Article content continued

Omar, who arrived in New York last November, and stayed for five days before travelling to Blaine, said information on crossing Canada’s long, unprotected border is readily available online. He said he chose B.C. because he was worried that Ontario or Quebec would be too cold.

In Blaine, Omar made his way on foot between two border checkpoints.

“I saw a small path in the forest where people had gone. I was scared. It was very dense with bushes,” he said.

When Omar emerged, he saw a U.S. police officer with a dog: “When he saw me, he knew I was a refugee. He came towards me, but I ignored him. He followed me. I kept walking.”

Omar knew he had crossed the border when an RCMP vehicle pulled up beside him. The officers treated him with extraordinary kindness.

“The way they received me, the way they talked to me was unbelievable,” said Omar, his eyes welling with tears. “With so much dignity. Like I was their brother.”

After the RCMP picked Omar up, they handcuffed him — but asked for permission first. “That was my first time being handcuffed,” said Omar. “I used to be the one handcuffing people back in my country when I worked in the judicial system.”

He still can’t get over how well the RCMP treated him. “When they searched my bag, they asked my permission,” he says, shaking his head in awe.

They offered him a meal — a gesture that made Omar break down in tears.

When he got a migraine, the officers brought him medication and let him sleep. When he was resting, the officers opened the door to check on him. “They opened it so softly, trying not to make noise, trying not to bother me,” he says. “That was so, so nice.”

He pauses, overcome: “This is the best country. I will do everything I can, I will give everything to this country because of how they welcomed me.”

Omar, who speaks Arabic, Kurdish and English, received his work permit three days ago. He has applied to volunteer with ISS and hopes to work with a humanitarian organization, and eventually qualify to practise law in Canada.

dryan@postmedia.com

CLICK HERE to report a typo.

Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.</p