Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and their five children arrived in Canada as refugees, sponsored by Mohammed's sister Tima Kurdi, who wiped away tears as she greeted her relatives at Vancouver airport's arrival gates.
Speaking through his sister, who translated from Arabic, Mohammed Kurdi thanked Canadians and the government for making his dream come true.
His teenage son Shergo said he was looking forward to going back to school and starting a new life.
The boy's father Abdullah Kurdi said after the tragedy that the family was trying to get to Canada to join his sister Tima. Abdullah has since declined to come to Canada. He lives in Iraq's Kurdistan region. Tima said she wished Abdullah was in Canada. "All of us here wish you were here with us," Tima said when asked if she had a message for him.
Mohammed Kurdi has been in Germany since leaving his family in Turkey seven months ago to find work. He had yet to meet his youngest child, who was born in July, but the family reunited in Frankfurt before flying to Canada.
Mohammed Kurdi, his wife and children will all stay with Tima Kurdi and her family for now. The brother and sister are planning to work together at Tima Kurdi's new hair salon in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Kurdi Hair Design.
"Thank you Canadian people. Thank you Prime Minister Trudeau for opening the door and showing the world how everyone should welcome refugees and save lives," Tima Kurdi said.
She said hopes other refugees remain hopeful.
