When David Black and his wife Maya Russell settle in with the kids this Christmas morning, they’ll be gathering around the tree with a few extra house guests - a refugee family of six from Nigeria.
Black and Russell took in the Edom family a few weeks ago, and they are living in the upstairs loft while they apply for refugee status in Canada. The Edoms usually celebrate Christmas with a special dinner, so toys under the tree will be a novelty for their little ones.
“This is going to blow their minds,” said Russell. “The kids are very excited. I’ve explained what’s going to happen at Christmas, and they are very excited.”
Black and Russell’s took in the family in late November, after they got in touch with the Inland Refugee Society of B.C., a group that helps asylum seeking refugees. Black said they were hoping to help Syrians, but they said yes to the family of six that was living in a one-bedroom apartment with another couple.
“We were doing this for Syrians, but a refugee is a refugee, and these people sound desperate,” Black said.
Black and Russell have a four-bedroom home in Sapperton, and the refugee family is staying on the top floor, which is a converted loft.
The father’s name is Emeka Edom; the wife is Cynthia; and their children are Valentina, 8, Goodluck, 5, Clinton, 3, and Mandela, 1.
They arrived in Canada in October and are in the process of applying for refugee status, as they say they are fleeing political persecution.
Black said the hosting experience has been going remarkably well and is a lot of fun. The guest family is not disruptive, and the kids have been playing together. Black said he’s committed to housing the Edom family on a month-to-month basis, and he’s hoping they will be approved for refugee status as quickly as possible.
“When looking at the news and seeing all these people leaving these a horrible situations around the world there was a bit of guilt about how good we had it here in Canada,” Black said, adding he feels very good about taking in the Edom couple and their children. “I see what a different it’s making for this family. They are very, very, grateful. I see how it’s enrichment for my kids. It doesn’t come without its challenges, but it’s very, very, very exciting.”
Black also said he’s been overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family and coworkers, all pitching in to help the New Westminster couple’s newest housemates. Clothes, household items, gift cards have been flooding in from across the country.
“It’s been unbelievable,” he said.
Emeka is happy to be staying in the New West home with his wife and kids.
“I don’t know how to explain it; we just call it home. It’s an awesome place for me to stay. It’s been a pleasant place for me and my family,” he said.
Emeka mentioned the family went ice skating for the first time ever recently, and his family has been “so, so, so happy.”
“They are giving us hope to live again as a family,” he said.
Black, who works as president of MoveUP (formerly known as COPE 378), was in the news recently for starting an electronic petition to ban Donald Trump from Canada.
