Saudi Students Say Thanks for Safety
Prince George, B.C. – A special, and unexpected thank you today from the Saudi Arabian Students Association in Prince George.
Association Vice President, Ahmed Alhari, and the Associations Media Coordinator, Hussam Kutbi, presented commemorative plaques to first responders in Prince George.
The RCMP, BC Ambulance Service and the Prince George Fire and Rescue Department, were each given a plaque celebrating “ongoing support” to the Saudi Student Association.
“We want to say thank you for always making us feel safe” says Hussam Kutbi “ Since the day we arrived here , everyone was so supportive os us. They didn’t care about our nationality, or race, they just supported us with anything that we need, we appreciate that support and that’s why we are here today, to say thank you to everyone, every organization in this town.”
All three organizations expressed their gratitude for the recognition, B.C. Ambulance Service Superintendent Craig Parnell said “On behalf of the BC Ambulance Service, everybody is important and working together to protect the community and making the community safe for everyone is a priority whether you are a resident or not.”
Assistant Fire Chief John Heaslip thanked the Saudi students for choosing Prince George “It’s a great community for raising a family, getting an education. We’re a close knit family, it’s a big city but small in the sense that everyone can still look out for one another. We welcome you to the city and hope you will bring more of your friends.”
RCMP Superintendent Eric Stubbs thanked the students for initiating the presentation “We in the RCMP want to have good relations with all the different cultures and groups. To have you coming here and acknowledge that you feel safe and appreciate what the different organizations do, means a lot to us.” He called on the Students to feel free to come forward and let the RCMP know if there are any concerns or issues that may arise, “We want to make sure you continue to feel safe and welcome in our community.”
There are about 150 Saudi students studying in Prince George. Hussam Kutabi is studying International business at UNBC, and hopes to one day get a job in the diplomatic corps. He will graduate next year. Ahmed Alhari is studying Human Resources at UNBC and will graduate in two more years.
Both young men say Prince George has proven to be an inclusive, supportive community and they look forward to sharing their Prince George experience with their friends and family in Saudi Arabia.
Comments
This is rather a strange story. Did they ever feel that they weren’t safe? I mean less safe then anyone else?
It’s a bit saddening to hear that some foreign students don’t feel safe here. All in all we’re a pretty friendly and welcoming community. Guess we need to work on our image. :)
Saudi students aren’t under any particular threat here or elsewhere in North America that I have heard of. I wonder if by chance there have been some incidents, medical or criminal, in which Saudi students were victims and they are just feeling well served?
axman….”It’s a bit saddening to hear that some foreign students don’t feel safe here”
Where are you hearing that some foreign students don’t feel safe here?
This story, combined with the crime reduction award story, makes a person wonder about this weeks message to the people by the powers that be.
Contrary to these two stories is REALITY!!!
In 2011 we were ranked the most dangerous city in Canada:
http://www2.macleans.ca/crime-chart/
In 2012 we ranked better, but not by much:
PG ranked 3rd in Canada for Break & Enters; PG ranked 4th in Canada for Sexual Assaults; 4th in Canada for Cannabis Possession; 5th in Canada for Impaired Driving; 8th in Canada for Aggravated Assaults; 9th in Canada for Motor Vehicle Thefts; and 14th in Canada for Robbery.
[url]http://www2.macleans.ca/worst-cities/[url]
Nice positive spin on the ridiculous crime situation here in PG, I give the positive public spin effort a 7 out of 10 rating. ;-)
Posted by: Dragonmaster on January 24 2014 12:53 PM
axman….”It’s a bit saddening to hear that some foreign students don’t feel safe here”
Where are you hearing that some foreign students don’t feel safe here?
————–
That’s what the story is all about. The fact they felt the need to single out the cops, etc. makes me believe they’re worried.
âWe want to say thank you for always making us feel safeâ
Considering the political climate of some of the countries these students may be coming from, we are a safe haven. That is how I read it, with an open mind. Countries where there is real racial tension to here, I’d say that’s something that should be mentioned.
Hey good approach uyterlindekel; compare us to the worst most violent places on earth and then say we don’t have it that bad.
Can I try that with the state of our city roads? ⦠Hey everyone, why are you compaining about the state of our road here in Prince George when the people in India have it much worse!
http://indiatransportportal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bad-road.jpg
Yup, best we be thankful for what we have, isn’t that right uyterlindekel?
I have met some of the students and I don’t think that they felt afraid, only that they would not be welcomed and would be treated differently. The first student I met didn’t even want to tell me where he was from, when the only comment he got from me was how he must be feeling cold. he laughed and then was very friendly.
And the Mosk at fifth and foothills has been vandalized how many times? And pg is/was the crime capital of Canada. How many times has the police been investigated for questionable behaviour? Why would anyone feel safe in PG?
Mosque. Read much?
Sometimes it truly astounds me how the commenters on here can take a positive story and turn it into something controversial.
Yes, considering where they come from and the culture there, I guess they are just expressing their appreciation for our culture here. Maybe they don’t trust to go to the police at home when they have a problem.
Baaa, haa, ha… “Mosk” now that really underscores the irony in NoWay’s comment in the “CNC Increasing Tuition Fees” story. NoWay definitely does not read much, and if anyone could benefit from a post secondary education it would be him!
@lhl; why should you be astounded by a negative reaction to right wing media putting a positive spin on a very bad crime situation here in PG? Lets get “real” here!
Roles eyes in disbelief! Maybe both of you should learn to read as you are both so close minded to think that Mosque is the only way spell Mosk.
It is rolls. My character should be in a “role” in a movie. Call yer mom down from upstairs to check your spelling before submitting. Thanks. Ease off on Tootsie Rolls. Might help yer spelling.
Hey I just finished watching a funny show on CBC called… wait for it… Little Moask on the Prairie. LOL
Please quote a “funny” joke or situation in that show. The one that makes you chuckle again and again. Thanks. Funny Canadian produced shows and the CBC are not to be used in the same sentence. See The Criminal Code of Canada for details.
Moask is probably French for mosque. Was it dubbed in English from Quebec?
There really is only one correct English way to spell mosque and it’s not NoWay’s way!
http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/
I was being facetious.
“Funny Canadian produced shows and the CBC are not to be used in the same sentence.”
Challenge accepted! This is a video from the Canadian CBC show 22 Minutes;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yresaKOlr7g
Actually harbinger and P#1 mosque is the French version of Mosk. Are you trying to spell “your” harbinger?
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