This article appeared just recently – again in our local paper. We hope it will help.

A local family wants to be together, but one of its members awaits a decision on whether or not he can come home.

Juan Ramirez and his family are waiting on the outcome of his family class immigration application.

Canadian immigration officials deported the Wolfville businessman and local soccer builder to his native Colombia in October, 2006. He has been there since getting paperwork together for his latest immigration application.

Meanwhile, his wife and business partner, Dara, and their three children – ages seven to just under three – are left to carry on without him.

Dara continues to operate their Wolfville business, Juandaros Soccer Boutique, coach university soccer and keep things going for the kids. They were able to visit Juan in Colombia recently.

In an e-mail interview March 2, Juan said, “being away from my kids and wife has been the worse thing that they could have done to me, not being able to see them growing and helping them in their homework and other activities that they are involved. It is even harder now after their visit.”
This is from Juan:

“I am okay, I guess, just trying to be strong and healthy for when I get back to Canada. I’m very sad for the whole situation. I am doing some refereeing and playing to keep mentally fit.”

As for his friends in the local community, “wow, I am missing lots of people now, all the kids and parents I had met during the last 13 years. I miss coaching a lot. Seeing kids getting up in the world of soccer or any other sport; that is very rewarding.”

As for a timely and favourable conclusion to the situation, Juan said, “it has been a long time for sure. I am very hopeful and positive of the outcome of this, with all the support we are getting from friends and the community. I think it will be within the next six months or so. I cross my fingers.”

Let’s hope so.