Priests donate Sydney, N.S., house for international students

A house in Sydney’s north end has become a place to call home for international students.

An old house in the north end of Sydney, N.S., has become a place to call home for a group of international students who moved half a world away to start a new life in Canada.

“(It’s) like a home away from home,” said Shine Shaji, housing manager at the Greg MacLeod House.

The Greg MacLeod House serves as a residence for seven Cape Breton University international students at a time.

In a community where housing is hard to come by, it’s a fairly spacious place to live and is considered a link between the university and the community.

“They have to file an application form at first,” Shaji explained. “Then, they’ll be called for an interview by the board of directors. So then, they’ll be selected according to their need.”

“If students have problems with employment, sometimes they have problems with legal matters, we do what we can to help them with that,” added Rev. Bill Burke, a Roman Catholic priest in Sydney who serves as a co-chair on the Greg MacLeod House committee.

Burke said the building was given to the international student community by MacLeod and Fr. Dan Doucette when it became clear that good places to live in the area would be at a premium.

“Housing has always been an issue, so they each have their own room,” Burke said. “There are four bathrooms, two kitchens. It’s a wonderful residence (with) a beautiful backyard.”

The house is also meant to carry on the legacy of MacLeod, who lived there himself until he passed away in 2017 at age 81.

“Greg was very concerned about integration,” Burke said. “Greg was very concerned about racism. Greg was very concerned about any kind of injustice but also, overall, development of the community and he felt that immigration would be excellent for Sydney in terms of our economic development.”

Shaji said the best part about living in the home are the memories made within the walls, and in the large backyard garden.

“We have a special bond,” Shaji said. “I feel so lucky, and it feels like a home atmosphere here.”

On Canada Day, a free barbecue is planned at Greg MacLeod House from 3-5pm.

Burke said it will be to celebrate the progress made and to thank those who have donated to the committee’s cause.

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