Syrian refugee family meets the Toronto students who helped them find a new home

CBC first met the Gulesarian family when they were living in a run-down apartment block in Beirut in early December 2015. At the time, the refugees from Aleppo, Syria, had been living in Lebanon for three years and were anxious to get to Canada before the new year.

In Lebanon, the family of five had no legal standing, were not able to work or attend school and faced discrimination.

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The family has a cousin in Toronto and was able to obtain a combination of private and government sponsorship to come to Canada.

The Gulesarians' private sponsors are a group of teachers, students and parents from Dewson Street Public School in Toronto's west end. The group formed out of a parent's initiative to teach students and the community about the plight of refugees and encourage them to be global citizens and lend a helping hand. 

Refugee family checks out Tim Hortons for the first time

9 years ago

Duration 0:46

Watch how customers reacted to these Syrian refugees who went to Tim Hortons for the first time.

After a few holdups having to do with the medical tests that refugees are required to undergo, the Gulesarians finally arrived in Canada on Jan. 29.  CBC's Adrienne Arsenault caught up with them that week at their new home in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough.

That day, one of their sponsors wanted to introduce the newcomers to a few of the essential resources in their new neighbourhood. First stop: Tim Hortons. 

Watch the video above to see the Gulesarians get their first taste of Timbits and double-doubles and meet the schoolkids who helped bring them to Canada.