Cape Breton group formed to help immigrants arriving in Nova Scotia

A chemistry researcher at Cape Breton University has founded a non-profit organization to help immigrant families adjust to life in Nova Scotia.

"The idea started two years ago, when I moved here from St. John's," said Hisham Sleem, who is originally from Egypt.

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He said there were virtually no services in Cape Breton to help newcomers when he arrived, save for a small Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia office in downtown Sydney that subsequently closed.

"I was looking for some settlement help, as well as integration in the new society," Sleem said.

As president of the newly formed Association for New Canadians and Refugees in Nova Scotia, Sleem has set a goal of supplementing the work of groups such as Lifeline Syria Cape Breton. Lifeline has helped Syrian families settle in Sydney, North Sydney, Port Hood, Mabou and Chticamp this year.

Sleem's first priority is language.

"For most of them, their English is zero," he said. "I'm looking forward to gather all the families in Sydney to engage them in the new society and culture."

With the help of his wife and 10 Cape Breton University students from Saudi Arabia, he plans to organize English classes for the newcomers so they can get a good grasp of the language as soon as possible.

The student teachers have been in Cape Breton for at least four years, he said, which means they have become well versed in many aspects of life in Nova Scotia.

Sleem also plans to arrange a social activities program for small children and youth.

The next step is to seek money both from the private and public sector with the hope of expanding the new association across the entire province, he said.