COMING TO CANADA A CHANCE AT NEW LIFE FOR FORT ERIE WOMAN

HATICE ACIKGOZ AND HER SON CAME TO THE COUNTRY AS REFUGEES FROM TURKEY

All Hatice Acikgoz was looking for was a second chance.

And she says she got that when she came to Canada from her native Turkey three years ago with her son, Ugur Koker, and settled in Fort Erie. She was one of about 40 people taking part in the Walk for Refugees on Monday. The walk was being hosted by the Fort Erie Multicultural Centre (FEMC) to mark the annual United Nations World Refugee Day on June 20.

Acikgoz wanted to show her support.

"It's important because (coming to Canada as a refugee) was a second chance for me to change my life in a good way," she said.

And with help from the centre, she said, she has developed her English language skills.

"When I came here three years ago, I had none," she said.

Her son, she said, is excelling in his new life here.

"He's studying in Toronto at George Brown College," she said. "He will be an engineer."

Seeing her son grow and succeed is something she is most grateful for.

"For me, it has been wonderful to see how his life can change."

Emily Berry, an employment counsellor with The Job Gym, was part of a contingent of six employees from the Fort Erie centre to come out for the walk.

"I just think it's important to show our support for partners in the community," she said. "We see a lot of refugees who come in for help — resume help or referrals for help to get their credentials recognized. They're looking for their first Canadian job."

Martha Mason, executive director of the FEMC, said it's important to acknowledge that there are people worldwide who have fled countries as refugees or have been displaced through things such as military conflict. World Refugee Day does just that, and the walk helps draw attention to the day.

"It's important to acknowledge the plight of refugees and displaced people," she said. "(World Refugee Day) celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution."

She added that marking World Refugee Day is a chance to "build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives."

World Refugee Day was established in 2001 by the United Nations to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.