Chocolates and peace

A world away in Syria, their home was destroyed during the civil war. Their business, a large chocolate factory in Damascus, was destroyed also. The family had a good life in Syria before the conflict began.

The Hadhad family spent three years in refugee camps, then applied to come to Canada which they did in 2016. They settled in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The family started making chocolate in their home and selling it at the Farmer’s Market. Then, with help from the community, they built a shed 

in the yard of their home where they made chocolate and sold it.

This year they have a factory and a plan to hire twenty people. Their chocolates will be on the shelves of major grocery chains in Atlantic Canada.

On our recent trip to Antigonish, our friends, Carlo and Hiltrud, who had immigrated to Canada from Berlin almost fifty years ago, took us to see the little shed front where Mrs. Hadhad and her daughter tend shop. After hearing so much about the Hadhad family and their story, it was great to meet them and wish them well. There was a time when our own ancestors were newcomers too. 

We sampled some chocolate and bought some too. Designs of the chocolates include the rose of Damascus and the maple leaf. It is delicious.

The Landing and beyond

The estuary looks different from above. 

The water looks cold as the gray sky creates a mood which sunshine makes unfamiliar. The straw coloured grasses and bulrushes signify the season. Where there is enough soil for trees, they are changing slowly with the diminishing light.

We had walked The Landing, a dirt road which runs along the estuary and were headed back to our friends’ home in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. 

This is their daily walk in their new hometown. While it is challenging near the end, with the climb up from the lowlands, it is easy for Carlo and Hiltrud after their months of practice.

We need jackets this day as the northerly wind is cool. The trail along the water is well used by residents and we meet a number of them along the way. There are lots of dogs to make friends with. We take our time, rest on occasion, 

and take photographs. The grasses and bulrushes along the road provide a good border from the water which flows to and from St.George’s Bay.

Trees line the fields nearby and autumn colours abound.

Carlo points out an eagle’s nest, partly hidden by the trees. 

Just beneath it, a bald eagle we name Sam, sits and surveys his domain. The detail in his feathers is impressive.

Along the way, we pass gardens where the autumn colour causes us to pause and take in the scenes. 

The next day, a deer was enjoying the plants in those gardens. Deer are an unusual sight for us as there are none in our native Newfoundland or on Prince Edward Island. My husband and I were excited to see her.

Autumn looks good in Antigonish