Calgary volunteers help Muslim farmer after his hard work was targeted by vandals
A group of volunteers are helping a Muslim farmer rebuild after a series of incidents of vandalism on the land where he works.
Mohamed Eldaher tends to a vegetable farm just outside of Calgary.
This year, he says he's been dealing with multiple incidents he believes may be connected to his race or religion. The Syrian immigrant says garbage is constantly dumped on his property and someone attempted to destroy his greenhouse with their vehicle.
But on Saturday, something happened that made him fear for the lives of his wife and children. Eldaher says he came to the plot to find his fence broken and tire tracks over parts of his crop.
"I'm very sad and very angry," he told CTV News. "Why? What (did) I do?"
However, an outpouring of support from Calgarians this week has changed Eldaher's outlook on the situation.
"I'm feeling good," he said. "Many (are now) saying, 'Mohamed, it's not only you here. We are beside you.'"
Dozens of volunteers showed up to Eldaher's farm on Saturday to help weed his property and to finish building a homemade greenhouse.
Strangers, neighbours and friends have also donated money to put up a new fence for Eldaher and to install security cameras.
He's only been in Canada for five years, but the man who helped Eldaher get on his feet says he's already a popular figure in the community.
"I really admire the gusto of people like Mohamed," land owner Abdullah Chybli said. "He has a good attitude and is grateful in any situation."
The co-founder of the Calgary Immigrant Support Society, which helped organize the weekend's support, echoed Chybli.
"When something really bad happens, they always say counter that with something really big and good," Saima Jamal said. "And so that's what's happening here. This is the really big and good thing."
Anyone looking to financially help Eldaher can visit the Calgary Immigrant Support Society group on Facebook.
Volunteers will be on site Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. continuing to work.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.