In rural Nova Scotia, a refugee with pastry skills helps preserve Canadian jobs
CHESTER, N.S. — As Ruwad Al Badin deftly prepares Christmas gingerbread men, his employer in southwestern Nova Scotia looks on approvingly, knowing the skilled Syrian refugee is supporting a family, while also helping keep workers employed at the once struggling bakery.
“It’s very critical to have him here,” said Laura Mulrooney, owner of Julien’s Bakery. “It is a skill. It’s about the temperature, the dough, the machinery, the butter. He knew what to do. We didn’t have to teach him much.”
Before Al Badin’s arrival several months ago, the bakery’s production of artisan pastries had fallen off, and layoffs were a possibility.
“We’ve been able to stay on track with Ruwad here,” Mulrooney said in a recent interview. “In January, we’ll get back to where we were (in production).”