A Syrian couple who fled war-ravaged Damascus to start a new life in Canada have named their newborn son Justin Trudeau in honour of the Prime Minister’s open refugee policy.

Muhammad and Afraa Bilan arrived in Montreal in February of last year in the midst of Canada’s bitterly cold winter accompanied by their daughter Naya, who is 4, and their son Nael who is 3.

The parents expressed their tremendous gratitude to Mr Trudeau’s refugee initiative which has seen over 40,000 Syrian refugees resettled in Canada.

Afraa Bilan told The Star: “We love this man, we appreciate him. He helped a lot of refugees. He’s the reason we are in Canada.”

Justin Trudeau Adam Bilan came into the world on Thursday in Calgary - a city near the Canadian Rockies the family have relocated to which is home to around 1,000 Syrian refugees. The parents hope that their son will one day get to meet his namesake.

While Ms Bilan admitted it was initially hard to adapt to life in Canada due to language barriers and sub-zero temperatures, she said they were overjoyed to have escaped war and welcomed their first Canadian son into the world.

She said: “He’s the first Canadian. He got his citizenship before us!”

The family’s opportunity to flee war-torn Syria came five years into the atrocities of the war. Upon learning Canada was starting to take in Syrian refugees after Mr Trudeau became Prime Minister, they leapt at the chance to leave.

More than 40,000 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Canada since Mr Trudeau took office in November 2015.

After President Donald Trump sought to introduce his hard-line immigraton ban, Mr Trudeau vocally restated the country’s open-door refugee policy. “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength," he wrote on Twitter.

Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters

What’s more, in December 2015, the Canadian leader personally welcomed the first planeload of Syrian refugees in the flesh at Toronto airport and was seen handing out winter coats.