Yann Martel house makes memories for Syrian newcomers in Saskatoon
From one family to another, the former home of renowned Saskatoon author Yann Martel is making memories for a Syrian refugee family and their local sponsors.
Several months ago, the Life of Pi author offered the house to the Mount Royal Mennonite Church as a home for the Syrian refugee family they were sponsoring.
It has since become the home of Ramia Sraa, Omar Falah Hindawi and their children Dima, 9, Mohammed, 8, Rahaf, 4, and Hala, 1.
A safe haven
The family were forced to leave their home when violence in the Syrian civil war reached their neighbourhood in the city of Aleppo.
The family fled to Lebanon, where they lived for more than three years until they were able to move to Canada.
Elaine Harder, who is part of a group which sponsored the family through the Mount Royal Mennonite Church, said the house was a safe haven after a perilous journey for the family.
"It is a stable environment for them to begin a new life here in Canada," said Harder.
Photos taken by the sponsors show the family celebrating their children's birthdays in the home, and the children riding new bikes around the back yard.
Harder said the family and their sponsors had become so close, they were more like family than friends despite the language barrier.
"They're very warm, very hospitable people," she said.
"The first time we met them, when they came off the plane, it was as if we were meeting old friends."
Dana Krushel, who works for Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, said Martel had told her why he decided to offer up the house.
From one family to another
"It had been his home before when he had his first couple of kids so he really loved this home and didn't want to sell it yet. And there was a bit of emotional attachment to this home as well," she said.
Krushel said he also explained that he had been to Syria in the past and felt a connection and appreciation for the country and its people.
She added that the house is a gift that keeps on giving, not just to the family but the wider Syrian newcomer community.
The church charges the resident family a minimal amount of rent for Martel's home and that money will go towards sponsoring more families.
"Hopefully it just keeps on snowballing and snowballing so that the rent from this helps another family," said Krushel.
