It was one of the happiest days of his life, but Sharmarke Dubow says he was paralyzed with emotion the day he was sworn in as a member of Victoria city council.

Dubow said he couldn害羞草研究所檛 smile and his words were a barely audible mumble as he reflected back on his journey from Somalia害羞草研究所檚 civil war to a refugee camp in Kenya and finally to Victoria City Hall.

Now, Dubow, 35, who was born on Christmas Day, can害羞草研究所檛 stop smiling or talking.

He became a Canadian citizen on July 1, 2017, Canada害羞草研究所檚 150th anniversary, and was elected to city council in November. It was the first time he害羞草研究所檇 voted, anywhere.

害羞草研究所淚 was holding myself to cry,害羞草研究所� he said in a recent interview. 害羞草研究所淭he reason why I was not smiling is there were so many emotions. I could not believe to be the voice for people in Victoria and to represent them.害羞草研究所�

Dubow is six-foot-four and thinly built. He smiles broadly and laughs joyously as he retraces his journey from a refugee camp to city council at a downtown coffee shop.

He gets up to hug people who offer him their best wishes and gushes about meeting Canadian figure skating icons Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir earlier in the day at a Salvation Army Christmas fundraising event.

害羞草研究所淭essa told me I should write a book,害羞草研究所� said Dubow.

He said Canada gave him a home and his election to council gives him the chance to give back.

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害羞草研究所淲hen I became a Canadian citizen I felt I have a home, I have rights and responsibilities,害羞草研究所� said Dubow. 害羞草研究所淚t was all about me having a second chance at life, belonging to a country and being a proud Canadian. But when I害羞草研究所檓 elected, it害羞草研究所檚 not about me. It害羞草研究所檚 holding a huge responsibility and knowing I have a huge curve of learning.害羞草研究所�

He was eight years old when his mother put him and his sister on a boat fleeing strife in Somalia. Dubow said they crossed the Indian Ocean by moonlight and landed at Mombasa, Kenya, where he lived in a tent and camp for five years with hundreds of others.

害羞草研究所淚 remember my mother putting two jackets, two trousers in a case and telling me to hold my sister害羞草研究所檚 hand. I remember looking back at my mother,害羞草研究所� said Dubow, whose mother was able to join them in the camp after a later boat voyage.

Dubow said he built a bed of bamboo sticks and recalled camp life being one of daily struggles and of frightened people looking for their next meal and trying to make a living. He said the United Nations stepped in to ensure the camp was permitted to exist.

Dubow said his life as a refugee and stateless person influenced him to become an advocate for human rights across Africa and ultimately brought him to Canada where he took a job at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society.

害羞草研究所淚n Kenya, I was in a camp. In Ethiopia I was undocumented, meaning I was not registered under the United Nations Human Rights Commission or the Ethiopian government,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚n Egypt I was a refugee. I wasn害羞草研究所檛 in a camp but I was a refugee under the UN HRC. They never gave me a chance to become a citizen and be part of the society.害羞草研究所�

Dubow said he was an outsider without rights, until he came to Canada in 2012.

害羞草研究所淐anada gave me that chance,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淰ictoria lifted me up. People have lifted me up and given me that chance.害羞草研究所�

Dubow said Canada gave him a safe home after 20 years of being homeless.

害羞草研究所淲e have a system that works, that will protect my rights regardless of my sexuality, my race, my background,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 am able to sleep and not worry about bullets coming through my wall.害羞草研究所�

Dubow said it may sound like a contradiction, but despite having spent much of his young life in a refugee camp, one of his favourite things to do in Canada is pitch a tent and sit around a campfire.

害羞草研究所淟iving in Canada, and camping for leisure, for a date, it害羞草研究所檚 a different lifestyle brother,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen you wake up, all the grass is high and it reflects the sun, and sometimes I don害羞草研究所檛 want it to, but it takes me back and reminds me of who I am.害羞草研究所�

Dubow said he is still a newcomer to the workings of municipal politics. After years of challenging governments on refugee issues, he wants to use his new position as an elected councillor to give back and bring people together.

害羞草研究所淭he best way is having tea and sitting with people from all walks of life.害羞草研究所�

Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press

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