Friday, October 27, 2023 3 Brooklin Town Crier Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com • Circulation 8000 • Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, November 10, 2023 Deadline: Friday, November 3, 2023 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com "One- of-a-Kind Golfing Experience" Enjoy the Fall Colours! parents I want to work. So my dad, he says first no, you have to study, you're still young. I don't like school. I need work, I want to make money. And he says, 'Okay, if you want...but I don't have any idea about what I want to do. I just want to stop school and start work. It doesn't matter what work, I need money. And he says, 'You have to work at something for your future.'" The next day, he went to a local barbershop in Damascus with a friend who needed a haircut. The shop's owner was looking for someone to help with various chores and Darrouj spoke up. The owner asked for his father's phone number to ask him if he was okay with his son working there. A surprised father "I give to him," he continues, "and they talk. My dad is surprised that I find work just the next day. Then he says, yeah, okay no problem he can work but I need something from you to make him work hard." Darrouj began with cleaning up. The owner liked him and his work ethic and offered him more responsibility. A couple of months later, the boss broke his hand in a fall and desperately needed his help. "I need you now to help me," the boss said. Darrouj knew little of haircuts or shaving but was willing to learn because, as the man indicated, if he didn't, he could lose the business. The injury took two months to heal during which time Darrouj did a lot of haircuts and shaves. In fact, he created his own list of clients who requested him once the boss returned. "I grew in a very short time," he recalls. Life in Syria before the civil war was bearable. "Before the war, it was a good life. Not the best, but a good life. You could save, you could work wherever you want. It was a little bit hard to open your own business. You need a lot of help. But, yeah, like you can do good things in Syria. But after the war it's too hard. And now, still it's too hard. It's very expensive." New Canadians It took two years to get approval for him and his wife to get to Canada, a country they'd heard was free and clean and safe. The initial connection was through a church group in Beirut that connected them with Whitby. Since arriving, his two young daughters are born Canadians while he and his wife, who takes care of the baby at home, have earned Canadian citizenship. And next month, his mother will finally be able to join them here. Indeed, Youssef Darrouj, the Brooklin Barber, has set down roots in his adopted country, fulfilling a dream he never thought possible. Website: brooklinbarber.com Email: youssef @brooklinbarber.com Tel: 905-620-1430 Continued from Page 2 Available on Amazon or from our editor, Richard Bercuson, who will deliver in the BTC area. $20 for a signed copy.