George Al Khoury of Sault Ste. Marie is no longer just a permanent resident of Canada.
The owner and operator of Georgie’s Shawarma is now a full Canadian citizen after a citizenship ceremony in Mississauga, Ont. held on November 2.
“It was amazing, that’s all I can tell you,” Al Khoury said, speaking to SooToday on Thursday night. “It feels great and I’ve been waiting for this minute for five years and more since I applied. It has been almost seven years since my sponsor applied for me.”
Al Khoury relocated to Sault Ste. Marie in 2017 after a five-year stint in Lebanon, where he sought refuge when he fled his native Syria.
He would work stints at the Marconi Cultural Event Centre, Aurora’s Westside and the Sault Community Career Center before launching Georgie’s Shawarma, a popular restaurant on Elgin Street serving authentic Syrian cuisine, in October 2018.
Al Khoury now has a family in Sault Ste. Mary? he currently lives with his mutual girlfriend, her two children and the son he and his partner have, Jood, who is just one year old.
“I try to improve and organize every day, better and better since I started,” said Al Khoury. “It was great, it was amazing.
“I’m very busy — I work at least 11 hours, 12 hours a day and I have a family to take care of.”
Al Khoury waited about nine months after completing his application for Canadian citizenship before he could take the citizenship test, which he took online.
He would wait another nine months or so before receiving an email inviting him to attend a citizenship ceremony in southern Ontario.
“I have a fresh start now, you know? I have a new home and a new place that protects me, and I have my rights here and outside of here. I feel great, especially after leaving home,” said Al Khoury. “That was the plan and here it is. Here now.”
Georgi’s Shawarma’s face is recognizable throughout the city. Al Khoury says he feels “famous” when strangers in the Sault recognize him.
“It feels great, you know? People show you respect,” he said.
Al Khoury says he “feels stronger” now that he is a Canadian citizen.
“I feel like I’m more a part of this country and my community,” he said.
