EDMONTON—Omar Khadr is standing in his bedroom looking out at the backyard.

It is his second morning of freedom after nearly 13 years behind bars, and he’s embarrassed because he doesn’t know how to open the window.

“Oh there we go. Well that will come in handy,” he says as he’s shown where to lift the latch and fresh air fills the room. “It got hot yesterday. So that’s one of the basic skills I’m going to learn. Is how to open my window.”

Open a window. Open a bank account. Get a driver’s license. Get a library card. There are so many small skills to be learned by a man who has loomed large since he was shot and captured in Afghanistan at the age of 15—a man who has never been allowed to speak publicly.

In this exclusive first interview after nearly 13 years behind bars, Omar Khadr tells Michelle Shephard about the firefight, his detention, his family and his new freedom.

Read Michelle Shephard’s exclusive interview now and watch the documentary directed by Patrick Reed and Shephard on Thursday, May 28, at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Omar Khadr in his own words.