What are neighbours for?
Last Sunday, Jo Du was all set to marry her groom Earl Lee in Ontario, Canada, when disaster struck: the zipper on her dress broke.
As Jo’s photographer, Lindsay Coulter, explained in a Facebook post, she suggested that one of the bridesmaids pop over next door to borrow a pliers from their neighbour’s garage.
That neighbour, David Hobson, was only too happy to help – but he had a solution far better than just a pliers.
Just days beforehand, David had taken in a family of Syrian refugees, and he knew that the father, Ibrahim Halil Dudu, was a tailor of 28 years experience. He also had a complete sewing kit with him.
Ibrahim didn’t speak any English, so the bridal party used Google Translate to explain the zipper situation. The Syrian then set about successfully fixing the zipper.
Images via Lindsay Coulter Photography.
“Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer came to the rescue,” Lindsay explained in her Facebook post, below.
“I am so proud to live in Canada, a country who has opened our doors to refugees countless times,” she continued. “I’m in awe of the families who have welcomed these strangers in to their homes and lives, and I’m inspired by the resilience of the Syrian people. We are truly blessed.”
Ibrahim told CTV News through a translator: “I was so excited and so happy. I like to help Canadian people from my heart.”
The happy story has since gone viral, which, BuzzFeed reports, has resulted in “multiple job offers” for Ibrahim, but his focus right now is learning English.
Lindsay was so moved that she has set up an online campaign to raise money for Syrian refugees who have been resettled in Canada.
Cover image via Lindsay Coulter Photography / CTV News
