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.
