping grey, and it made us even more anxious than coats, warm coffee, and donuts in hand. hand at a time when you needed it,” said Bill Titford, we had been. or uncle Bill, as I called him. The need was so great, that these incredible people were often working 48-hour shifts or longer in the bases – they wouldn’t sleep so that the refugees could. Responding to this humanitarian evacuation, the federal government also agreed to fully fund the refugees’ living expenses for two years, a practice that had not been established before.

But one of the most unique aspects of this operation was the overwhelmingly generous response of the Canadian public. Before the refugees arrived, a public appeal was made to all Canadians for sponsorship. Canada and its provinces set up a “Kosovo Hotline”, which was inundated by calls from people looking to help the refugees.

The Canadian sponsor families were the practical and emotional support of these refugees long after Operation PARASOL was concluded. Through daily contacts with the refugees, they provided them with orientation into the Canadian community – they offered accommodation, furnished apartments, found doctors, enrolled children into schools, found language classes, went shopping for groceries, took the Kosovars out to see the town and introduced them to new friends. Sometimes, they even served as a shoulder to cry on.

OPENING OPENING DOORS DOORS IN THE IN THE

NAME OF So many other Kosovar Canadians had Egypt, and other countries, all dancing NAME OF HUMANITY similar experiences. For those who returned traditional Kosovar dances. We sewed and HUMANITY to Kosova, staying in touch with their wore traditional Kosovar costumes, and ‘sponsors,’ as they called them, became part performed in outdoor events during cold of life. When my brother Adnan appeared on a Canadian winters and during warm Canada Turkish news channel, looking for us six years Day celebrations. It was surreal to me, as a after going missing, our Newfoundland and traumatized survivor of ethnic cleansing, to Labrador friends helped us reunite, raising witness strangers from around the world funds to make it possible for us to visit him, embracing my culture. Remzi Cej and later, to petition the federal government In retrospect, celebrating my culture while Remzi Cej to bring him to Canada. learning about the cultures of my peers was probably the best kind of therapy I could have Six months after arriving in Newfoundland undergone. and Labrador, Dr. Lloydetta Quaicoe, a My mother, in her mid-fifties when we arrived My family’s losses were many – we lost Newfoundlander and Labradorian of Sierra in Canada, learned English and eventually relatives, a home, and for a long time, our Leonean origins, taught me about pride of became an interpreter and translator for sense of stability. Memories of the war will live one’s own culture. With her encouragement, I Roma, Albanian, Bosnian, and Serbian with us for the rest of our lives. But in coming created a dance group that celebrated newcomers – she could not retrain to become to Canada and being treated with dignity and Kosovar Albanian and Turkish heritage. The a teacher in Canada as she had been in respect, we regained hope in humanity. “All Together” dance group counted members Kosova, but she took up an equally noble task from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Bulgaria, of literally becoming the voice of others.

OPENING DOORS IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY

Remzi Cej The privileges were many: an accessible education; opportunities everywhere to work as much and as hard as I could; communities of people ready to help if I needed anything; a A year ago, I became a founding member of society where I could take pride in the Bridge to the Rock, a private refugee I will always be proud to call myself Canadian, In my time in Canada, my efforts have focused on enmeshing of the sponsorship group that helps LGBTQ refugees and I feel fortunate to belong to a country promoting and protecting human rights, Canadian-Newfoundlander-and-Labradorian flee persecution. As we prepare for our where I can be equally proud to call myself protecting vulnerable groups from discrimination, -Kosovar culture, but also pride and freedom second sponsorship, I hope that I can make a Kosovar, and to celebrate those and giving back to the people of Newfoundland to practice my religion, to not hide my sexual fraction of the difference in the lives of the complementary identities. and Labrador and Canada for the generosity orientation, and to celebrate many other people we sponsor, that so many generous shown to my family. aspects of my identity. Canadians made in mine many years ago. Thank you, Canada. IT IS NOT JUST A CLICHÉ THAT CANADA IS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE

Once we arrived, we came to appreciate the diversity, tolerance and the politeness of its people… and the double-double coffee and donut from the Tim Hortons. Inter-ethnic tensions in Kosovo had been on the rise since the late 1980s that ushered in the collapse of Tito’s Yugoslavia, which Kosovo was still a member of Yugoslavia. The region finally erupted into armed conflict in 1998. Atrocities committed by the police, paramilitary groups and the army caused a wave of refugees to flee their own homes. IT IS NOT JUST A little over 18 years ago, I was teaching A CLICHE THAT English to my grade school students at Once the armed conflict reached Pristina in early 1999, everyday life suddenly came CANADA IS Boro-Ramiz, the multi-purpose community and sports centre in downtown Pristina that to a halt. Fearing for their lives, people A LAND OF served as a safe space for students who ceased going to work, children stopped OPORTUNITY wished to learn English. Teaching was a going to school and the streets became AND HOPE passion that I had wanted to do since I was deserted. In early April, my family and I young. My family and I lived a modest joined hundreds of thousands of refugees lifestyle. At the time, my husband, Huso, was who had sought safety in neighbouring a mechanical engineer at a nearby power countries. We left my elderly and frail plant and my children, Edi and Ellma, were in in-laws and our own home behind, not Kumrije Ashimi elementary school. Over a matter of weeks, knowing whether we would ever see them A former teacher and a current refugee activist and donor our lives changed forever. or ever set foot inside again. IT IS NOT JUST A CLICHE THAT THAT CANADA IS We were not sure how long we would end up and the double-double coffee and donut A LAND OF staying - all we knew was that we would be in from the Tim Hortons. OPORTUNITY a much safer place. We were amazed at the large land mass as AND HOPE we drove an hour away from the Toronto However, in order to process the immigration Pearson Airport to the city of Kitchener, paperwork we had to leave Montenegro, where we ended up settling. Our friend who which was then still a member of the had generously sponsored us to come to Yugoslavia, and travel to neighbouring Canada had lived in Kitchener and it was Albania. We stayed with a very generous and natural that we too would settle in this Kumrije Ashimi friendly Albanian family in the city of Durres great community that we came to call our for almost a month, until we were ready to second home. Considering that I was fluent depart for Canada on May 26th. We did not in English, in September 1999, I was hired have much prior knowledge of Canada. The by the local YMCA Settlement Services to few facts that we knew were that English and primarily assist refugees and immigrants All the good memories, the good and the bad asthma condition worsening due to lack of French were the two official languages; it was from Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia and many of our family treasures and proper medications, we decided to take on a relatively new country and it had many that had settled in Waterloo Region. After a photographs were left behind. We first stayed our friend’s generous offer to sponsor us to lakes and a very good climate and clean air, short period of time, I came to service all at my parents in Montenegro, hoping for the come to Canada. The Government of ideal for my son’s asthma condition. Once we newcomers. It has been a wonderful conflict to come to an end and to return back Canada had established a residency arrived, we came to appreciate the diversity, experience meeting people from different home to a normal life. However, with the war program to accept up to 7,000 refugees tolerance and the politeness of its people... parts of the world and being able to assist continuing on for months on end and with my fleeing the conflict in Kosovo. them navigate and learn about their new son’s community. IT IS NOT JUST A CLICHE THAT CANADA IS Thanks to the support from our network of After graduating with a university degree in A LAND OF family and friends, we were able to adapt to business administration, my daughter OPORTUNITY our new community. It is not just a cliché that found work as an Assistant Manager of AND HOPE Canada is a land of opportunity and hope. My Operations and Business Development at a husband spent the first few years learning wealth management firm. We are thankful English through the English as a Second at the opportunity presented to us to Language classes for adults, and worked a succeed, each in our own unique way, and number of odd jobs to help support our family. never forget where we came from. Today, he works as a Certified Energy Kumrije Ashimi Evaluator for a company whose mission is to I would have never imagined 18 years ago improve the performance, quality, and energy that my family and I would make Canada efficiency of homes across Canada. our second home and that through my work I would be assisting newly-arrived While in university, my son started working at refugees and immigrants settle in their the constituency office of our local Member new community. I am grateful that Canada of Provincial Parliament. After obtaining his has continued to live up to its international Masters of Arts in International Relations reputation of being an open, tolerant and from the University of Toronto, he went on to accepting country, as we welcomed some work for the provincial government and 40,000 Syrian refugees since November currently serves as Director of Community 2015, and continue to welcome other Relations for Ontario Premier Kathleen newcomers from all parts of the world. Wynne. SLEEP WITH NO WORRIES

We knew that we would be giving our time and friendship, but we had no way of foreseeing how much joy, knowledge and cultural understanding we would receive in return.

process of cultural integration more manageable. We were joined by Theresa and Don Myrick, Rose-Aline Belcourt, Claire Knudson, and Anne Moore, to make a group of seven. Responsibilities were divided into various areas of specialization to make a SLEEP WITH NO real team effort, and we are to this day ever WORRIES grateful for the willing help of all the other sponsors. We became sponsors in hopes of alleviating We were amazed and touched at how in some small way the pain and suffering of Canadians in all walks of life made the job Kosovar refugees driven from their homes of sponsorship easier by reaching out to and country in 1999. the refugees, welcoming them as new We knew that we would be giving our time and Dave & Canadians, and offering their support. Also, friendship, but we had no way of foreseeing the whole Kosovar community in Canada Anne Black how much joy, knowledge and cultural made a point of socializing with the understanding we would receive in return. We newcomers and organizing gatherings to Dave and Anne Black imagined that our sponsorship duties would make them feel more at home. be easily accomplished by working alone, but Our refugees, Nezir (Hajji) and Nazife Canadian sponsor family of Kosovo quickly realized the opposite. Immigration Brajshori, senior retirees, arrived alone refugees, Ottawa Canada required a group of at least five to without support of family and with no make the knowledge of English or French. We were struck by the energy and positive Prime Minister had gone to welcome all the attitude with which Hajji and Nazife attacked Kosovars awaiting assignment to their the job of adapting and integrating into sponsors. The PM had fallen during a game ongoing Canadian life, and also by their of basketball, Hajji had helped him up, and courage and resiliency in the face of their the PM had in turn invited Hajji to “come difficult and harrowing refugee experience. see me if you ever go to Ottawa.” Hajji and SLEEP WITH NO SLEEP WITH NO They welcomed us into their family and into Nazife were thrilled to go and see the PM in WORRIES WORRIES their hearts. Unfortunately, their advanced his Parliament Hill office, and to thank him age made learning a new language or going personally for all that Canada had done to to work absolutely out of the question, so it help the refugees. Over the months that was with much joy after seven months that followed, the Brajshori family worked hard they welcomed, under the family at becoming Canadian. It was a joyous reunification plan, their young son, Dani. Dani moment, five years after their first arrival, Dave & already spoke English, and quickly adapted to when the whole family became Canadian Dave & family and with no knowledge of English or Nazife’s first act, on entering her new his new environment, within days of his citizens. For Hajji, it was the fulfillment of Anne Black French. We were immediately struck by how Canadian apartment, was to pull a bottle of Anne Black arrival starting a new job at a restaurant. Over his lifelong dream to live in a democracy effortless it was to communicate through Coca-Cola from a plastic bag she had been the coming months and years he would and have the right to vote. Dani went on to pantomime with this tall, physically strong, hanging onto since we met her stepping off provide invaluable support to his aging graduate from college and to get a job in outgoing gentleman, and at how grateful the bus, and to give her sponsors a first parents. One of the highlights of those early the federal public service. He is happily both he and his shy, diminutive wife were to glimpse of Kosovar hospitality by offering days was our visit to see Prime Minister married to Vjollca, and they have two lovely the sponsors and to Canadians in general, for us a drink. Chrétien. Hajji had met him at Camp Borden children. taking them in. where the SLEEP WITH NO WORRIES

For us, being sponsors to the Brajshoris was from the moment of thinking about Dave & an honour that enhanced our lives in becoming sponsors, through to the Anne Black knowledge, cultural understanding, and rewarding moment of seeing our personal relationships. We emerged from refugees become Canadian citizens. The the experience having received at least as result was a book that we co-authored, much as we had given. As the years went Sleep With No Worries, published in 2007 by, we began to wonder if others might like by Tra ord Publishing. The book is to know what we experienced available directly from the publisher, or from Amazon.ca. Fleeing Kosovo: a refugee's reflection

Originally published by the refugee camp while my country was Arta Rexhepi for CBC, being torn apart by war, I celebrated my May 15, 2014 13th birthday. It was a gift. I was there, I was alive and I was whole with all my family. We were lucky to survive. A few weeks later, it must have been 10 or 11 o'clock at night, two unknown women in their late 30s came by our tent to find out if we were ready, packing for our flight to Canada in the FLEEING KOSOVO: morning. That news came as a surprise to A REFUGEE'S Fifteen years ago, I never pictured my 15th us. anniversary in Canada to look like this. I had There was a tent shortage and they needed REFLECTION dreams, just as all children do, but one for their family. We could relate to that. experiencing war in Kosovo perhaps shrunk The men in my family often slept outside in them. I would need to write a book to tell my the pouring rain. We had no idea what the full story but here's an insight. ladies were talking about. We didn't know Arta Rexhepi Late one night, more than a decade ago. we were scheduled to fly to Canada. My dad Myself and my family were staying in a had signed up to leave for possible refugee camp in Stankovec, Macedonia. I destinations in a couple of Western Arta Rexhepi remember staying in a tent. My brother and countries. He wasn't that eager to leave, sister were really sick. Sleep was very short until my sister and brother started getting Arta Rexhepi is a Broadcast Journalism since the crowds were huge and children's sick. graduate working as a journalist for CTV cries were endless. During the month my Packing didn't take long, we had very little Atlantic. family spent in with us. Windsor Park in west end Halifax. group who assisted us for a couple of years I had a great time at the military base, it was into settling in Nova Scotia. We also met sort of like going to rehab. I made new friends, some great reporters like Rob Gordon who, some of whom remain close. We really were after he did a story on my family, decided very welcomed. We felt a sense of belonging, to invite us to his house for a BBQ. and we could relate to other people from Kosovo with whom we would exchange our It may have been just a simple BBQ, but stories. I was very eager to learn English. what Rob Gordon did for us was life FLEEING KOSOVO: changing. He gave us a feeling of home A REFUGEE'S At the military base we had English as a again, after being homeless. REFLECTION Second Language tutors and I immediately My dad, who worked as an artist and started attending classes. I tried to not think musician in Kosovo, lost much of his about the war back home in Kosovo, artwork when we fled our home in Kosovo. something that was easier while at the base. Every one of his paintings had an amazing I was surrounded by many great people there story to go along with it. Arta Rexhepi Everything we had was left behind in Kosovo. reporters and officials. I was exhausted. I and it kept my mind off things. I was intrigued by the stories of his art By then everything was probably ash. The didn't want to go through all the blood work. People were amazed visually, but I next morning, I felt confused. I had a million tests, fingerprints and long lineups. My dad played a huge role in healing us from always wanted to know the story behind it. thoughts going through my mind. I didn't I remember my first breakfast though, it the trauma, using art and music to do that. I think that's when my curiosity of know what to expect. More than 15 hours of was amazing. It was just like home. Finally We met many amazing Canadians during storytelling got planted in my mind. My travelling later, we landed in Nova Scotia late some food that wasn't canned. Shortly that time, including the Red Cross volunteers curiosity, along with Rob Gordon's in the evening. We were greeted by Red Cross after arriving, we were then transferred to who always had a smile on, military inspiration, made me want to be a Volunteers, teddy bears, the Military base in personnel, doctors, the Jubilee journalist. FLEEING KOSOVO: A REFUGEE'S REFLECTION War is never good, but good things can come design. However, my oldest sisters, Ema out of it. I think my experiences with war have and Yllka, and my mom have taken a made me a better reporter because of it. different route. Both of my sister's are I believe I'm here for a reason and maybe I'm laboratory technicians. My mom Bea, a Arta Rexhepi supposed to tell the stories of those who former actress in Kosovo, has a hair shop didn't made it. on Windsor Street. I've had many great opportunities in Canada, I imagine people have mixed feelings about like getting the opportunity to intern at CBC. the 15th anniversary of Kosovar refugees They've been extremely supportive of my coming to Canada. learning. I'm also very grateful to NSCC and For me, it's a happy anniversary. I'm happy my instructors, who have been great I've been able to come to this amazing mentors, really pushing me towards my country, even though I wasn't happy at the journalism dream. time. Since my family came to Canada all those It's happy because the war ended, happy years ago, they have also had many because we got a second chance at life. It's Fifteen years later, I have two beautiful opportunities. My dad Zeqirja has his work sort of like being reborn. For some, those children who are Canadian. And next month I displayed on murals all over the Halifax who've lost family members and who've graduate from NSCC in Broadcast Regional Municipality — making HRM prettier, gone through extreme torture and agony, Journalism. Who knows what's ahead but so I think. My sister Tringa has shared her talent it's devastating. far it's been a great challenge Happy in musical theatre and she recently joined Experiencing war and conflict is never easy anniversary to all refugees who came, the Shakespeare by the Sea for this summer's but it prepared myself and my family for ones who went back and everyone that productions. My brothers are involved in art any tough challenges on the road ahead. worked with us during the time. REVIVAL I put an obligation upon myself in Canada – to work, to create. I wanted to give my art a different dimension, to present myself as a creator.

embroidery design in Arbon, Switzerland in 1980. When I graduated, I had an amazing job offer there, but I could not imagine myself not living in Kosovo. I continued my art back home, working both on paintings and murals, and as a professional violinist. I still clearly remember April 6th, 1999, when the Serbian paramilitary forces invaded our village, abusing the elderly, REVIVAL I would have never thought I would find women and children. They gathered some myself on this side of the Atlantic Ocean 18 of us to send a message that if the people years ago. It is a tragedy when one has to of Përlepnica wanted to stay alive, we leave their country. And just to be clear, we would have to stage an anti-NATO protest. I did not leave our homes – we were forced out. almost thought they were joking. After a My head and my heart are always turned week, all of us left and the village was burnt toward Kosovo, but I realize how lucky I am to to the ground. Zeqirja Rexhepi have been able to come to this country. I grew up in the village of Përlepnica, near After learning that my home had been Gjilan. I studied at College of Arts in Skopje, burned down, I was heartbroken when I is a member of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton Artists Association, the Macedonia and at the Academy of Fine Arts at realized that years of my work had been Canadian Forces Artists Program and IATSE, and he provides training and the University of Prishtina, and soon after lost forever. However, I learned later that a guidance for private students. that I specialized in single piece had survived. hearts, showing us kindness and humanity REVIVAL REVIVAL we had almost forgotten about. Each day we felt more at home here. dimension, to present myself as a creator. In Kosovo I had been making art and music Canadians knew very little about our together with Bedrije, as she was a theater culture, I saw this immediately in the Zeqirja Rexhepi Zeqirja Rexhepi professional and a singer herself, and this refugee camps. So, I thought I should start spurred a love of the arts in my children as my work with metaphors. I wanted to make well. My family had been missing our music every painting a novel, to give an artistic as and dancing, so all of us got involved in the well as a historical dimension, and I enjoy Multicultural Association, and I was even how everyone can read from my canvas. chair for a while. Every artist has their one breakthrough We held festivals of different communities in piece and mine was the “Destroyed Violin”. Canada to sing and dance and share each It was the first work I did when I moved other’s culture. Bedrije had sewn traditional here. Beyond the symbolism in the Kosovo costumes for the women, and I painting, the violin has a very dear place in remember a Canadian had brought my heart. I am a violinist, and my first job in In fact, it was one of my favorites and my to Canada, but it seemed too far away for traditional hats for the men all the way from Canada, I found thanks to the violin. most valuable work – a wedding gift for my me. After living through a week of Kosovo. It was remarkable to see how all of wife, Bedrije. The piece had survived only inhumane conditions, I had changed my the communities can get together in Canada, The painting itself, a very strong message because it had been stolen from an exhibit in mind. On May 15th, 1999, my wife, five of without forgetting where they were from. of hope, is something that has defined us then-Yugoslavia. My family and I ended up in my six children and I, boarded the plane to over these years. I had started doing the Stankovec refugee camp in Macedonia. CFB Greenwood. The people that greeted I put an obligation upon myself in Canada – to murals, as I had experience with them in Soon after arriving, I heard people were going us once we arrived made all the difference work, to create.I wanted to give my art a Kosovo. I was very proud to win my – with big smiles, and hugs, and open different commission for the immense REVIVAL Joseph Howe mural, which is considered a and my art, as well as provide a better life historic monument. I have completed many for my children. For this, we remain other mural commissions in Nova Scotia eternally grateful to this country and its including the Tallships mural in downtown wonderful people. Zeqirja Rexhepi Halifax (2000), a series of eight murals at Alderney Landing based on historic Dartmouth (2003-05), Map of Canada for the Immigration of Canada (2009), and murals in the Cole Harbour United Church and Trinity Church. I have also had many solo and group exhibitions, such as Saint Marys University Art Gallery (1999), the Nova Scotia Art Gallery (2002), the UCCB Art Gallery II (Sydney, 2005), the National Defense Head Quarters (Ottawa, 2007), and the Dalhousie University Art Gallery (2007 through 2011).

A very special exhibit for me was the retrospective “Revival”, on the 15 year anniversary of my arrival in Canada. Here, I have found the peace that I was longing for so much. Canada gave me an opportunity to re-establish myself FINDING MY VOICE IN CANADA

To refugees of today that are fortunate enough to come to Canada – you will find that it is possible to have two homes. You will nourish your traditions and adapt to new ones. You will be welcomed and loved. You will find there is nothing you can’t do here.

thing I will never forget is the constant fear. And then, once we landed in Halifax, I started to feel relief. For the first time in months, I finally felt safe.

It was overwhelming to be in a country so far away, so different from ours, and whose language we didn’t speak. But the warm welcome that was extended to us FINDING I was the youngest of the six children in a transcended all language barriers, MY VOICE family of artists – painters, musicians, actors reminding us of the kind of hospitality we and life-loving people. It was only normal that thought one could only find in Kosovo. IN CANADA life would always be a stage to me. Unfortunately, year 1999 in Kosovo turned We were finally able to sing and dance and the stage lights off for a while. For my family, create art again. I began singing, acting, it was Canada that lifted the darkness. and piano training at Neptune Theatre and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Tringa Rexhepi Tringa Rexhepi I was an eight year old refugee in a camp in Arts as a way of learning English, but it Macedonia. We were forced to leave quickly became my greatest passion. is an artist, singer and songwriter based in Toronto. She has everything in Kosovo, and our family home Before I turned 17, I had appeared in over 13 recently released a self-titled EP, available on iTunes and was burned. Many details are still vague to theatrical productions. I became an active Google Play. me, maybe for the better, but one member of the For my leadership, community involvement After 15 years of singing and acting on and academic achievement, I received top stage across Canada, I started releasing National Scholarships including the original music in 2015. Most recently, I prestigious June Callwood Harmony released an EP of original music to a Scholarship, the 2016 Nova Scotia Human sold-out audience at the Supermarket in Rights Award, Naval Centennial Challenge Toronto. The EP garnered attention from Award and more. I received a full scholarship numerous blogs (A Music Blog, Yea, FYI and graduated with Honors from very Music News and more), CBC Radio Toronto competitive programs in Sheridan College FINDING and Maritimes, CTV, and for my single "Go", FINDING and CAP21 Professional Program in New York I was chosen as Singers Universe's top 5 MY VOICE MY VOICE City. singer of the month! My debut Albanian IN CANADA IN CANADA single “Pa Ty” will be released for the Since graduating, I have performed in summer on all platforms! theatre, galas, benefits and award functions across Canada, the United States and in My art career is more than just work to me – east-coast music, arts and culture scene as volunteer hours to my community and Europe. Through my live performances, I it’s passion, love, happiness, and emotion. I an award-winning vocalist and theatre artist. have raised thousands of dollars for have managed to generate a Canadian fan am very proud of what I have achieved so Tringa Rexhepi various organizations such as Kids Help base, as well as an Albanian one, in North far, but I still see myself as if I were at the My experience as a child refugee changed Phone, Right To Play, Adsum House, and America and all over Europe. I had the beginning of a very long journey. me, and I needed to share with others the more. I helped lead a book drive that sent incredible privilege of teaching students of all compassion that was shown to me. Aside over 12,000 books to Keyo Secondary ages in top performing arts programs around from performing, I have devoted over 900 School in Northern Uganda. Canada. FINDING MY VOICE IN CANADA My “Cinderella” story of overcoming adversity But, Canada opening its doors for them and becoming an accomplished artist in once again makes me so proud to call Canada has been featured nationally and myself Canadian! To refugees of today that internationally. I am eternally grateful to the are fortunate enough to come to Canada – countless volunteers and sponsors that you will find that it is possible to have two helped me and my family get started with homes. You will nourish you traditions and Tringa Rexhepi their new life back in 1999. They helped me adapt to new ones. You will be welcomed find my voice again. and loved. You will find there is nothing you Today, nothing pains me more than seeing so can’t do here. many refugees in the world again, lost and without hope. HEALING THROUGH ART

I was a spiritual refugee, someone who has been moving around searching for a place to call home. After fifteen years of racing around, I have finally found the place where to unpack my suitcase and become the artist I had always wanted to be.

homes and became refugees where they crossed borders into the neighboring countries and further into international countries as the crises continued and the refugee numbers grew by day and the camps got overcrowded. My family and I were spending those terrifying days between our home and that of my uncle’s. Some nights we would all stay together, but a few weeks into heavy bombardments and the overwhelming fear urged my MY OTHER LIFE March 1999 in Kosovo was not just like any uncle’s family to leave. My dad had made other March of any other year. This year was up his mind to stay home no matter what going to be the big turn of events that would happened. He offered for us to tag along bring about incredible life shifts that would with the uncle, but we couldn’t possibly change my destiny, but at that time, it was leave him behind. We all knew the Mimoza Hajdini about day-to-day survival through the war. responsibilities and the consequences that No one would know how long the bombing came with the decision to stay. Danger was would go on for, but most of us remembered all around us. We were surrounded by fear Mimoza Hajdini all too well the long and devastating day and night and tried living a normal life experience of the neighboring Bosnian war. I under such surreal circumstances. We Mimoza Hajdini, artist name Mimoza H, is a was living with my parents and my younger made it through the war. However, this singer/music-maker/producer currently based in Montreal. She sister. During these agonizing months, many experience left a deep wound in recently released her first music album titled “Uproot” families fled their me that would remain engraved for life. MY OTHER LIFE MY OTHER LIFE

By legal definition, I was never a refugee. I stayed home during the war, but after the war ended and the euphoria and the feeling of Mimoza Hajdini freedom from the oppressor slowly settled Mimoza Hajdini down, I realized just how much damage the war had left behind, both psychological and physical. It was going to take decades before things would get back to anything normal. I had a very difficult time readapting in my own hometown. Heard so many terrifying stories from returning refugees of what they had country. This meant to also leave my But one thing this hectic city life I was writing music and gone through. Other families who fled never mother and little sister behind and start gave me was an urge and desire to these creations helped returned and found new homes in other over in another world. Two years later I go back to my artistic side and my me cope with the pain countries. I was secretly envying the refugees immigrated into the United States to love and passion for music. and the hardship, as well who were lucky enough to have been given a finish my studies. Six years later, I as keep my memories chance for a better life in developed graduated with a Masters Degree in and roots alive. countries. Only a year after the war, I lost my Business Management from Texas A&M dad. He was forty nine. This shattered my University. After my graduation, I worked Then, I found love and so I world to pieces and I felt hopeless for my life. in New York City for a while. As much as I left, again. My love story I needed to shake off my hometown life and loved the city, it never made me feel brought me to Montreal, make a big change. I decided to leave the valuable. Canada. As we merge and interact, we soon find that we are one people; we are different yet the same. In my journey of searching for home, no other place made me feel like MY OTHER LIFE Montreal. After fifteen years of racing around, I have finally found the place where to unpack my suitcase and become the artist I had Mimoza Hajdini always wanted to be. Here I found the space, time and tranquility for my self-growth and music creativity. Montreal has a strong sense of community of artists from different backgrounds and it is accepting of new artists as they integrate into this colorful city bursting with multiculturalism. Six years in Canada and I have a new life ahead of me.

I was a spiritual refugee, someone who has but with time and new experiences lived in been moving around searching for a place to these different places, I learned how to MY LIFE AS AN It is in these edges and cracks that life I am a happily married Canadian citizen, call home. As an artist, my soul felt crippled heal the wounds from the trauma and ARTIST really begins to make sense and as embracing one day at a time by creating and I needed to see and experience the slowly find peace, acceptance and precious moments start to take place, and healing through art, feeling loved and outside world. This long journey has been ultimately fulfillment. I have met incredibly new and positive memories overcome supported by inspiring people around me. bumpy but the most rewarding for me. We motivating people from all over the world the sad ones and the past is no longer This is my life as an artist and I have finally carry with us our past and the heartache and many of them are now part of my life the present. We live fuller by blurring the touched on my dream by recently releasing everywhere we go, living and feeling as an by enriching and giving it more meaning. cultural lines with people from different my music debut. This is the life path that I outsider, backgrounds. now have fully embraced. I am grateful. GRANDMA SHANO

Shano made sure she was in the delivery rooms for all the Kosovo-Canadian firstborns. The first 19 women from Kosovo that gave birth in Canada had the luck to have Grandma Shano close to them for support during their most emotional time.

When the refugees arrived in 1999, there was a need as pressing as clean beds and warm food – the need to communicate. Kosovo refugees had been flown away thousands of miles from their homeland, to a place most knew nothing about. They had sadly already been used to miserable conditions, now they needed someone to talk to, they needed to feel understood. Very few of them spoke English, and very few Canadians spoke Albanian. The role of interpreters in this mayhem was essential GRANDMA The people that gave their time and effort in to ensuring that the refugees could regain support of Kosovar refugees out of sheer SHANO some sense of normalcy in their new lives. good will, are nothing short of heroes to us. Shano Bejkosalaj was a World War II Thousands were mobilized to help people refugee from Albania. She came to Canada they had never met, and of whom they knew in 1952 when she was 10 years old, having nothing about, just because it was ‘the right spent eight of those years in refugee thing to do’. camps in Greece and Italy. It was this deep One of those heroes that Kosovo would like to understanding of the plight of refugees pay tribute to is Ms. Shano Bejkosalaj, who that drove Shano to commit fully to helping served as an interpreter for the Kosovo Kosovo refugees in 1999 and the years to refugees. This is a short profile of Grandma follow. She had started helping the Shano, an inspiration for humanitarianism, Albanian community in Canada long who is sadly no longer with us today. before 1999. GRANDMA GRANDMA SHANO SHANO Regardless of her numerous other engagements, Shano always made sure she was in the delivery rooms for all the Kosovo-Canadian firstborns. The first 19 women from Kosovo that gave birth in Canada had the luck to have Grandma Shano close to them for support during their most emotional time. Today, all members of the Albanian community in Canada know of Shano, and they respect people who had gone through the same her deeply. Her help for Kosovo in 1999 was horrors. She had already been licensed as an only a drop in the ocean of her tireless life interpreter in 1990, so she was able to be work, but regardless, we thank her there for Kosovo right from the start. Shano profoundly for her contribution. Her home stood by hundreds of refugee families, as a and her heart were always open for us. mentor and a rock to lean on. Shano passed away in 2016, but her She was there for the Kosovars – for both the daughter, Lumturi, together with her When she and her husband settled in Ottawa (OMWO) and its President, as well as the high level visits and for the simplest of husband Fisnik, a former Kosovo refugee in the late 1950s, they opened their home to President of the Albanian-Canadian questions. There is, however, one particularly himself, keep Shano’s invaluable legacy the community, which quickly became Association of Ottawa. Naturally, when touching aspect to Shano’s story that makes alive to this day and continue to strongly known as “Hotel Vlora”. Throughout her Canada announced they were accepting her stand out from the rest, as a testament to support the Kosovo community in all their activism, Shano touched thousands of refugees from Kosovo, Shano was first in her philanthropy. She was so invested in her endeavors. We take this opportunity to people in Canada. Among others, she was line to help. The wounds she had suffered cause, that for a long time, she made sure thank this exceptional family and offer our one of the initial members of the Ottawa as a child refugee could never be fully she was present for all of the births of Kosovo endless gratitude for their contribution in Muslim Women’s Organization healed, but they could be eased by helping refugee babies in Canada. improving the lives of Kosovars in Canada! PRESSING RESTART

My father Nijazi, had always wanted to come to Canada and he had many stories to share from his uncles who were already Canadian citizens. We knew this was the opportunity to press the restart button in our lives. Six weeks later, on May 27th, 1999, the nine of us were the last nine people on the last plane to be accepted to Canada.

surrounded our little town, and I could clearly remember the snipers in position to shoot on top of all the small hills that we used to ski on during the winter months as kids. The morning came and I remember we had to leave our home and walk in single file lines to the main street of our village until everyone was lined up against the wall. The soldiers were pacing back and forth in front of us with their black and brown AK 47’s as if they are about to turn and shoot at us and I remember our parents telling the kids “Keep your head PRESSING I remember the day when the Serbian army down, and do not look at any different RESTART invaded a small town called Drenicë, Kosovo. direction but down, and do not look at them It was after school and I was playing soccer [Serbian soldiers].” as my older cousin came by to interrupt the game to tell us to go home as Serbia had We were all in a line, and I’m sure my Lirim Hajrullahu started a war. I did not know what that meant parents’ thoughts were that this was the but with the dark clouds looming overhead, I end of us, however, they told us to leave the knew this was a bad sign as the leaders of the town immediately. We rushed home to Lirim Hajrullahu Kosovo Liberation Army and their families gather up any perishable food, water, and were brutally massacred. flour for bread. Prior to leaving my father had gathered all Is a Canadian football placekicker for the Toronto Argonauts of the A year later on the night of April 6th, 1999, the of my cousins and I behind one of the small Canadian Football League. Serbian army had barns in PRESSING PRESSING Drenicë, a very dangerous area, however, our restart button in our lives. Six weeks later, RESTART RESTART town ended up taking a risky detour to make on May 27th, 1999, the nine of us were the a break for the South border of Macedonia. last nine people on the last plane to be This time we were quickly accepted to accepted to Canada. It was a new Stankovec, Macedonia, with thousands of beginning for our family. After a long plane other refugees who were already living in ride we finally arrived in Trenton, Ontario, small tents and sleeping bags that were where we stayed for two weeks prior to donated by Red Cross. My eight family moving to the army base in Kingston, members and I were living and sleeping in Ontario for the rest of the summer. We had tents like the others, waking up at 5 a.m. to started classes to learn how to speak, read, wait in line for bread and food like the others. and write the difficult English language. I Although we were crowded and cold from had started to learn the basics of the Lirim Hajrullahu Lirim Hajrullahu sleeping on the ground, we were blessed to English language, I received a bike through survive the scariest life-threatening moment donations, and I started playing the sport of our lives. Inside the refugee camps there that I love again. This was too good to be were headquarter tents where families could true, but this was the great white north and our front yard as he buried all the pictures of a.m. sharp they would be killed. As we were sign up to emigrate to different countries I was so happy to begin my new life in our family incase some of us did not make it, leaving, I can remember the tanks rolling around the world. My father Nijazi, had always Canada. We shortly moved to St. we would know where to find any lasting into our town on the opposite side of the wanted to come to Canada and he had many Catharines, Ontario, where my dad started images of our family. As we left that day for road, houses burning on my right, and me stories to share from his uncles who were our new lives. My father Nijazi was a the Northeast border of Macedonia, we were squished into a sedan with eight other citizens. We knew this was the opportunity to professor in Kosovo, but his diploma from denied entry and we had to return to our members of my family. This time we were press the . the University of Sarajevo was not village. Exactly one week later, we were instructed to go to the Northwest of accepted and he was unable to continue informed that if anyone were to be left in Kosovo, where the conflict had first started his teaching career in Canada. town, by 7 in PRESSING My mother Tevide takes care of the family at for sports changed and scholarship PRESSING RESTART home. My older sister Lume has finished a opportunities from across Canada came RESTART Bachelor of Science degree from Brock flowing in. I had narrowed down my options University and a degree in Human Resources to playing football at the university level for from Niagara College. My younger sister Linda Queens or Western University. Both options is in the process of following my father’s were very promising, but I chose to go to footsteps of becoming a teacher at Brock Western University where I completed my University. My fiancée Deniza Januzi came honors undergraduate and Masters degree from Kosovo under similar circumstances in Kinesiology and specialization in Sport during the 1999 war. For the past four years Management. During my time at Western I she has prospered in her career at one of the had the opportunity to represent Canada on the World stage. I was chosen to Lirim Hajrullahu big four firms in Toronto, after completing one of the top-rated business school in all of represent the U-19 Jr. Team Canada in Lirim Hajrullahu Canada; an HBA degree at the Ivey School of Canton, OH in 2009 and first Sr. Canadian Business, Western University. National Football team to compete in Austria. I took a different path, as my passion for kicking in high school led to me becoming With the help of my coaches, teammates, Recently I completed my Masters in captain of my high school football team and family members, my success led me to Business Administration (MBA) at Niagara (American football, not the European kind). joining the Canadian Football League (CFL) University, New York. My passion for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2014 and 2015 before coming home to play for Toronto Canada has provided a plethora of great Argonauts. memories and opportunities. We are very thankful for you CANADA and we can’t wait what the next 18 years have in store for us, THANK YOU! SMALL COUNTRY, BIG VICTORIES

Our new country is young, but our love of sports is very old. An impressive example of this is the Soccer Club Kosova, established in Toronto in 1989 by Faik Shabani, and still playing has been open not just to people from Kosovo, but many other nationalities as to this day. well. Their assistant coach, Zoran Marjanovic is originally from Croatia, and has been with the club for 27 years and counting. Faik Shabani has kept the club alive almost all by himself throughout these years. He recounts the successes of SC Kosova with great pride. After only five years of the club being established, they managed to enter the Canadian National Soccer League, and after only two years of being in the league, they had won the championship. Five of SC Kosova’s former SMALL COUNTRY, players have signed professional contracts BIG VICTORIES to play for national teams or premier league soccer clubs around the world. While Kosovo is a small country, it has made Despite financial limitations to a big name internationally in sports. Our participating in certain leagues and active youth has made sure our flag flies with competitions, the club has scored many pride in the biggest events worldwide, victories – in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, including in the Olympics in 2016, where 2004, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2017, the club judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo’s first had won different indoor and outdoor gold medal in her very first appearance in league championship titles and playoffs. these games. Our new country is young, but Faik recalls his most emotional win – in the our love of sports is very old. An impressive fall of 1999, only months after the war was example of this is the Soccer Club Kosova, over, SC Kosova was set to play opposite a established in Toronto in 1989 by Faik Serbian club in London, Ontario. The 4-0 Shabani and Lulzim Kallaba, and still playing victory of SC Kosova made local press to this day. Over the years this club headlines. SMALL COUNTRY, SMALL COUNTRY, BIG VICTORIES BIG VICTORIES

For the last five years, Bedri Toqani, who Apart from their engagement with the club, And if you ask any Kosovar in Toronto if they We wish these two all the best in continuing to came to Canada in 2001 as part of the family both of them help our community regularly, know Faik Shabani, they will tell you the make Kosovo proud! reunification program, has been helping Faik serving as wonderful examples of kindness anecdote when on February 17th, 2008, the in sharing costs and supporting the team’s and generosity. Bedri has supported and day that Kosovo declared independence, he needs. continues to support our Embassy’s hired a private jet and flew over Toronto for activities, including the sponsorship of this two hours with a huge banner that read book, together with Faik. KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE. AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITIES

After years of being oppressed in Kosovo and being denied basic human rights just because I was Albanian, I wanted to seize all the opportunities that I was hungering for back home.

regime intensified, with the paramilitary forces going door to door in my neighborhood in Prishtina and forcing everyone out of their homes. After being expelled from the home I was living in, I had to make the journey to the border of Macedonia, and then temporarily settle with an Albanian family in Dibra, Macedonia. After two weeks, I was finally AN OCEAN OF able to join my parents in the Stankovec OPPORTUNITIES camp in Macedonia. We stayed there for I come from the town of Vushtrri. Before the two more weeks. war, I was temporarily living in Prishtina, attending the first year computer science My family was fortunate enough to be Arton Sallahi program at University of Prishtina. Every selected to relocate to Canada as part of weekend I would travel back to Vushtrri and Operation PARASOL. On May 6th, 1999, I spend time with my parents and my brother arrived in the Trenton military base with my Afrim. One day in February 1999 the situation parents, my brother, and my cousins. We became very tense in Vushtrri, and I could no were not feeling like ourselves following all Arton Sallahi longer get in touch with my parents. They that we had been through, but what blew were only 20 miles away from where I was. Is the Business Unit Director at LIXAR IT, in Ottawa, Ontario. He our minds immediately was the sheer number of Red Cross volunteers also owns and manages a number of rental properties in Ottawa On March 27th, 1999, the ethnic cleansing participating in this welcoming initiative. and Florida. efforts of the Serbian You could see volunteers of all ages. applying for jobs and even driving lessons. operations. After graduating with an With help from Dr. Fitzgerald, I was soon able Honors degree in Computer Science in to find my first job and get admitted to 2006, I started with Lixar IT as a Software University. Developer, building products for large clients like Bell Canada. Lixar builds Seeing all the opportunities that Canada had enterprise-level connected product to offer, there was a period during my platforms and mobile-to-everything education years where I was working full time software solutions. It’s driven by Mobile AN OCEAN OF doing night shifts at JDS as well as attending Transportation technology in air, auto, telco OPPORTUNITIES AN OCEAN OF full time school during the day. After years of and emerging new technology markets. OPPORTUNITIES being oppressed in Kosovo and being denied my basic human rights just because I was At Lixar, I played a big role in helping the Albanian, I wanted to seize all the organization grow from 17 employees to Arton Sallahi opportunities that I was hungering for back over 200. For the past four years, I have We were welcomed by wonderful sponsors Arton Sallahi home. been working there as Business Unit From Trenton, my family was transferred to that have lead our path of integration for Director, running and managing a team of CFB Borden where there were thousands of the many years to follow. During my university program, I was working 65 employees and building innovative other refugees. It was Dr. Georgina Fitzgerald, with the help different part time jobs and was able to products for airline industries across the Once there, we got heavily engaged in the of Dennis and Helaine Henderson, who provide computer and networking support for globe. language training programs. After the were always by our side. They helped our many internet providers across Canada and During my work, I realized what great immigration process was complete, in early two Sallahi families with everything: the US. I also worked with Printing Companies young talent Kosovo has to offer, and so, August 1999, my family was transferred to driving to grocery stores, school in Ottawa, building technologies for them to with my help, Lixar now outsources over 20 Ottawa, where our home was waiting. registration, preparing resumes, automate their day to day IT jobs in Kosovo that perfectly AN OCEAN OF complement the talent Lixar maintains in It is a miracle how our lives were OPPORTUNITIES house. Although my job is intense and with transformed the minute we stepped off high responsibility, I still seek out more things that plane in Trenton. There were four of us to do. Canada truly is a land of opportunities when we arrived in Canada – myself, my and I intend to continue exploring them. Since parents, and my brother. I have a great passion for real estate, I own Today that family has grown to 10 Arton Sallahi and manage a number of rental properties in members – my brother Afrim is married Ottawa and Florida. and has a young daughter, and I am also married and have two girls and a baby boy. We couldn’t be happier with our lives here. Thank you so much Canada, for opening your doors to us! Afrim Sallahi, Arton’s brother, with Red Cross Canada, 1999. Today, Afrim lives in Canada with his wife and daughter. FIRMLY ROOTED

When I first came to Canada, for about a year I was constantly thinking of going back to Kosovo. But as I learned the language and experienced the culture, without even realizing it, this place became my home.

There were so many volunteers. I remember how many of the Canadians involved had already been retired, but regardless they were coming to teach us the English language.

There was also sponsorship from schools who would take us off base to visit the town of Trenton and would organize activities for us, including lunches and dinners with FIRMLY ROOTED their families. Everyone was incredibly kind and generous. I think none of the Kosovo refugees in Canada can forget what the I came to Canada as a 14 year old refugee sponsor families did for us, they truly did with my brother, two sisters and parents. become second families to us. I still keep in While we were in the Stankovec camp in touch with them, and they even visit my Macedonia, my family had received visas for family in Ottawa from time to time. both the US and Canada, but we chose to come to Canada, as even back then, we had The war in Kosovo had forcefully heard nice things about this country. We were interrupted my education during eighth happy to finally arrive in Trenton, everything grade. Luckily, I was able to continue here went smoothly from the moment we touched from grade 9 after taking some tests. The Dan Asllani land. We spent two or three weeks there. My education system here was great, and I Is the owner and manager of Alba Home Services Inc, in Ottawa, father was a teacher, so he quickly organized was relieved to be back in school, living a Ontario. teaching classes at the base. normal life. I quickly moved to a supervisor position, and Today I am successful enough to employ soon after became production manager at the people that welcomed me so warmly the company. As my brother and I were made back then and give back to the community. managers at the factory, we were very happy that we had the power to help our community When I first came to Canada, for about a and hire more of them to work with us. The year I was constantly thinking of going factory job was part time during high school, back to Kosovo. But as I learned the but once I had gotten my degree, I decided to language and experienced the culture, commit to it full time. without even realizing it, this place became FIRMLY ROOTED FIRMLY ROOTED my home. I am now happily married here I stayed with that business until 2005, when and have three children. Of course nothing we decided to start a construction business can replace Kosovo in my heart, and I still with my brother and brother-in-law, Alba keep very close ties with it, but the Home Services Inc. Today I own the business welcome that I received here and all the alone, and I am very proud of the progress kind people of Canada make me very I was very motivated now that we were finally for a pizza delivery restaurant. Although I achieved so far. We have an excellent happy that I live here. free of discrimination, free of life danger, and considered the English language as a bit of full-service contractor crew, for both home free to make choices. I wanted to do more, for a challenge in the beginning, I believed that interiors and exteriors, and we deliver on our myself and for my family, so I was constantly if you work hard enough, your work will promises, and do so in time. looking for part time jobs during high school. Dan Asllani speak for itself. This quickly showed to be Dan Asllani As someone who came to Canada as a child true. refugee not too long ago, it gives me great joy I had started doing small maintenance work that today I am successful enough to employ and lawn mowing for my landlord. Once my My brother and I started working for Java the people that welcomed me so warmly English improved, I started working Log in 2002, a factory of replace logs. back then and give back to the community. CHAI WITH SUGAR, LEMON AND A SENSE OF CEREMONY PHOTO I sometimes wonder how I would have fared if the roles had been revered and I had been thrust into a new life in without leaving her behind! By the time Nesife and I reached the diamond, Hadji Kosovo. I hope that I could have risen had walked onto the playing field, in the to the occasion as well as they have middle of the game shaking hands with the done. players and picking up a bat to take a turn at batting! Everyone was surprised, but delighted with him.

In those early days, I visited them often, Nesife was much more comfortable when she was at home. She had a lovely sense of CHAI WITH SUGAR, Meeting the Brajshori’s was an interesting humour, which we could only really LEMON AND and heartwarming experience for me. Hadji appreciate when her son Danny was there was a very strong, warm self-confident man. A SENSE OF to translate. She never learned English She Nesife was shy and less outgoing. They were always fed us well when we visited. I made CEREMONY both in there sixties. sure to never arrive with a full stomach. They made “Chai” with lots of sugar, lemon Shortly after they arrived, I took them to a and a sense of ceremony. softball tournament in Osgoode, a small town Anne Moore outside Ottawa. We got out of the car. Hadji Nesife made “flee”, a dish from Kosovo, took off walking quickly towards the ball which we loved. My grandson was a toddler Anne Moore diamond. Nesife walked slowly in her then and he often visited with me. Hadji traditional dress and hijab avoiding eye would wrap a sugar cube and put it in my Canadian sponsor family of Kosovo refugees, Ottawa contact. I was in the middle trying to catch up grandson’s pocket as a little treat to him pretending that I hadn’t seen. They knew how to have fun with winks to be affected by it. She used to cry and tell us and little tricks. They reminded me of my about deaths of people in Kosovo. We couldn’t father who died when I was 12. We had had really understand, but she seemed the same type of fun together. compelled to talk to someone about it.

Hadji was a religious man who often talked to Their son Danny joined them in Canada. He us about Allah and told us stories from the already spoke English and took on a lot of Koran. One time he picked up Travis, my responsibility for his parents and their care, grandson, held especially as they aged. He has a good job in him facing towards him, prayed for him, the federal government and married a lovely pointed to Allah and indicated that Travis had girl, Vjollca, who he met in Kosovo. They have been blessed. It was a very special moment two cute children: Leona who will be 8 on that he was including us in his beliefs. Canada day and Harris, who is 5. They are doing well in school, learning French and They were very kind. One time Travis fell English and becoming little Canadians. asleep on the couch while we were visiting. I’m sure they will always retain some of their Hadji went Albanian heritage from their parents and CHAI WITH SUGAR, and got his suit jacket and gently spread it grandparents. Most summers they visit Kosovo, where Vjollca and the kids spend LEMON AND over him. One of our group of sponsors, Theresa Myrick became terminally ill and time with her parents and sisters. A SENSE OF passed away. Their true sorrow, empathy but CEREMONY a strong belief that she was in Heaven As for me, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the touched me. They had been through a war Brajshori’s and stepping into the lives of A painting done by Kosovo and especially Nasife seemed people I would have never known under refugee kid in Camp Recovery, Trenton, 1999 different circumstances. I have seen their Anne Moore strength, adaptability and kindness. I sometimes wonder how I would have fared if the roles had been revered and I had been thrust into a new life in Kosovo. I hope that I could have risen to the occasion as well as they have done. A COUNTRY THAT LOVES EVERYONE EQUALLY

In the middle of the Toronto airport, a man I had never met before, had volunteered to come find me, so that he could take care of everything As soon as the plane doors opened, before for me. I will never forget this gesture of Arian, or of all those people that I even stepped off, a stranger came up to rushed to help afterwards. me asking, in Albanian, if I was Bedri. He was Arian Pjetri, son of Martin Pjetri who had greatly helped the Albanian community. Arian had all my paperwork with him, ready and waiting to be signed by me. He told me he was there to translate and take care of all the administrative procedures for me. Once he handled that, he took me to Vjollca and her family, who were waiting for me at the airport. I was baffled. A man I had never met before came to find me before I even left the plane, in order to take care of everything for me. I will never forget this gesture of A COUNTRY THAT On March 28th, 2001 I arrived in Toronto as Arian, or of all those people that rushed to LOVES EVERYONE part of the family reunification program help afterwards. EQUALLY following the admission of Kosovo refugees in 1999. I was 24 years old. My wife, Vjollca, I had spent my first couple of days going had been among those airlifted to Canada out and meeting a lot of members of our Bedri Toqani from Macedonia, just a year after we were Albanian community here, all very eager to married. welcome me. On what was my second or third day here, we went out with Vjollca for I did not know much about Canada, so I tried coffee, as we usually did. But this time, Bedri Toqani to keep my mind open to everything, but when we returned, I had a fully furnished nothing had prepared me for the show of apartment – a kitchen, beds, sofas, tables, Is owner and manager of Besi Auto Collision, a car repair and paint shop in Toronto. Bedri is also a generosity that was to come. a TV – all with the help of Vjollca’s family sponsor of SC KOSOVA, and a regular contributor to different charities and our community. and the community A COUNTRY THAT A COUNTRY THAT like I didn’t belong here. If anything, everyone In 2007, a friend and I finally opened our LOVES EVERYONE LOVES EVERYONE would always do their best to help if they saw own car repair shop in Toronto. It was the two of us and one other employee, who EQUALLY EQUALLY me struggling. I felt so comfortable and so at home here. were figuring things out as they came. It was a learning process for us. It was the first time that I was treated as a human with equal rights. For a month and a It’s not easy to start a new business in a half I worked in a factory with other foreign country, but neither we nor our Albanians, so the lack of English skills did not business were ever treated as foreign. The pose a problem. first two months had their ups and downs, but then business took off. I started an English language course in the meantime. Shortly after this, I started In 2010 the business partner left, and I working as a delivery driver for Pizza Pizza, hired seven employees together with my and became store manager soon after. I brother. Besi Auto Collision quickly secured Bedri Toqani Bedri Toqani stayed there until 2006, when I decided to a strong base of customers and we are return to my previous calling, which I had very happy with the business today. been missing. When we were working in Kosovo, we In the couple of hours that it took them to pull I had heard stories how in some countries, When I was 10 years old, my family started a barely made enough to feed ourselves, all that together, I had been wondering how to people are not too keen on immigrants or car repair shop in Prishtina – it was where I whereas here we have made a great life for get a loan to buy a few basic things for my non-native speakers. Coming from a war learned my trade as a car mechanic. ourselves and we are able to support our house, and not even in my wildest dreams did where people were murdered just because Later I also finished school for car mechanics families in Kosovo today. I expect to come back to a finished home. they were of Albanian ethnicity, I was afraid in Kosovo, but to get a job as one in Canada, I And this was just my first week in Canada. that I might face some discrimination here. needed to have a special license. I was incredibly lucky to always have During my 16 years in Canada, not a single Vjollca’s unwavering support through all of person ever made me feel this, she was always A COUNTRY THAT LOVES EVERYONE EQUALLY

Bedri Toqani encouraging me and she was the one I could Toronto, together with the always always lean on. We have created a beautiful motivated Faik Shabani. I owe so much to family together here in Canada, our two sons this community who helped me start from and daughter were all born here. They love zero and become a part of Canada, a visiting Kosovo every once in a while, but they country that loves everyone equally! are happy living in Canada. I continuously try to repay the generosity extended to me by doing charity work of my own – with our community, with the children’s hospital, with the Albanian business network, etc. For the past five years, I have been very happy to sponsor the Kosova soccer club in CONNECTING Bujar CULTURES Zejnullahu

When you live in a place like Canada, where everyone’s heritage is widely embraced and proudly shared, it encourages you to promote and cherish your own traditions.

golf and country club. I applied for a job CONNECTING based on my experience in London. When they heard the British accent, they told me CULTURES I was just who they were looking for. For Bujar Zejnullahu Due to the extremely tense and difficult living eight years I worked as supervisor and conditions in Kosovo, in October of 1998 I had manager at different golf and country is one of the two partners and travel agents in CanKos Travel. He to leave my home town and move to London, clubs in the Toronto area, expanding on my is an experienced event organizer, and the Vice President of the when I was just 18 years old. In the spring of knowledge of food, beverage and wines, in Albanian-Canadian Community Association of Toronto 1999, my parents, brother, sisters and all of which I am also certified. grandmother spent almost two months in Stankovec camp in Macedonia before they During this time, I had also started an were airlifted to safety in Canada. events company, named Flare Dashnor Hasku Entertainment. As a very outgoing person that loves entertaining, I was very much in is one of the two partners and travel agents in CanKos Travel. He I was working as a bartender in London until year 2000, when I was finally able to join the my element when organizing events such is a former Kosovo chess champion and board member of the rest of my family here. In September 2000 I as fashion weeks, film festivals, Albanian Business Network in Canada. started working at the Mississauga promotions and other special evenings. Dashnor Hasku

After a while, I started organizing concerts for Apart from our business with Dashnor, I the Albanian community and I was able to continue being engaged with the bring almost every major Albanian artist to community – in 2016 I was elected as perform in Canada. For the past four years, I Vice-President of the Albanian-Canadian have also been organizing Albanian Community Association of Toronto. traditional dance event during NBA games in the Air Canada Center in Toronto, where There are many other projects that I have thousands of people get a chance to see a in store for the community, but I can only mesmerizing live dance performance during reveal so much on one page. breaks.

CONNECTING I was so enthusiastic about organizing these CULTURES cultural events. When you live in a place like Canada, where everyone’s heritage is widely embraced and proudly shared, it encourages you to promote and cherish your own traditions. Our culture is one of music and dance, of joy and celebration, of tolerance and love – and I was glad to help our Bujar Zejnullahu community enjoy and preserve these traditions every time they got together. This endeavor of mine took on a very personal importance soon after – it was at one of the Albanian community concerts, in October 2010, that I had met my wife, Mirdita, who came to Canada as an 11 year old refugee from Kosovo. I came to Canada with my wife Arjeta on July draws and one loss. I wish I could have 21st, 1999, at the age of 23 and with literally continued with this passion of mine, but no money in our pocket. Since we both come other duties were calling. from parts of Kosova where there were a lot of destroyed lives and houses (I’m from In our very beginning here, I started with Rahoveci and Arjeta from Decani) we decided some smaller jobs, first in a gas station to go somewhere else and spend a year or and then as pizza delivery. After less than two, to try and forget about the war, possibly six months, I started working as a continue with our university studies, learn supervisor in a large factory for cosmetic English and play some chess! products. I was promoted to production manager and stayed with the company Arjeta had a cousin in Canada and after an until it was sold in 2007. Following the interview with the Canadian Embassy in closing of the factory, I began working as a Skopje (where we stayed over 2 months as consultant for a large US company. In the refugees) we were given permission to come meantime, Arjeta went to a college for to Canada. We stayed one week in Arjeta’s medical office assistant and found a job as CONNECTING cousin house and after that found a well. CONNECTING CULTURES basement apartment and moved on our own. CULTURES With nobody here, very little money or help In the beginning we had days when we and with broken English, our life had started wanted to pack up and leave immediately. in new country! It was hard, but temporary, so We had a hard time contacting our families we thought let’s give it our best! in Kosovo, and we were missing our homes. As we made new friends and opened up to Arjeta now owns and manages the Sunrise Dashnor Hasku Arjeta studied pedagogy in Kosovo, and I had the life around us, we realized how much Grill restaurant, which has eight studied electro-technical engineering. I was freedom Canada was actually offering us. employees. My oldest daughter, Laureta, is also Kosovo’s champion in Yugoslavia’s junior We knew we had to stay. also involved and manages the restaurant league from 1987 until 1993. I had played on weekends. We didn’t get to play a lot of chess since I was 5 years old. I remember Today we are a family of five. My three chess or continue university, but we sure organizing a match in Ottawa where four children (Laureta, Lisa and Leon) were born created new opportunities – not just for Kosovo chess players faced the Olympic here in Canada, they consider themselves ourselves, but for our community here as chess team of Canada – we had three Canadian as much as Kosovar. well. CANKOS CONNECTING TRAVEL CULTURES

The five consecutive years before that, we had been awarded as second-best. This recognition of success has been incredibly motivating for us, even more so that we have achieved this with the support of our We had known each other earlier, as our community. CONNECTING families were very close, but our joint business path started in 2008. We had an They make up the largest share of our CULTURES idea, we had an office, and we had time. clients, so we try to always give something Under the TravelOnly travel agency umbrella, back to them. We organize and sponsor one of the leaders in tourism today, we many events for the community, and try to started our own travel company, CanKos include them in every activity we organize. Travel. For two years we worked part-time on CanKos travel, but as our community learned As difficult as it can be to start over on a more and more about us, the high demand different continent, our integration was made us devote our time fully to this made easy by the great show of generosity business. To this day, we have about 10,000 from everyone around us here. We have a clients in total. great community in a great

We believe that with hard work, anyone can country. We are very happy to finally have a succeed in this country. In 2016 and 2017, we Kosovo Embassy in Canada, and we look were awarded as best TravelOnly agents forward to helping in further connecting among 680 others, based on sales. Kosovo with Canada! ANOTHER STEP FORWARD

It took us several trips through camps in I was only 18 years old, but I had decided to start up my own business in Albania and across the Adriatic Sea until finish carpentry, called Sharri Woodworking, together with my wife we finally reached the plane that would Lumturije and my cousin, Egzon. All of us felt the need to prove that take us to our new home. We had set up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as my mother had her young people of Kosovo can do amazing things when free. brother, Mitat Popaj, living there from 1995. I did not understand much of what had happened, all I know is that I was finally feeling safe and secure. Children heal quicker, and I guess this was the case for me as well. I had this new positive outlook on life, and everything seemed interesting again. I was curious to meet new people, to learn English, and to start working.

I finished grade 9 in Winnipeg and continued high school in Hamilton. The entire family would get up before sunrise to deliver newspapers from 4am to 6am, and in the afternoon we delivered pizzas. ANOTHER STEP Integrating into the Canadian life came FORWARD very easily to us, I still have high school friends who I keep in touch with.

I was 13 years old when my family was In 2000, at a party in Winnipeg, I met escaping from the war. I do not remember Lumturije Azizi, and I knew right away she Edon Arapi much, but I do recall we were a large group of was the woman I wanted to spend my life mainly children and women. My uncles and with. My family had moved to Hamilton, is the President and CEO of Pro-Don Inc. and Leedwood Ltd. male cousins had been killed by Serbian Ontario soon after, and we had stayed in He is also a regular sponsor of our community’s events. forces. touch, writing long letters to one another. During the past 12 years of being in business, we had been buying the woodwork elsewhere. Seeing as things were really going well, in 2016 we decided it was time to take another step forward. We established Leedwood Ltd, a millwork manufacturing facility of 25,000 square feet. We are still slowly setting it up, this was a huge investment for us. Pro-Don employs a team of 12, whereas Leedwood has a team of 8, expected to be doubled by the end of this year. Of course, we expect to only keep on growing.

After two years of being apart, she nally We did residential and commercial work – I think that Canada somehow manages to moved to Hamilton and we got married. In renovations, constructions and general bring out the best in everyone. It is 2006, we bought our rst home, in All of us are very close in age. And all of contracting, and business was blooming. incredible to consider how many people Ancaster, Ontario. Today we have three us felt the need to prove that young from our community here have lost so ANOTHER STEP ANOTHER STEP We have done work everywhere, with great beautiful children growing up in this people of Kosovo can do amazing things results – including of the Slovenian much back home, yet were able to rise FORWARD country that welcomed us with open arms. when free. Business was growing every FORWARD Embassy oces in Ottawa, of the Wilfrid even stronger. I am so happy to share this year, it just kept going better and better. Laurier University (GIE), Duneld Theatre country with my community and all the All of my family members started working Cambridge, Lister Block Hamilton, other Canadians, and it makes me happy to di erent jobs when we moved to Hamilton, In 2007 we decided to rebrand Sharri Cambridge Mill, Casino Rama, Maple Leaf see how well integrated everyone is. Edon Arapi but I felt I needed to do more. I was only 18 Woodworking and expand the business hockey team change room in Toronto, etc. years old, but I had decided to start up my by incorporating the company and I look forward to bringing people of all own business in nish carpentry, called renaming it to Pro-Don Inc, an I hope that one day we will have the chance communities under the umbrella of our Sharri Woodworking, together with my architectural millwork installation to renovate or even construct the Kosovo companies and working even harder wife Lumturije and my cousin, Egzon Popaj. company. Embassy oces in Ottawa! towards success!

“The relationship between Kosovo and Canada has a great potential for growth. Our country was proud to have been one of the first to Honoring recognize Kosovo’s independence, and we continue to support you on the world stage, particularly as you our community’s make progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

On that note, it was wonderful to legacy engage recently with the President of Kosovo in Toronto. We are also pleased to see Canadian companies take an interest in commercial opportunities presented by your energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. I look forward to speaking with you about future cooperation” The Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Canada was ocially opened in February 2016. The opening of this mission further solidied the very special bond between Kosovo and Canada, as illustrated by the stories in this publication. Today, the Embassy of Kosovo is a three-people mission, who David Johnston, Governor work tirelessly to bring more of Kosovo to Canada, and vice versa. General of Canada, during the Recently, Kosovo has also appointed its long-time friend, Chad Rogers, as presentation of credential letters by H.E. Lulzim Hiseni, October 3, Honorary Consul of Kosovo for the Toronto and Hamilton region, an 2016, Quebec City. invaluable addition to Kosovo’s representation in Canada.

This team is proud to represent a wonderful community that actively contributes in the Canadian society, and whose members are prime examples of successful integration. They were creating Kosovo stories in Canada long before Kosovo was an independent country, and now the Embassy is happy to be the platform that will honor this legacy.

For the first time, Kosovo’s flag is officially raised in Ottawa and Toronto. February 17, 2017, Ottawa City Hall and February 18, 2017, Provincial Assembly of Ontario, Toronto. For the first time, Kosovo’s flag is Ambassador Hiseni distributes officially raised in Ottawa and Abetare (a book used by children Toronto. February 17, 2017, Ottawa learning to read Albanian) in City Hall and February 18, 2017, Ottawa to children from the Provincial Assembly of Ontario, Albanian community, Toronto. congratulating the parents and teachers for promoting the Albanian language and traditions. December 3, 2016

The dance group Fluturat (Butterflies) perform during Ottawa Diplomatic Association Fundraising Cultural Food Event, on the occasion of Canada’s 150th anniversary. Ottawa, April 11, 2017. Photo by Fitim Thaçi.

The dance group Fluturat (Butterflies) perform during Ottawa Diplomatic Association Fundraising Cultural Food Event, on the occasion of Canada’s 150th anniversary. Ottawa, April 11, 2017. Photo by Fitim Thaçi. encouraging me and she was the one I could always lean on. We have created a beautiful family together here in Canada, our two sons and daughter were all born here. They love visiting Kosovo every once in a while, but they are happy living in Canada. I continuously try to repay the generosity extended to me by doing charity work of my own – with our community, with the children’s hospital, with the Albanian business network, etc. For the past five years, I have been very happy to sponsor the Kosova soccer club in

THE DESIGN AND PRINT OF THIS BOOK WERE KINDLY SPONSORED BY:

Cankos Travel by TravelOnly Pro-Don Construction Inc. Bujar Zejnullahu & Dashnor Hasku Edon Arapi 905.949.2009 905.572.3524

Besi Auto Collision Ltd. The Guri Group Inc. Bedri & Mehdi Toqani Ahmet Gallapeni 416.837.2135 647.886.1562

ZGG Ltd Services Brothers Auto Sales Fadil Selimi Faik Shabani 416.554.5323 416.520.0489 Due to the extremely tense and difficult living conditions in Kosovo, in October of 1998 I had to leave my home town and move to London, when I was just 18 years old. In the spring of 1999, my parents, brother, sisters and grandmother spent almost two months in Stankovec camp in Macedonia before they were airlifted to safety in Canada.

I was working as a bartender in London until year 2000, when I was finally able to join the rest of my family here. In September 2000 I started working at the Mississauga

JUNE 2017 OTTAWA, CANADA