Meet some of the faces sharing their culture with their new home in a St. John's exhibit
ANC's exhibit will be on display until July 13
Photos lining the walls of St. John's city hall in a new exhibit are connecting newcomers from around the world and sharing some of their culture with the region.
Every year, the Association for New Canadians exhibits work involving its clients at city hall. This year's exhibit, launched Monday and titled Everyone Has a Story to Tell, features photographs of items from students of the association's language school and their details of their significance.
Marharyta Chabanenko, who came to the city from Ukraine in September, provided a photo of of sunflowers as a symbol of peace and a photo of traditional Ukrainian motanka dolls, considered protectors of a home.
"I'm really glad to meet new people," she told CBC News on Monday, "The things that you just learn from different nations … it's going to make you smarter, wiser and stronger."
Musab Kassas, who has been in Newfoundland since September, contributed a photo of Damascus's Umayyad Mosque, built in the early eighth century and one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world.
"Arab, Greek, Persian and Indian labourers provided the bulk of the labour force at that time, which shows how the world and cultures actually interconnected throughout history," Kassas said.
"Getting to know other cultures and introducing cultures to my people … I feel great for that opportunity."
But while the exhibit aims to connect people to different cultures, Chabanenko said many who come to the province are already connected in some way — through experiences like war or displacement.
Sahel Salehishayegan came to Newfoundland with her partner, a human rights activist from Iran, in October.
"Where I came from, violations against human rights happen quite a lot. People get arrested because of this, and a lot more. And that's why we are here, and we are really thankful to be here in a safe country like Canada," Salehishayegan said.
"We could finally have long-term goals for our life, and have a real plan. Resuming university and think about our family.… It is really easy to start a new life here, because, well, I'm sure about my safety. My freedom."
Salehishayegan's contribution to the exhibit included a Persian rug, a sitar and photos of local architecture in Iran.
The exhibit is available for public viewing until July 13.
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With files from Arlette Lazarenko
