Dear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the people of Canada,
My name is Gatmach Chuol, and I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude for the life-changing opportunities I have experienced since arriving in Canada. I humbly request that this message be shared with Prime Minister Trudeau and all Canadians, whose generosity and leadership have profoundly impacted my life.
In 2013, at just eight years old, I was separated from my parents due to the conflict in South Sudan. I fled to Kenya as a refugee and lived there without my parents, though I was fortunate to reconnect with my uncle in the refugee camp, where we lived together.
In 2019, under the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau, the Government of Canada extended an incredible opportunity to us by allowing us to resettle in Canada.
This act of kindness and compassion has forever changed my life.
In Canada, I have worked hard to build a better future. With the resources and opportunities provided here, I was able to search for and finally reconnect with my parents in June 2024, after many years apart. They are still in a refugee camp, but finding them was a dream come true—one I owe to the stability and hope I have found in Canada.
I often think of Canada as a place that asks, “Show me your best effort,” and rewards hard work and determination. Today, I am a proud student at Algoma University, pursuing opportunities I could never have imagined before coming here. For this, I am forever thankful.
As I reflect on all that Canada has done for me, I humbly ask for one more favour: I would like to bring my parents to Canada so that we can be reunited and start a new chapter together. I am willing to work closely with the government to make this happen, and I am committed to contributing to this nation that has already given me so much.
Lastly, I understand that you are planning to step down as Prime Minister, and I want to take this moment to wish you the best of luck in the next chapter of your life.
Thank you for your leadership, which has brought hope to so many, including myself.
To all Canadians, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and belief in the potential of those who come to your country in search of a better life.
With gratitude and hope,
Gatmach Chuol