SASKATOON — Six times, Sultan Ali Sadat and his family were displaced and faced uncertainty while he was growing up in Afghanistan. Before arriving in Canada as a refugee in late December 2000, he had already experienced losing his home, war, hunger and the constant struggle to survive in the war-torn country.
Despite all those hardships, including living in Pakistan after having no choice but to leave everything behind, he emerged with a determination that would eventually help him build a new life in Saskatoon. His family's first major displacement came when he was still an infant. His father worked for Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, and during the Soviet-era conflict, government employees were often targeted by anti-government fighters.
"We left everything behind six times in the country. We built the house six times, starting from scratch, but had to leave, especially during the times when the Mujahideen and the Taliban took over. We were left with no choice. My mother didn't see my dad for seven or eight months because my dad and my uncle were imprisoned. Our village, and those nearby, were attacked. They burned down houses, including ours. We had to flee on foot, and it was winter at that time,” Sadat recalled.
When things returned to normal in Afghanistan, his father rebuilt their lives and worked in government, where he rose through the ranks. The family enjoyed stability in Bamiyan province, 240 kilometres northwest of the capital, Kabul, where soldiers worked under his father's command and government resources provided a comfortable life. But peace proved temporary, and as a young student, Sadat witnessed firsthand the dangers of war. During one school day, rocket attacks forced students into underground bunkers. When a teacher decided to continue a quiz rather than evacuate again, tragedy struck.
"The rocket hit our school. We ran to the front, and we saw the teacher sitting in the chair, not moving. We found out that she got shrapnel right in her neck, and she was pronounced dead in the class,” said Sadat, the image forever ingrained in his memory.
The violence forced Sadat and his siblings to move repeatedly. One day, they were living comfortably; the next, they were once again refugees within their own country. When a government-controlled province fell to opposition forces, his family lost everything.
"We could not bring a single thing out of the house. Everything remained there. We didn't have a banking system. Our cash, our belongings, everything was gone. Years later, as the Taliban advanced across Afghanistan, we again faced another life-altering challenge. I served at the age of 16. I was sent to the front lines after my older brother became ill. At that time, local families were ordered to provide fighters. We lost a few friends, very close friends, classmates and village friends that we used to play soccer with," he added.
After escaping Afghanistan, Sadat spent more than two years in refugee camps in Pakistan. There, he worked as an educator and eventually became the principal of a school for Afghan refugees. The position helped open a path to a new future.
"That's where we got the opportunity to come to Canada. We were referred because we could speak some English and had some education. When my family's immigration application was approved, I left with my wife and two children. I gave most of my savings to my relatives who decided to stay behind. I could survive for two or three months in Canada until I found a job,” said Sadat, who had only $100 in his pocket.
“However, during a layover in Germany, I bought burgers and juice for my children. I was stunned by the price when the lady said it was $21. I said, 'Could you please count it again?’ And she did, it was $21. That was a big hit to my head. I started wondering how I was going to survive. I continued to worry when we landed in Canada. We landed during winter in Saskatchewan.”
They left the winter cold of Frankfurt and landed in Toronto, which was manageable for them, before taking another flight to Saskatchewan, where they would settle in Saskatoon. However, they arrived in the city on a day when it was -40 C.
Yet it was also in Saskatoon where he experienced one of the most meaningful welcomes of his life. Representatives from the former Saskatoon Open Door Society and members of his faith community greeted his family at the airport, helping ease fears about starting over in a new country.
"I said, 'Thank God, we're going somewhere better.' Then we landed in Saskatoon, and it was minus 40," Sadat laughed. “But the welcome that we received, especially from Open Door Society, gave me a big sigh of relief. We had somebody to take care of us."
His road ahead was far from easy after learning that his university degree from Afghanistan was not recognized in Canada, forcing him to return to high school upgrading classes while working as a cleaner. He later worked at a meat-processing plant, where a serious workplace injury left him in a wheelchair for nearly a year and with a diagnosis indicating that he would never be able to walk again.
Instead of giving up, he returned to school once more. He completed his studies in accounting, earned a degree in human resources, later completed an MBA and eventually built a successful career helping newcomers settle in Saskatchewan.
Today, Sadat shares his story through books written originally for his children and grandchildren. His goal is not to dwell on tragedy, but to help younger generations understand the sacrifices that brought them to where they are today. Looking back, he says the most important lesson he learned is perseverance. Obstacles are inevitable, but success comes from finding ways around them rather than surrendering to them.
