Obituary for Nour Ali
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Nour Ali on June 13, 2020 at the age of 42. Nour and his father Hamza Ali, were lost in a boating accident near Belair, Manitoba. Nour is survived by his wife Maysoun Darweesh, their daughters Rooj and Naya, his mother Nofa, brothers Jwan and Sirwan, and sisters Shler, Fayha, and Avin.
Nour and Maysoun arrived in Winnipeg together with their daughters in 2012, as refugees from Syria through China and Macau. They swiftly integrated into life in Winnipeg and embraced every opportunity to learn and forge new relationships. They quickly became self-sufficient and Nour started his own company, Thank You Canada. The entire family became Canadian citizens in 2018. Nour envisioned, and created, the Kurdish Initiative for Refugees Inc. and he and Maysoun have taken active roles in communities of many faiths and cultures.
Nour loved to swim and scuba dive. He was gregarious, expressive, empathetic, compassionate, full of life, a people-gatherer, and the life of every party. Helping others brought him great joy and satisfaction. Nour was regularly interviewed by the media for his extensive work in helping newcomers to settle in Canada. He was a strong advocate for newcomers, and an activist for human rights. He spent endless hours speaking to students in schools, at various public events, and working with numerous community groups including the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (Welcome Place), Province of Manitoba Multi-culturalism Secretariat, Social Planning Council of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg, Ethno-cultural Council of Manitoba Stronger together, the Yazidi Association of Manitoba, and many others.
Nour will be greatly missed by so many.
The family would like to express their gratitude to so many who have helped them through the difficult events of these past days, including the RCMP, HEART, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Mennonite Central Committee, Douglas Mennonite Church, members of our community, and many other organizations and volunteers, particularly those who risked their own lives in efforts to save our family members.
Nour and Maysoun arrived in Winnipeg together with their daughters in 2012, as refugees from Syria through China and Macau. They swiftly integrated into life in Winnipeg and embraced every opportunity to learn and forge new relationships. They quickly became self-sufficient and Nour started his own company, Thank You Canada. The entire family became Canadian citizens in 2018. Nour envisioned, and created, the Kurdish Initiative for Refugees Inc. and he and Maysoun have taken active roles in communities of many faiths and cultures.
Nour loved to swim and scuba dive. He was gregarious, expressive, empathetic, compassionate, full of life, a people-gatherer, and the life of every party. Helping others brought him great joy and satisfaction. Nour was regularly interviewed by the media for his extensive work in helping newcomers to settle in Canada. He was a strong advocate for newcomers, and an activist for human rights. He spent endless hours speaking to students in schools, at various public events, and working with numerous community groups including the Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (Welcome Place), Province of Manitoba Multi-culturalism Secretariat, Social Planning Council of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg, Ethno-cultural Council of Manitoba Stronger together, the Yazidi Association of Manitoba, and many others.
Nour will be greatly missed by so many.
The family would like to express their gratitude to so many who have helped them through the difficult events of these past days, including the RCMP, HEART, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Mennonite Central Committee, Douglas Mennonite Church, members of our community, and many other organizations and volunteers, particularly those who risked their own lives in efforts to save our family members.