20 Years ago, Tanja came to Canada as a refugee. Today, she is a successful woman, a social worker, a mother, a friend and a support to immigrants. This is a tribute to my friend!

2. Tanja Krajcinovic came to Canada with
her mother Danica and brother Niki from
the former Yugoslavia.

3. Tanja and her family came to Canada as
refugees.
Today, to celebrate 20 years of friendship, I’d
like to share a few memories of Tanja and
how much she’s brought to me personally,
and to Canada as a citizen.

4. This is my friend Tanja (in yellow) and that’s
me standing behind her…back then!

6. For 10 years, I volunteered as
advisor & youth leader for CIP,
a Citizenship and Immigration
sponsored program aimed to
build confidence, skills and
friendships in Newcomer youth
(ages 14-24).
Tanja was one of those youth
& she soon became a leader
and then a staff member.
Her journey and friendship has
inspired and changed me.
YMCA
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM

7. In 1997, I decided to create the COMPANY OF FRIENDS.
The Company of Friends was
a retreat idea for the staff
working together at CIP.
It was intended as a way for
us to recharge our batteries.
But, these annual retreats
nurtured friendships that went
far beyond our work.

8. Our First Road Trip to Cape Breton
Founding Members (left to right): Dina Desveaux, Tanja Krajcinovic,
Cristina Rafales, Brian Walker, Stephanie Tarr and Firdaus Bhathena.

9. On every one of these trips, we
learned new things about everyone…

10. For example, on our first road trip I learned how
much Tanja loved waterfalls…

11. And, that Firdaus takes his consumption of lobster
VERY seriously!!

12. Another Road Trip Retreat to the Cape d’Or Lighthouse

13. That year, we brought a new member too:
Heather Asbil (curly hair; top left):

14. Some time later you may have learned things about
me too…

15. Remember this?

16. The Infamous Sleepovers & Interventions…

17. In 2000, Tanja got her Canadian Citizenship!
Woo-Hoo!!!

18. We celebrated with our own unoffical citizenship ceremony –a
spoof theatre piece about the challenges of coming to Canada!

19. Then again,
we celebrated
all sorts of life
events,
birthdays,
showers….

21. The year 2000 brought baby Benjamin Oseas Rafales-
Nordoff into our extended family….this is Ben’s 1st
camping trip (3 months old):

22. 2002

23. 2004: Here’s a spot we gathered quite a bit– my old
apartment, which Steph & Firdaus dubbed the Cultural
Centre of Halifax – such a happy place, so many memories
(this pic was taken the night before my book launch).

24. That same year Tanja got her
Social Work Degree

25. Crystal Crescent was another of our favourites…

26. AGAIN…

27. …and again…

28. 2005
Shubenacadie
Wildlife Park

29. 2006
Bringing in a New Year

30. In 2007, Tanja married Jason Matthews. And
because of a last minute changes, their marriage in
Cuba inadvertently led to my own marriage proposal.

31. Our friendships
include all sorts
of traditions &
rituals…

32. Camping being our favourite way to connect

33. Tanja and Jason start their family with the
birth of Nikola!

34. 2007: First Christmas at our new house on Morris, my
fiancee, Peter and I had all the Company of Friends over
including the newest member, Nikola…

35. 2008: The Girls on a Night Out

36. 2008: Another holiday; another gathering…

37. More Christmas memories
& Amina is now part of the
extended family….e

38. In 2009, when I got married Tanja was by my side…
always supportive and full of surprising advice before I
walked down the aisle!

39. And then came Sasha!!!

40. With growing families,
it became more
challenging to spend
as much time together,
but Christmas holidays
remain a time when
we do our best to
gather….

41. One of our Company of Friends traditions was an annual
ornament exchange – every year at Christmas, whether
they are present or not, I always feel them around me as I
hang those ornaments on the tree – that flying mermaid
was one I got from Tanja…

42. In 2013, Tanja shared her story with the Canadian
Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
Tanja’s is a success story that inspires not just me, but
countless newcomers who walk through ISANS every day.

43. This quote, a favourite of mine, reflects the beauty of my
friend Tanja. She has overcome much and now helps other
newscomers to Canada. Tanja works at ISANS (the
Immigrant Settlement Association of Nova Scotia).

44. Meanwhile, with busy lives and families, we
continue to try our best to carve out time to
spend time together and catch up…
because these friendships run deep.
We truly are like family and I, for one, could
never have asked for a better second
family than our Company of Friends.
My life is unbelievably rich because of each
one of you.

45. 2015: A Christmas Brunch bringing together
old friends!

46. 2016: Dinner with the gang!

47. 2016: And just 2 days ago, our dear old friend
Stephanie was in town visiting from BC – a great
excuse to meet and catch up!!

48. Tanja & Jason’s Gorgeous
Daughters: Sasha and Nikola!

49. A Canadian Family

50. Happiest 20th
Anniversary to a Dear
Friend & Amazing Canadian…