Emotional moment Alan Kurdi’s relatives arrive in Canada

Amid bear hugs, smiles and tears, the family of a Syrian boy whose lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach earlier this year repeated one message when they landed at the Vancouver airport on Monday: thank you.

Kurdi’s brother Mohammad, his wife Ghouson Dakouri and their five children touched down Monday at Vancouver International Airport. “We nearly lost hope but thank you to the Canadian government and Canadian people”.

She added that she bought mattresses and linens for her brother’s family and turned her husband’s office into a room to accommodate some of the children. “I did not see that light yet, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end… keep walking until you find your light”. Kurdi’s three-year-old nephew, Aylan Kurdi, drowned along with his five-year-old brother and their mother while crossing the waters between Turkey and Greece in September.

Earlier in the day, Kurdi told CTV News Channel that while the tragedy involving her nephew has been very painful for the entire family, she hopes it serves as a reminder to the world of the plight of refugees fleeing violence.

“We are very happy, finally this dream comes true”.

Mohammed’s family did, but Tima says Abdullah will remain in Kurdistan.

Mohammed has been working in Germany for the last half-year, while the rest of his family lived in Turkey. The brother and sister are planning to work together at Tima Kurdi’s new hair salon in Port Coquitlam, B.C., Kurdi Hair Design.

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.

Immigration Minister John McCallum said on December 20, that the government could double the intake of refugees, to 50,000 by the end of 2016. He is his family’s only survivor after his wife and two young boys drowned in the boat capsizing.

While attacks in Paris have brought a more cautious approach, Tima Kurdi is hopeful the new Canadian government will bring change for some refugees asking for asylum.

Alan’s father, Abdullah, who survived, faced a barrage of media attention after the photo surfaced.

“I walked through that tunnel”, she said.

While Tima Kurdi praises Canada for its efforts, she worries already the world is beginning to forget the thousands of people still struggling to escape Syria.

“But we have Mohammed and his family here today”. We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about.