Syrian refugees: Settling into Canadian communities becomes the new challenge ahead

The Tonbari family walked into the central branch of the Windsor Public Library on Wednesday and signed up for a library card, just one of the first of many steps as they settle into their new home in Windsor.

They've come a long way from the widespread violence in war-torn Syria, where they were constantly on the run and often living in squalor in order to stay alive. But a new challenge lies ahead for Ibrahim Tonbari, his wife and their children.

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They say learning the language will be tough. They're happy their children will be in school, but they hope they can handle the transition. They eventually want to work, but don't know where yet.

Ibrahim's wife, Zaineb al Omar, says that's why it's important to have settlement workers from the New Canadians' Centre of Excellence Inc. available to help with the transition. Two of these workers went with them to the library on Wednesday, translating their needs to staff and showing them the resources available.

"With this service, we know more about what's available for our children, like books in Arabic language," al Omar said through a translator.

That translator is Dalya Eskandar, who arrived here in 2009 from Iraq. She now works for the New Canadian Centre of Excellence and knows what new arrivals need when they get here.

"I went through all the process and all the emotional situations, for me, for my children, for my family, so I know how to deal with this kind of situation," she said. "I know how to comfort the families."

Amal Massiss also works at the Centre of Excellence, often helping young refugees adjust to school life and cope with the trauma they experienced back home.

"They're coming from war, especially the families coming from Syria," she said. "They tell me stories about what they went through in their country and we provide counselling for them."