Newly arrived family can’t wait to celebrate Canada Day

Published 5:30 am Wednesday, July 1, 2026

The Chawack family, who are originally from South Sudan, can’t wait to celebrate their first Canada Day in Nanaimo. From left are Gloria, Ken and Nyatouk. (Robert Barron/News Bulletin)

Members of the Chawack family couldn’t believe their luck when the Canadian government placed them in Nanaimo in October.

Nyatouk, her daughter Gloria and brother Ken are from South Sudan, where they were forced to flee their home a number of years ago as the civil war in that African country began to heat up again.

They spent years living as refugees in Egypt, before the Canadian government allowed them to come to this country as government-assisted refugees, and are working towards becoming Canadian citizens.

Ken said the Chawacks have no family in Canada to reside with, so the government arbitrarily placed them in Nanaimo, and the family believes they couldn’t have found a better place in the country for them.

“This has to be the nicest place in Canada to live,” said Ken, while sitting with Nyatouk and Gloria at Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society’s facility on Selby Street, where they have been receiving support to transition into their new lives in Canada.

“It’s not as crowded as some of the larger cities in the country, which is great, and it has some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen in my life. I plan to stay here.”

While working on their English language skills, Ken is studying information technology at Vancouver Island University, Gloria is heading into Grade 8 at John Barsby Secondary School in September, and Nyatouk has obtained a degree in business management while she was living in Egypt, and wants to start her own business in Nanaimo when she becomes more settled here.

Nyatouk and Ken have five other siblings, with two of them in Egypt, and they are considering applying to settle here as well, after hearing so many good things about Nanaimo and its residents from their family.

“All the resources we need are here to settle into our new home, and we’re really enjoying living in Nanaimo,” she said.

Gloria just graduated from Grade 7 at Park Avenue Elementary School and is excited about heading to high school.

“I’ve been learning English really well and I’ve made a lot of friends at school,” she said with a smile.

“Canada Day will be our first in Nanaimo and we’re really excited about celebrating it with everyone.”

Ken said he’s anticipating visiting other parts of the country, including Calgary and Toronto, but expects he will always find his way back to Nanaimo.

“The best part of Nanaimo is its people,” he said.

“We’ve been treated really well since we first came here and we really appreciate that. It’s a great place and I’m very happy that we landed here.”

Ken has been a big soccer fan and player his whole life, and his big dream now is to train and play for the Canadian team in the next FIFA series.

As for their plans for Canada Day on July 1, the Chawacks said they are heading to Maffeo Sutton Park to join other revellers in the activities that will be taking place there.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Nyatouk said.