ArchivesWorld Refugee Day: testimonies from Bosnians

On April 5, 1992, war broke out in Sarajevo when the Serbian army – opposed to the destruction of Yugoslavia – carried out a blockade of the capital of newly independent Bosnia -Herzegovina.

Orthodox Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Catholic Croats lived there until then together in apparent unity. This civil war that forced their division would last for four long years.

The first Bosnian refugees arrived in Canada in January 1993 as evidence of this news report magazine edition directed by Dominique Poirier. Canada should accept 500 of the 500,000 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina identified by the United Nations High Commissioner, the host explained.

Journalist Marc-André Masson met the first 50 to land at Winnipeg airport on January 17, 1993. Bosnian refugees who arrived from the United Nations camp Karlovac in Croatia where they have lived since they were released from in Serbs detention centers. Their wives, their parents, their families were killedsaid the journalist.

Muhiba Ceric had no news about her husband, an intellectual acquired by the Serbs. He had to leave his village with his children who could no longer work there or seek medical treatment there because he was Muslim.

Marc-André Masson also talks to two men who have been imprisoned for seven months in a concentration camp. They knew very little about Canada and were willing to take any job to start their lives, the journalist pointed out.

Among other things, they can count on the help and experience of Bosnians who have lived in Canada – particularly since World War II – who have come in large numbers to greet them at the airport.

On January 23, 1993, it was Quebec’s turn to receive the first group of Bosnian refugees consisting of about ten families and several single people who had been driven from their homes and imprisoned in camps.

Minister of Cultural Communities and Immigration Monique Gagnon-Tremblay arrived to greet them at the Quebec City airport, as shown in this report by Denis Guénette on Newscast directed by Michèle Viroly.

The government relies heavily on the cooperation of the population to accept these refugees who, from the end of February, will start French courses and will seek to be included in the labor market, the journalist explained. The Quebec multi-ethnic center will place them first, then help them move into their own residence within two weeks.

Although happy with this reception, the first wish of the refugees interviewed by the journalist was to find work and start taking care of themselves.

Combine without forgetting

On the show Challenges On November 6, 2001, Alain Gravel and Peter Ingles showed the journey of Seana Pasic, a Bosnian refugee who had lived in Montreal for five years.

Seana was eleven years old when the war broke out in Bosnia. His lighter years were stolen from him, he living in a very exposed area of ​​Sarajevo. He remembers the constant fear that tormented him, the life that stopped and the sheer instinct for survival that was left. At one point, hope was lost. I just want to die before my parentshe confessed to journalist Alain Gravel.

The first thing I did when I got here was to forget, says Seana who works at Café Sarajevo where she sings tunes that her father hums to her. To the reporter, he presented his diary in which he compiled all his memories as a child of war.

Seana no longer wanted to ignore a part of herself. He feels an immediate need to return to his country of origin, perhaps to stay there. He was followed by the Enjeux group in Sarajevo who, even six years after the settlement of the conflict, were still carrying wounds from the bombings.

Life remains difficult in Sarajevo, observes Seana, who is reunited with friends who were with her on the perils of war. They talk to him about their future and their prospects, which is very sad. 60% of young people will leave if possible, he told reporters.

She also met children who are supported by humanitarian organizations to help them overcome their traumas. I rested for five yearssaid Seana. They did not stop. There is always a fight.

Seana dreamed of being able to return to live in Sarajevo with her family, but she chose instead to return to Montreal, freed from the weight of this internal battle that darkened her youth. It strengthens me, it empowers me to move on with my lifehe revealed to the press ofChallenges who followed him on his journey.

Then, there’s another example of apparent inclusion shown by host Brigitte Bougie in the news bulletin The National on November 13, 2007.

In 1995, dozens of Bosnian youth attended a reception class at Rochebelle high school in Quebec. They had the challenge of learning a new language, of adapting to a new culture.

Thirteen years later, two of his refugees taught at this same school, journalist Guylaine Bussière reports. Oksana Havreljuk, 26, teaches math and science and Neda Marincic, 25, teaches English as a second language

” This is a school that is very important to me. I already have a very good experience here so definitely for me, it feels like a dream to work here. “

I arrived on March 30, 1995 for reception classtestifies to Neda Marincic. I don’t speak a word of French or English, and now I teach English as a second language here at school. A pride shared by the teachers who welcomed them and saw their progress over the years.

Rochebelle’s school has been accepting young immigrants or refugees in integration classes since the early 1980s, the journalist explained. In 2007, approximately sixty students of 21 nationalities and 12 different languages ​​dedicated themselves to learning French.

This is a wonderful concept that I like and has been useful for my development.declared Neda Marincic that now represents a source of inspiration for Rochebelle school students.