At our Vancouver Welcome Centre, a fantastic new artwork has been unveiled that speaks not just in images, but in stories, memories, and hope.
The new artwork called, Their Journey, captures the footsteps of countless people who have sought safety, dignity, and belonging in a new land. Created by Harem Tahir, a Kurdish visual artist and Refugee Claimant Housing Search Worker in our BC SAFE HAVEN program, the art shows rows of shoes owned by refugees living in conflict areas or refugee camps around the world.
Each pair of shoes is unique in size, style, and color, symbolizing the individuality of the lives disrupted by displacement, instability, conflict, and war. For Harem, “this work stands as a collective testimony of human migration and survival, while also carrying a promise: that every step taken brings us closer to belonging, dignity, and a future filled with light, hope, and happiness.”
More than just a reflection of hardship, Their Journey carries with it a promise: that every step taken brings us closer to dignity, belonging, and a brighter future. It is an artwork not of despair, but of endurance and hope.
Why art matters for newcomers
After working with newcomers in British Columbia for over 50 years, we know that for many refugees and immigrants, words cannot fully capture the depth and complexity of their experiences.
Harem knows the value of art for newcomers and displaced peoples personally, having taught art to refugees in camps across the Middle East before coming to Canada.
“Art offers newcomers a universal language to share their stories, emotions, and identities when words might feel limited. It creates a safe space for healing, belonging, and self-expression while also helping them connect with their new communities. Through art, newcomers can preserve their culture, process their journeys, and build bridges of understanding with others,” he explains.
Inspiring strength and belonging
At ISSofBC, we believe that welcoming newcomers means recognizing and uplifting their voices, talents, and creativity. By displaying ‘Their Journey’ in our Welcome Centre, we hope that newcomers walking through our doors will feel a sense of recognition that their experiences are acknowledged, valued, and respected.
This piece reminds all who see it that resilience and hope for a better life are built into the stories of refugees and immigrants.
It invites newcomers to take pride in their cultural roots, to embrace the courage that brought them here, and to know that they are not alone.
A call to community
Art like Their Journey shows us that welcoming refugees is not only about providing housing, language classes, or employment support, but also about creating spaces where identity, culture, and creativity can flourish. When we celebrate newcomer art, we celebrate the full humanity of those who arrive seeking safety and a sense of belonging.
At ISSofBC, our refugee services extend beyond the practical to the deeply personal.
If you are applying for asylum in Canada and live in British Columbia, our programs can provide you with free language support.
Together, we can build a community where every step forward is met with recognition, possibility, dignity, and hope.
