Esmat Bayat says “I love Canada and Canadian people.”
The Red Deer tailor feels so grateful for the opportunities his family was given since arriving in the city from war-torn Afghanistan three years ago that he wants to give something back.
“I have time now, so I will make masks for the hospital,” Bayat decided.
Since customer orders dropped off at his Art Sewing and Tailoring shop on Little Gaetz, as at all downtown businesses, due to measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, Bayat did some online research.
He discovered a bolt of special, waterproof fabric that that can be turned into masks for health care workers as protection from the novel coronavirus. Bayat expects to make and donate about 500 masks, as well as some medical gowns, when the material arrives mid-month.
“I will give it to help medical staff… wherever they need it the most.”
Meanwhile, he’s also willing to make masks out of in-stock cotton fabric at no charge for any Red Deerian who needs a mask but can’t afford one, or can’t get a hold of one.
Bayat says he’s happy to do this because he appreciates getting a chance to raise his family in a peaceful country.
He worked for more than two decades as a tailor and shoemaker in Afghanistan. But his native land was plagued by war since the September 11, 2001 attacks in America. The terrorist group, the Taliban, was removed from power by Western allies of the U.S., but is continuing deadly attacks against Afghan communities.
To escape the violence, Bayat and his family left Kabul for Iran in 2012. They wanted to come to Canada as refugees. As Iran had no Canadian embassy, Bayat says his family moved to Turkey to make the application.
He was thrilled to finally be granted permission to come to Canada three years ago.
While the married father of four usually makes custom-made clothing at his shop at 4816-50 Ave., he says he’s glad to get busy sewing masks.
“I love Canada and I want to help Canadian people, because Canada helped me,” he adds.
Anyone interested can contact Bayat at 403-307-3084.