ANTIGONISH, N.S. — A year ago, members of the Hadhad family were Syrian refugees in Lebanon — but now they're running a chocolate business in Nova Scotia with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telling their story at the United Nations.
Trudeau opened his speech to the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the UN in New York Tuesday by talking about Peace by Chocolate, which opened last month in Antigonish and has begun hiring local employees.
Tareq Hadhad says his family is so proud that the prime minister chose to tell their story.
His father, Isam Hadhad, ran a successful chocolate factory with 30 employees in Damascus until it was destroyed in a bombing in 2012.
The family arrived in Canada in January, and with the help of local supporters, they've made Antigonish their new home and place to work.
Tareq says they have been flooded with emails, phone calls and visitors since the prime minister's speech, and he expects it will be a provide a big boost for the small company working towards success.
