On Tuesday students from local schools and residents gathered in front of the Crescent Park Amphitheater to learn more about the process of people fleeing to Canada for World Refugee Day, hosted by the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council.

Spectators enjoyed many activities, but one highlight was a panel of six men who told the stories of their lives and what dangerous situations took place to make them move to our country to live.

Ahmad Alahaldi from Syria addressed the crowd and detailed what his country looked like before they left.

"Before the civil war started, the country was like any other country... peaceful, going well on all means. We had oil, gas, gold, a lot of industries (like) agriculture."

Now that he and his family have safely relocated and started their lives in Moose Jaw, Alahaldi has decided to give back by working at the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council to help other refugees as they move to Moose Jaw.

"Being here in Canada, it's the best thing to ever happen... I get help, lots of it and now I'm trying to payback my debt working as a Settlement Worker with the Multicultural Council."

Alahaldi said he worked as heavy duty mechanic previously, but decided to switch his career after the generous help he received as he and his family arrived here.

He noted what conditions were like for his family, forcing them to leave their home behind and search for a safer place to live.

"Thing got complicated, (the) war started, bombs of all kinds of sizes started to fall over civilians, (with) many injured. Me and my family decided to escape seeking safety."

Students who participated in World Refugee Day were also given pamphlets and were instructed to travel to different stations in the park that taught them about what conditions were like for some refugees back home and where they came from.