Becoming Canadian·Video

For Syed Mukhtar, coming to Canada strengthened his bond with his mother

Syed Farrukh Muktar describes the story of his premature birth and being raised by a single mother in Saudi Arabia.

'They say I was born blue.'

Syed Farrukh Muktar mother was six months pregnant when she, her husband and son were in a car accident.

Muktar's father was killed. Leaving his mother to care for two young children in Saudi Arabia.

"It's really hard living in Saudi Arabia financially ... and women don't work," explains Muktar. An uncle offered to sponsor his family and they moved to Saskatchewan.

For more stories about the struggles and triumphs of new Canadian citizens, follow Canada 2017 on Facebook and @BecomingCDN on Instagram and Twitter.