XHEMAJL REXHA: ONCE A REFUGEE IN CANADA, TO REPORTING FROM UKRAINE AND HOSTING UKRANIAN JOURNALISTS IN KOSOVO
In recent years, Xhemajl Rexha has been quite busy from reporting from Ukraine to tackling a wide range of events as a seasoned senior journalist in Kosovo. He’s sat down with Presidents, Prime Ministers, MPs, and other prominent figures, while covering significant events in Kosovo and beyond—such as Kosovo status talks in Vienna, the declaration of Kosovo’s independence, and more. He's appeared on CTV News Channel and other foreign channels reporting on the Ukraine refugee crisis, and recently contributed to Dua Lipa’s ‘Service95.’
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.
Source: Albin Kurti/Facebook
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.
REXHAJ'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.
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.
Source: Kanal10/Xh.Rexha
Rexha briefing Canada's CTVNewsChannel on the refugee crisis in Ukraine
Source: Xh.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.
Source: Xh. Rexha
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 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 % 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.
Source: Xh. Rexha
Source: Xh.Rexha
As far as Kosovo goes and freedom of the press which Rexha and AJK has been working on improving freedom for press he says he’s actively searching for opportunities for improvement “I have met the Canadian Ambassador to Kosovo (and Croatia) a few times, and we are looking forward to work together for a better media environment in the country. This collaboration has, of course, a very personal meaning to me.” says Rexha.