Two years ago, Armidale Rural Australians for Refugees and Armidale Sanctuary raised more than $53,000 from the community to help a Rohingya refugee on Nauru and his family back in Myanmar settle in Canada.
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Finally, after 8 years in detention, Myo has left Nauru and arrived in Canada.
Arriving safe and sound in Toronto on Tuesday night, Myo transited through Vancouver and met up with a cousin he hadn't seen in more than 20 years.
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His settlement team had connections with the flight attendants on Air Canada, who took special care of him on both the Sydney to Vancouver and Vancouver to Toronto flights.
Members of his sponsor group and Laura Beth Bugg, the co-director of Ads Up Canada - a group of Aussies based in North America who help people from Manus Island and Nauru Island detention centres settle in their forever home - .were waiting for him at Toronto Airport.
"I always have a big Canadian flag for arrivals, but Myo wanted to make sure I had one there waiting," Ms Bugg said.
"He said that he wanted to kiss the flag as soon as he got off the plane, and he did."
Last Friday, April 29, was Myo's first birthday in freedom.
"He is staying with a wonderful family and has slept for two days," Ms Bugg said.
"We are all giving him the space to just collapse right now. I will meet with him tomorrow for coffee. The paperwork is ready to be submitted for his family in Myanmar, and we are hopeful that they can arrive in Toronto before the end of the year."
Armidale Sanctuary's Jeff Siegel told the Armidale Express in 2020 that the money needed to have the family sponsored was raised in less than two weeks.
Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program has provided a space for permanent residents, members of organisations, associations and groups to engage in the resettlement of refugees since the 1970's.
Read more: Myanmar's Suu Kyi awaits verdict
Ms Bugg said she wanted to make sure the community in Armidale was aware of how thankful Ads Up and Myo were to them.
"It was an extraordinary thing that you all did, and we are so grateful," Ms Bugg said.
"Myo is one of the most precious human beings I have ever met - so eager to help others and incredibly kind.
"I know that once he has a chance to rest and recover, he will build an extraordinary life here with his family."
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