Shala is one of those women who has taken leadership as a woman to a new level. She arrived in Canada in 2000 part of the family reunification program offered to people of Kosovo living in Canada to reunite with their family. Over three-thousand refugees arrived in Canada part of the family reunification program. Canada also deployed the Canadian military and created the emergency program in April of 1999 in airlifting thousands of Kosovo refugees to Canada initially housing them in military bases across the country to give relief to Albania and Macedonia with the refugee crisis overwhelming their borders as Serbia’s brutal war in Kosovo would drive more than half of the country’s population out of their homes.

Serbia was also found to committing severe human rights violations, ethnic cleaning and severe crimes against humanity which included pregnant women and children as assessed by International Organizations, one of those people would be Canada’s Louise Arbour who was one of the prosecutors on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Serbia continues to deny accountability for war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and for many family’s who’ve been severely affected by war it’s been a long road to justice such as Canada’s Fatmire Feka “ at this point, we just want to know where their bodies are so we can have closure” says Feka where her sister and brother went missing during the Kosovo war.

Despite the hurtful past, Kosovo would prevail and overcome oppression with the assistance of Western countries including Canada who continues to contribute to peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo “It's important to acknowledge that we were living under oppression long before March 1999. Whether it was being expelled from schools, enduring police curfews, watching our parents lose their jobs, or facing the suppression of free speech, we experienced it all” says Shala in relation to growing up in Kosovo.

Albanian women faced a double- whammy. Oppression from Serbia on an ethnic level and many also faced oppression from their families and spouses. Many women lacked independence, education and legal rights and were in isolation. Kosovo’s freedom would bring many women out of their shells and out of those shadows and breaking barriers. Today the workforce of women and the number of educated women in Bachelor's and Master's degrees has surpassed men according to a recent 2024 study conducted by UN Women, the number are historic and so is their success. From entrepreneurs to leaders in science making their way into NASA’s internship, IT, fashion and much more, the post-war generation of women in Kosovo have proven that with freedom comes growth and success who've changed the narrative to their own story.

In Canada; today, Shala serves as Vice President of a retirement company that owns 11 retirement homes, serves 1,500 residents, and employs over 1,100 staff members “In the spirit of giving back and in honor of those who mentored me, I now serve on the advisory board of Algonquin College’s Retirement Management Program and as a Mentor in the Leadership Program with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association” says Shala.

His simplicity doesn't give away his impressive resume. He was an editor-in-chief in for Kosovo’s KTV, and hosted a very popular current affairs show ‘Interaktiv’. Now, he’s thriving as a freelance journalist and on his second mandate as the Chairperson of Association of Journalists of Kosovo “We promote professional journalism, and advocate for a free press.”

He recalls his experience from reporting in Ukraine and Syria as emotionally tasking “I had the chance to visit towns like Irpin and Bucha, where some of the worst atrocities happened in the beginning of the war. I Was able to bring to Kosovo and Albania audiences' stories of the families of those killed, and video of destruction that Russian attacks were brining. In January 2025, less than two months after Syria’s liberation I traveled to Damascus, brining stories of those that have suffered so much during Assad’s regime. “he says.

But that wasn’t all his dedication to Ukraine. Just weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Flutura Kusari, a Kosovo activist, and Kosovo MP Doarsa Kica Xhelili launched an initiative with the support of Kosovo and German governments to host Ukrainian journalists in Kosovo, offering them a safe haven and the opportunity to continue their work “AJK is the lead partner running the program, and so far, we’ve welcomed 19 Ukrainian journalists,” says Rexha.

PM Albin Kurti gives flowers to Ukrainian journalist Lyudmila Makey

And it didn’t stop there. Within the framework of the “Journalists in Residence – Kosovo Program, they also opened doors to five Afghan journalists, one of whom has since relocated to Canada. “We’re incredibly proud of this program—it’s given everyone involved a meaningful way to contribute,” Xhemajl Rexha says with pride.

XHEMAJ'S JOURNEY TO CANADA IN APRIL OF 1999

Giving back to the journalists from Ukraine hits home for Rexha who himself was a refugee in Canada 25 years ago. “I will always cherish the moment when, Ludmila Makey, the first Ukrainian journalist arrived in Kosovo, back in April 2022. It gave me flashbacks of my travel as a refugee to Canada, but now I was on the other side of the Airport waiting to give a hand of welcome to someone that was fleeing war.” says Rexha.

REXHA'S FAMILY HOME DESTROYED BY WAR

In 1999, Rexha and his family came to Canada as refugees part of Canada’s emergency program in relocating Kosovo refugees from Macedonia ‘Operation Parasol’. Rexhaj would first land in Camp Aldershot in Nova Scotia to then resettling in Edmonton – a place he still feels connected to today. “There is no doubt in my mind I would have been doing journalism if I stayed in Canada, as well, and would have probably worked in a local Edmonton newspaper. But, the chances of me staying in Edmonton would have been slim, because of long cold winters. I just imagine sometime how life would have been if we stayed there, with me probably moving to Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver for better opportunities” says Rexha.

Rexha and family with Canadian sponsorship group in Edmonton

Rexha’s compassion for Ukrainian refugees, journalists comes from witnessing the Kosovo war front and center not only as a journalist but as a teenager. “Exactly a week after, (NATO bombing campaign) on March 31 by midday, my entire neighborhood was forced to leave our homes at gunpoint. We were forced to go to train station, forced to a train and head towards Macedonia, ending up in refugee camp for a month before flying to Canada. Our house was not burned, but damaged. My mother’s two uncles were killed in their village, some 30 miles from Prishtina, in a massacre where 42 people were killed in a day.” says Rexha of his family’s horrific experience during the Kosovo war.

But before the war even began, there were unrests and protests that Rexha remembers so clearly “October 1st students protest, led by now-PM, Albin Kurti. It happened in my neighborhood, Velania, close to my school. We skipped class to go and see what was happening, and I witnessed the Serbian police crackdown on students. Many of those ended up in my home, after being tear gassed in the protest.” he recalls.

Rexha and family in Canada, 1999

Rexha says although his family chose the route to return home, he has no regret over that decision where he’s had a major successful journalism career in Kosovo “We went back to Kosovo on September 2nd, 1999 just in time to go back for new schools year. It was a decision of my parents, obviously, to go back and as I recall it was because of the family back home. We never regretted the decision. As much as I love and I am sure would have loved to be living in Canada, I am very proud of the decision to go back to our home country, Kosovo” he says in gratitude.

Rexha's family on repatriation flight to Kosovo

The Canadian government provided assistance in providing refugees with temporary refuge and were later granted an opportunity to apply for permanent residency. A Pier 21 research paper writes “Canadian officials in the refugee camps of FYR Macedonia and Albania found that many of the Kosovar refugees were reluctant to resettle in Canada. Some of the refugees believed that Canada was too far away and too cold” writes the paper.

While some refugees like the Rexhaj decicided to take part in the repatriation flight, Canadian officials records state that nearly 70 percent of the Kosovars had decided to resettle permanently in Canada, many well integrated and playing a pivotal role in Canada’s society.

Rexha still holds a postcard from Edmonton which holds a special place in his heart. Although his family chose to return home, Rexha however, highlights the success of those who’ve continue their journey in Canada” I am very happy to see how our Kosovan Albanian compatriots that stayed behind, have built an amazing, vibrant community that is giving back to Canada as a country, while keeping alive the Kosovo link” he says.

Arber Xhekaj/Facebook

He and his 20-year-old brother Florian, who currently plays for the Laval Rocket, share not just an identity, an apartment but also a dream—and the hope that one day they’ll put on the same jersey in the big leagues "our biggest dream is to play together on the same team, biggest gap was the age difference because we couldn’t be on the same team but achieving our dreams together that’s number one for me" says Arber Xhekaj.

As for Arber Xhekaj’s skills on ice, Dose.ca writes “He’s big, he’s physical, he’s capable of fighting… But we mustn’t forget one aspect of his game. Arber Xhekaj is also endowed with a good shot” writes the blog.

Speaking to Arber Xhekaj for this story, I could feel his passion he has for the game, his family and communities he is involved in, despite his tough attitude on the ice, he comes through as very kind, gentle and extremely humble.

His advise for young people is simple “believe in yourself, chase your dreams, my parents were big on helping me chase my dreams, and keep pushing, there's’ ups downs bump but you can aspire who you want to be and that’s why it’s great to be grown here, there’s opportunities if you put your mind and focus into it”

And his brother Florian, got quite the attention on his first NHL appearance, dropping the gloves as he became physical. He began his career as a youth with the Hamilton huskies to then joining the Hamilton Bulldogs in the OHL where he played for two seasons.

“They all support me, unbelievable, I met people who never watch hockey- its unbelievable how many Albanians are rooting me on, its very special to have that for me, they're very loyal to their people they want to see Albanians do well" says Arber Xhekaj in gratitude of the Albanian community in Canada.

Late Jack Xhekaj's mother in traditional Albanian costume

For their father, watching his sons in professional hockey is nothing short of a miracle. “It’s an incredible feeling. Canada gives young people chances,” he says. He can’t help but contrast their success with his own youth in Kosovo during the 1990s, a time marked by love at home but overshadowed by fear and hardship around him in all areas of life. That’s when ethnic cleansing began to tear lives apart—starting with thousands of Albanians losing jobs and families crumbling under the strain. It was then that Jack made the wrenching decision to flee, first across Europe, before finally landing in Canada to build a new life.

In 1999, over 500,000 thousands Albanians in Kosovo were driven out of their homes and thousands killed during Serbia’s war which brought international backlash and plea for help from western countries including Canada that would offer to airlift initially over 5000. At just five years old, Abdullahu arrived in Canada under 'Operation Parasol' after her family's harrowing escape and a six-week stay in a Macedonian refugee camp. "We fled Kosovo on the first night of the NATO bombings," she recalls. Although her family was fortunate to avoid direct war casualties, the separation from relatives was a significant hardship, taking months to resolve.

The transition to life in Canada was smooth but with its own set of challenges for Abdullahu's family, thanks to a supportive group of 12 sponsor families organized through a local church. "We were so fortunate to be welcomed... We still maintain great relationships with most of them to this day," she says. Initially settling in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the family faced typical newcomer challenges like language and cultural barriers, which led them to relocate to Hamilton for better job prospects.

Abdullahu’s family first settled in Thunder Bay, On., where she speaks of their challenges as newcomers “ I started school that Fall in Grade 1, having never attended anything back home, and I cried at drop off for a month straight. After a year in Thunder Bay, my parents found it very difficult to find jobs. Thunder Bay had not seen a lot of immigration, so the language and cultural barriers were amplified there. They made the decision to move us to Southern Ontario, in search of more opportunities. We’ve been in Hamilton ever since.”

Being a young refugee has made Abdullahu resilient and change the narrative surrounding refugee women in the community. Abdullahu's journey from a refugee child to a celebrated scientist is both inspiring and educational. She earned a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University and a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, specializing in RNA Therapeutics. Currently, she works at Eli Lilly, having transitioned from a chemist to a role in External Innovation, partnerships to advance RNA drug development. Her work has taken her globally, presenting at various international conferences.

Besides her incredible resume, Abdullahu is the President of the ‘Albanian Society of Hamilton’ where she’s dedicated her time to community leadership before stepping into the board “I am so proud of all that the Hamilton Albanian Community has accomplished in such a short amount of time. It is one of the largest Albanian communities in Canada, and the majority of our members are, in fact, Kosovar refugees. Our shared experience has made us a very tight-knit community, and I am happy to say that we have so many successful members that have fully integrated into life in Canada and are contributing to the success of Canadian society” emphasizing the success and integration of Kosovar refugees in Canada.

Today, Enisa Hyseni lives in Windsor, Ontario and loves lurking online at the newest baking recipes overlooking the Ambassador bridge connecting two neighborly countries that she hopes the peaceful connection will also remain under the Trump Administration. A view reminding her of her family's past across the world, conflict of neighboring countries so complex killing thousands, forcing nearly a million out of their homes including Hyseni’s family.

Inside her kitchen is a notebook with her writing and her baked goods making it out of the oven, Hyseni who lives at home with her family, giving her home a delicate smell is a survivor of Serbia’s ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in late 1999 prompting international backlash against Serbia for its use of force and human rights violations against civilians.

Behind her big bright brown eyes that carry a sparkle and a smile with a shy smirk, Hyseni shares her family’s story of terror “Before the war, we lived in a village, but life was far from easy. Wherever we went, Serbians would beat anyone, put our people in jail, and push us around. We tried to survive, but even going to work meant risking the brutality of police” she says. Her family came to Canada in 1999 as refugees. Canada responded to UNHCR’s call to assist with the refugee crisis, airlifting over 5,000 initially and over another 3,000 others part of the refugee family reunification program.

Although they suffered a lot from losing a house down to studs from Serbia’s arson to more severe losses, family members who died in the conflict protecting their families, Canada gave the Hyseni family renewed hope “We were grieving the loss of our people long before their deaths. My parents fled with the clothes on their backs, leaving behind everything they knew and loved” says Hyseni.

Hyseni was only two-months-old when Serbian forces entered their town on April 2nd in 1999, taking over schools, separating men and women “paramilitary soldiers came and said we had no safety or security. We were told to leave our homes and go elsewhere. Despite this, our family returned home, only to face even more terror. On April 10, paramilitary forces came again. Police and soldiers dragged people from their homes and ordered them to head to Albania or stay and die” says Hyseni recalling memories as she looks down on her freshly baked goods; over 25 years later, memories with wounds still fresh for her family.

While most refugees who’ve come to Canada chose to call Canada home. Belinda Lahu did the opposite. Leaving Canada and her family here for a new life in Kosovo. Being a child of Kosovo refugees who settled in the country in 1999 following Canada’s response in airlifting over 5,000 refugees, Lahu being a first generation of Canadian born learning and creating a new identity as Albanian- Canadian.

While Lahu was born in Canada, Lahu’s older siblings and parents faced Serbia’s war in Kosovo as a young family and forced to make ultimate sacrifices. In Lahu’s words, the experience was traumatic but would also inspire Lahu’s strong desire in community leadership and also staying connected to her roots. During the war, her family lived in a small village near the capital of Pristina, Rimanishte with their two daughters both under the age of two years-old. When the ethnic conflict escalated between Kosovo and Serbia, her parents were forced to separate out of fear and to keep the family safe as Lahu’s father had outdated documents.

“My father faced additional danger due to outdated and incorrect citizenship documents. While this might not seem significant under normal circumstances, in a country gripped by war, Serbian forces used even the smallest pretext to terrorize Albanians. My village is in the mountains near Prishtina, and during this time, my father made the difficult decision to take my mother to her uncle’s house for safety. He then fled to the mountains, hiding alone for long periods. Even his own family didn’t know where he was. These were the lengths they had to go to in order to survive the chaos and brutality that defined those years" says Lahu..

She recalls the traumatic experience her family and the people of Kosovo faced as the terror unfolded as the world watched horrific atrocities unfold and severe human right violations. “During the war, Serbian forces were brutally aggressive toward the Albanian population throughout Kosova. At checkpoints scattered across the country, they would often demand money or valuables when checking documents from those fleeing. If people had nothing to give, they risked severe harm, or worse, death. “My uncles experienced this firsthand—they were stopped, beaten, and left with no choice but to remain silent, unable to react out of fear for their lives. This fear wasn’t unfounded; it came from witnessing countless Albanians endure horrific treatment under similar circumstances.”

Her mother took her two daughters and left without her husband and fled to Macedonia, as he stayed behind to avoid endangering them. The war brought immense hardship to Lahu’s family. Although nobody in her immediate families died, they endured many traumatic experiences and witnessed horrific events. Lahu’s uncle was stabbed in the leg, and her family’s neighbor’s son was killed in front of his family. “When my mom first fled with my sisters, they stayed with her uncle’s family, but the Serbians eventually forced them out. She then continued her journey to Macedonia with my sisters on her shoulders, where she was finally reunited with my aunt and their family” she says.

Lahu’s mother would take on a new journey to Canada with her two daughters not knowing if her husband made it out alive. Lahu’s father went missing and was found through Red Cross and brought to Canada around six month later part of the family reunification program that was offered to the Kosovo refugees that came part of ‘Operation Parasol’ Canada’s emergency response program in relocating refugees to help with the refugee crisis flocking Macedonia in 1999.

Those experiences have not only made her family resilient but Lahu too giving her a deeper connection to contribute to her family’s homeland. Today, she works for the Government of Kosovo in the capital of Pristina. She’s one of many young people from Kosovo who’ve left their birthplace to give back to Kosovo especially since Covid-19 opened doors to remote workers, this giving her attention on the social media platform TikTok “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a deep longing for Kosova. I would hear stories of a home away from home—of the tragedies, hardships, and resilience—but I couldn’t fully grasp our culture, history, and heritage without being here. I needed to experience it for my own personal development, to better understand my parents' journey, and in a way to live the life that was taken from them”

Lahu became part of the ‘Citizen Diplomacy Fellowship’, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova, where diaspora professionals are invited to contribute within different institutions. Even though Lahu’s family has continued their life in Canada “Coming back to Kosova has been a very transformative experience” she says.

Lahu has a degree in Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa, with a focus on research in women's sexual and reproductive health, being one of six children, majority being women in the family inspired her passion in the field. The 22-year-old also has around six years of experience in the medical field, working in pharmacies and medical clinics “My mother, Fatime, and father, Afrim Lahu, sought refuge in Canada in 1999, and I am incredibly thankful for everything my family has done and the opportunities they provided us. Their strength and resilience have shaped who I am today” says Lahu.

“My family’s best memory from coming to Canada is the patience and kindness we were shown from the beginning which allowed for our family to grow and create beautiful memories we will never forget.” says Lahu. She acknowledges the difficult beginning her family has shared as refugees and the difficulties she’s also faced in being a child of a first-generation newcomers.” they had nothing but the clothes on their backs when they got to Canada now, they have their house paid and kids all educated. They never gave up”