Aylan Kurdi’s relatives arrive in Canada

Tima Kurdi, aunt of the drowned Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, welcomed her brother’s family to Canada, which marks “a new beginning and a new life” for her relatives fleeing the war-torn Syria.

Alan Kurdi’s death sparked worldwide outrage over the refugee crisis after images of his body appeared in September after he drowned, along with his five-year-old brother and their mother, while crossing between Turkey and Greece.

Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and five children will land in Canada as refugees Monday, sponsored by Mohammed’s sister Tima Kurdi, who has become a spokeswoman for people fleeing the war torn nation.

Speaking through his sister, who was translating for the family, Mohammad Kurdi said it would not feel real until his feet hit the ground and that finally being in Canada was “a dream come true”.

“I’m happy to start going to school and start a new life, but (at) the same time, all the thought on the airplane, 10 hours, (I was) thinking about… the cousins”, he said through his aunt.

Domestically, the images of Kurdi’s death up-ended an otherwise predictable Canadian election campaign, and knocked the incumbent Conservatives onto their heels after it was revealed that Mohammad and his family had applied for, and been denied, refugee status in Canada.

In Canada, the newly-elected Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on the promise to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February.

Tima Kurdi said after losing his wife and children, Abdullah Kurdi has devoted his life to helping other refugees.

Tima’s initial application to bring in Mohammad and his family to Canada was rejected by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as incomplete.

Mohammed has been in Germany for more than half a year and has not seen his family, who were in Turkey, for seven months. He had yet to meet his youngest child, who was born in July, but the family reunited in Frankfurt before flying to Canada. “With the help of my brothers and the family, we’ll all get them on their feet and show them around”. Canadian officials said the application did not have the required documentation. “Please don’t close the door in their face”. Mohammad – who worked as a barber in Syria – will be working at a hair salon owned by Tima.

Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and children will stay with Tima and her family in British Columbia for now. We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. “But you’re always here”, she said, placing her hand over her heart.