ANTIGONISH, Nova Scotia – One year after arriving in Canada as refugees, a Syrian family has celebrated the first anniversary of their sweet success in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where they were embraced by a welcoming society.

“We were thinking that finding a job would be hard for me and my family,” Tareq Hadhad, the eldest son, told CBC News on Saturday, January 7.

The Hadhads had once a successful chocolate business in Damascus, Syria.

He owned a factory there and employed 30 people. He used to ship chocolates to all over the Middle East, but lost it all to war.

Arriving in Canada, the community of Antigonish received his family with embracing arms.

Hundreds of people helped them establish a home but the father Assam Hadhad wanted to contribute and continue his life’s work.

One year in Canada, the family say they are now financially independent, marking this lovely anniversary and thanking God for having achieved sweet success through their start-up business, which now employs 10 people.

Their biggest break was when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted their accomplishments in a speech at the United Nations.

“We just explored every option to be integrated as fast as possible,” said Tareq Hadhad.

Leaving a family member in Damascus last year, the family’s joy was complete when their 25-year-old daughter, Alaa, and her two children when they moved to Canada.

“I want to now help my husband and make chocolate,” the mother, Shehenaz, said.