Latest news with #MyCanada
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mohamad Fakih fights for Canadians to use their voice: 'If you can silence me, you're taking away being Canadian from me — and that's the greatest honour ever'
Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians —born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. Mohamad Fakih embarked on his Canadian journey in 1999, when he first departed Lebanon and landed in Canada with hopes of making this country his forever sanctuary. He didn't have a whole lot with him, except a hunger to prove his mettle and a conviction to succeed. "Canada represented hope for me — a place where I could work hard, grow, and, most importantly, be accepted," he shares with Yahoo News Canada, standing over a stove in a warm kitchen tucked behind a hallway in the Regent Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, where he's helping prepare 500 hot meals for those in need. The room is relatively quiet, barring the clattering utensils, hum of conversation and a comforting rhythm of service among Muslim Welfare Canada volunteers who pack trays of biryani as the aromatic scent of cumin, roasted chicken and vegetables fills the atmosphere. Across the hall is the dining area, which awaits hundreds of hungry occupants. It's also where Fakih and I sit down to talk about what Canada is to him. Fakih recalls strolling down unfamiliar streets and being greeted with welcoming smiles, a gesture that "made me feel like I belonged even before I got my citizenship." He remembers buying his first car and playing Arabic music from behind the wheel — feeling a mix of pride in his roots and an acceptance of his way of life in a country oceans away from his native land. "Getting my permanent residency was huge," he says, with decades-old relief still felt in his voice. "I finally felt secure like no one could just take me away." However, belonging — as a Muslim man and an outspoken advocate — hasn't always felt certain, as he feels acceptance in Canada can, at times, be conditional. "There are times I wonder if I'm truly safe — or if I can be myself as a Canadian." The founder of Paramount Fine Foods built a legacy, as part of which he became a pillar of strength and support for his community. However, his journey isn't only about success, but the price of standing up for his beliefs, the pain of losing friends and rejecting the idea of remaining silent when Canada's values are challenged. As part of our My Canada series, Fakih's conspicuous life story is a testament to courage, resilience and fierce love for this country. Following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, Fakih emerged as one of the few known Canadian business leaders who publicly advocated for the cause of Palestinian civilians. The backlash to his formidable stance on the war in Gaza was swift and personal, resulting in him facing threats and financial repercussions. "Yeah speaking for Gaza, speaking for Palestinians made me lose — I wouldn't call them friends, but they acted like friends at the time," he says, ladling stew into a container. "Some landlords said they wouldn't renew my lease." But Fakih never backed down. "Businesses are not walls. They're people. And if you think I shouldn't speak because it impacts my business — then you think I am owned by money." The 2022 Order of Canada appointee believes in the philosophy of "kinder capitalism" — a unique model which emphasizes on putting people, their values and purpose ahead of profits. "Kinder capitalism means be kind to people even when it costs, and do it until it hurts," Fakih stressed. "It's only giving when you do it until it hurts. That's when it really counts." Trump's recent rhetoric around making Canada his country's "51st state" sparked a quick reaction from Fakih, who used the opportunity to respond not with political gamesmanship but a plea to Canadians to see distinction between performative patriotism and national pride. You can't talk about Canada's sovereignty and wonder if our silence about what's happening in Gaza wasn't a wink that allowed Trump to say that 'I want you to become the 51st state.' "Injustice anywhere is a risk to justice everywhere," he quotes Martin Luther King Jr., adding, "We need to protect Canada, protect its sovereignty. And it will never be the 51st state to anybody." Fakih equates defending Canada to defending Canadian values, including the nation's responsibility to speak up for issues relating to international human rights. "If you can silence me, you're taking away being Canadian from me — and that's the greatest honour ever," he says, leaning over the dining table in a calm but firm voice. Fakih's commitment to advocacy isn't recent and neither is he a stranger to standing alone. In the past years, he's helped repair synagogues, reconstructed church doors, housed homeless strangers in hotels during a crisis and stood with Quebec mosque shooting victims — all rooted in a single motivation: "Half of life is showing up." "I have felt the taste of helping others. I was someone that needed help. I've been hungry. There are nights where I slept hungry," he says, visibly emotional. "Canada empowered me to not bury who I am. I wanted to be that example for our next generation of Canadians." But the advocacy comes with a price tag. "It hurt my business. Some days it hurt personally. I've had to explain to my children why I get weekly threats," he says. "But I came to Canada because we celebrate kindness, not just profit." It is that ethos which, he says, is "stronger than greed." You drive a Rolls Royce and still stop to feed someone hungry — that's Fakih, Founder, Paramount Fine Foods Fakih admits that his idea of Canada has evolved — not drifted — over time. He doesn't see Canada through rose-coloured glasses, but as someone who loves this country like he loves his family. "My dad passed away last year," he says, turning his attention inwards, his eyes on his hands. "And I think of Canada like my dad — kind, but in pain sometimes. And if Canada's in pain and needs me to use my voice — even if it hurts me — I will," his voice softening. That love shows up every year when Fakih proudly takes part in the Hazel McCallion Parade on Canada Day. "The first year, I was too shy to join. Now I walk with my kids. And I celebrate — because after my parents and children, Canada is the thing I love most." As he steps out in the hallway to welcome his fellow Canadians queued up for a hot meal, Fakih shares one final message: "Being Canadian is the greatest honour, and part of it is the freedom to say what you believe in, without fear. That's why we came here," he says, urging Canadians to use their voice while they still can. Speak for the hungry. Speak for the oppressed. One day, you might need someone to speak for Fakih, entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
A 15-day visa that turned into 15 years in Canada: Mexican woman shares 'the most challenging and beautiful journey of life'
Erin Horrocks-Pope is an award-winning journalist who works as a project manager of strategic development at the Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLCT) in Toronto. She helps new Canadians connect to the community through various initiatives and opportunities. A selection of the organization's participants have agreed to share their Canadian lens in as-told-to accounts for Yahoo News readers. When I was a little girl, my father hung a Canadian flag in my bedroom. My grandmother would paint Canadian forests and lakes from memory, telling us stories of the land she visited in her youth. When I finally arrived here, though I was in a strange and unfamiliar place, it felt like I was home. My name is Lourdes Minerva Fuentes Castillo, but everyone calls me Lumy. I have lived in Canada for 15 years, and it has been the most challenging and also the most beautiful journey of my life. I am from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, a city full of life, music, and colour, but also full of danger. In 2008, the cartels came into our neighbourhood and took everything: our young people, our land, and our peace. I had a good job as a director of sales in a large company, but in 2010, the company shut down and left because of the growing violence. Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians — born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. Around that time, two young boys were kidnapped right in front of our home by the cartel. I held my sons close inside, and we watched in fear. I called the police and the military, begging them to help, but no one came. We were alone, and I was terrified for my sons, who were only 11 and 16. Every day, I worried about their future and what would happen if we stayed. My cousin invited us to visit her in Canada, so we each packed one bag and came. At the border, the officer gave me a 15-day visitor visa. I was so worried he knew I might not want to leave. But later, I saw it was a blessing. Even though we were undocumented, my sons could go to school and we had access to health care. Within five days, I was meeting with immigration lawyers. They all told me the same thing: not to apply for refugee status because Mexican claims were almost always denied. Instead, they told us to stay, undocumented, for at least five years, and then apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. So that is what we did. At first, it was so hard. I felt completely alone. In Mexico, I had a whole community around me, but here, I didn't know anyone except my cousin. Then, I met a woman from the Alidessa Women's Centre who invited me to volunteer. That was the first time I felt like I had a family here. I shared my crafts, my culture, and my heart. Eventually, I became president of the centre for a year, which gave me so much pride and hope. In 2015, I started my own group, Canada Nos Une (Canada Unites Us), to help other newcomer women, to celebrate multiculturalism, and to fight against violence and loneliness. My work also brought me into collaboration with First Nations communities and environmental groups, where I found a new purpose in protecting the land and learning from Indigenous knowledge. I even got to visit Ottawa and meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Spanish heritage event, where he spoke with me and honoured the work we were doing. That moment showed me how far I had come and how much more I could give back. I will always be grateful for what Canada has given me: safety, friends, and community. It was not easy. Before I found my people, I was very sad and lonely. In Mexico, I thought depression was just something people said when they didn't want to work harder. But I learned that when you feel alone and afraid every day, it is real. My sons and my faith kept me going. If not for them, I would have gone back, returning to danger and uncertainty. Last year, I returned to Mexico for the first time since coming to Canada. Reconnecting with my loved ones and my roots was incredibly powerful. But it was also painful to see the danger and the sadness that had been normal to me for so long. In Canada, I have a voice. Even when I was undocumented, I had rights. In Mexico, speaking out was dangerous. Here, I can speak, I can work, and I can dream. In my community work with newcomers and First Nations communities, I found something that connected my two worlds: the monarch butterflies. In Mexico, the monarchs are a symbol of the spirits of our ancestors returning home. In many Indigenous cultures here in Canada, they hold a similar meaning. Protecting the monarch's habitat and sharing their story has become a way for me to honour both my Mexican heritage and the First Nations land I live on now. The monarch is like my own journey: crossing borders, carrying history and hope, and always honouring the land and the people. I know Canada has its problems. It's undeniable. I see more racism, discrimination, and fear in the streets than ever before during my time here. I hope Canadians will remember that we are all connected and that we need to help each other, especially when seeing what is happening south of our border. I am scared for my loved ones in the United States with the deportations and ICE raids. It feels like the same violence we ran away from. But I trust Canada to stay true to its values. To me, this is what Canada means: a place where my sons are safe, where I have a voice, and where I belong. A place where I can give back some of the love I have received. Every day here is a Canadian moment. My heart is full of hope and gratitude. In January 2023, after 13 years of waiting, I finally became a permanent resident. I cried so much that day. In December, I bought a Canadian passport ornament for my tree, praying that I would finally become Canadian. God answered my prayer. Now, I know for sure that this is my home.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
A 15-day visa that turned into 15 years in Canada: Mexican woman shares 'the most challenging and beautiful journey of life'
Erin Horrocks-Pope is an award-winning journalist who works as a project manager of strategic development at the Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLCT) in Toronto. She helps new Canadians connect to the community through various initiatives and opportunities. A selection of the organization's participants have agreed to share their Canadian lens in as-told-to accounts for Yahoo News readers. When I was a little girl, my father hung a Canadian flag in my bedroom. My grandmother would paint Canadian forests and lakes from memory, telling us stories of the land she visited in her youth. When I finally arrived here, though I was in a strange and unfamiliar place, it felt like I was home. My name is Lourdes Minerva Fuentes Castillo, but everyone calls me Lumy. I have lived in Canada for 15 years, and it has been the most challenging and also the most beautiful journey of my life. I am from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, a city full of life, music, and colour, but also full of danger. In 2008, the cartels came into our neighbourhood and took everything: our young people, our land, and our peace. I had a good job as a director of sales in a large company, but in 2010, the company shut down and left because of the growing violence. Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians — born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. Around that time, two young boys were kidnapped right in front of our home by the cartel. I held my sons close inside, and we watched in fear. I called the police and the military, begging them to help, but no one came. We were alone, and I was terrified for my sons, who were only 11 and 16. Every day, I worried about their future and what would happen if we stayed. My cousin invited us to visit her in Canada, so we each packed one bag and came. At the border, the officer gave me a 15-day visitor visa. I was so worried he knew I might not want to leave. But later, I saw it was a blessing. Even though we were undocumented, my sons could go to school and we had access to health care. Within five days, I was meeting with immigration lawyers. They all told me the same thing: not to apply for refugee status because Mexican claims were almost always denied. Instead, they told us to stay, undocumented, for at least five years, and then apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. So that is what we did. At first, it was so hard. I felt completely alone. In Mexico, I had a whole community around me, but here, I didn't know anyone except my cousin. Then, I met a woman from the Alidessa Women's Centre who invited me to volunteer. That was the first time I felt like I had a family here. I shared my crafts, my culture, and my heart. Eventually, I became president of the centre for a year, which gave me so much pride and hope. In 2015, I started my own group, Canada Nos Une (Canada Unites Us), to help other newcomer women, to celebrate multiculturalism, and to fight against violence and loneliness. My work also brought me into collaboration with First Nations communities and environmental groups, where I found a new purpose in protecting the land and learning from Indigenous knowledge. I even got to visit Ottawa and meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Spanish heritage event, where he spoke with me and honoured the work we were doing. That moment showed me how far I had come and how much more I could give back. I will always be grateful for what Canada has given me: safety, friends, and community. It was not easy. Before I found my people, I was very sad and lonely. In Mexico, I thought depression was just something people said when they didn't want to work harder. But I learned that when you feel alone and afraid every day, it is real. My sons and my faith kept me going. If not for them, I would have gone back, returning to danger and uncertainty. Last year, I returned to Mexico for the first time since coming to Canada. Reconnecting with my loved ones and my roots was incredibly powerful. But it was also painful to see the danger and the sadness that had been normal to me for so long. In Canada, I have a voice. Even when I was undocumented, I had rights. In Mexico, speaking out was dangerous. Here, I can speak, I can work, and I can dream. In my community work with newcomers and First Nations communities, I found something that connected my two worlds: the monarch butterflies. In Mexico, the monarchs are a symbol of the spirits of our ancestors returning home. In many Indigenous cultures here in Canada, they hold a similar meaning. Protecting the monarch's habitat and sharing their story has become a way for me to honour both my Mexican heritage and the First Nations land I live on now. The monarch is like my own journey: crossing borders, carrying history and hope, and always honouring the land and the people. I know Canada has its problems. It's undeniable. I see more racism, discrimination, and fear in the streets than ever before during my time here. I hope Canadians will remember that we are all connected and that we need to help each other, especially when seeing what is happening south of our border. I am scared for my loved ones in the United States with the deportations and ICE raids. It feels like the same violence we ran away from. But I trust Canada to stay true to its values. To me, this is what Canada means: a place where my sons are safe, where I have a voice, and where I belong. A place where I can give back some of the love I have received. Every day here is a Canadian moment. My heart is full of hope and gratitude. In January 2023, after 13 years of waiting, I finally became a permanent resident. I cried so much that day. In December, I bought a Canadian passport ornament for my tree, praying that I would finally become Canadian. God answered my prayer. Now, I know for sure that this is my home.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I won the ‘orphan lottery' in Russia and Canada transformed my life: ‘If you hadn't been adopted, you'd be on the streets. Or dead.'
It wasn't until the lime-green S7 Airlines Airbus touched down on the sunbaked Siberian runway that it hit me, a strange, powerful feeling I couldn't shake. For the first time in my life, I felt something close to home. My story began at Baby House No. 1 in Novosibirsk, Russia, one of thousands of children left behind in the wake of the Soviet Union's collapse, a time when survival often meant giving up what mattered most. Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians — born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. In the early 1990s, international adoption became a growing conversation across Canada. Against all odds, I won what felt like the orphan lottery when a couple from British Columbia's Fraser Valley chose me to be their own. I was privileged to grow up on a farm in Chilliwack, surrounded by open fields, muddy boots and the kind of freedom most kids only dream about. I had a brother and sister adopted from Ukraine, and together with our cousins, we spent our days building forts in the back acreage, racing bikes down gravel paths and hiking up into the mountains to find secret lookouts perched high above the valley. I always knew I was adopted, but that knowledge carried a quiet weight. I often felt like an outsider — like I'd been plucked from one world and dropped over 8,000 kilometres away into another that didn't quite fit. Questions about my identity bubbled beneath the surface: Why was I given up? Did my 'real' family look like me? Did they ever think about me the way I thought about them? My adoptive family never shut down my questions. Instead, they listened with compassion and promised that one day, when I was ready, I could return to the place that had always whispered to a part of me they knew they couldn't reach. That day finally came when I turned 15-years-old. My father and I embarked on the long journey over to Russia on what was supposed to be a roots trip — a chance to see where I came from, to walk the streets of Novosibirsk and to visit the orphanage that once cradled my earliest days. I thought I would feel like a visitor. I was wrong. The moment the wheels touched the ground, a current of emotion surged through me. I didn't have memories of this place, but my body did. The air smelled different. The language sounded both familiar and foreign. And everywhere I looked, I saw children who could have been me — some with hopeful eyes, others already hardened by what they had seen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Corné Van Hoepen (@cornevanhoepen) We visited the orphanage. It was quiet, timeworn and hauntingly familiar, as if the walls themselves remembered me. A caregiver named Ludmilla still knew my name. I had been known during my stay as Yura, derived from my birthname Yuri. She pointed to the small room where I used to sleep and said something I'll never forget: "You were lucky. So many never leave." That sentence lodged itself in my heart. For the first time, I truly understood what I had been given — not just a home, but a future. A chance. I saw how fragile that opportunity was, how easily my story could have been different. That trip didn't just show me where I came from; it rewired something inside me. It gave shape and meaning to the life I'd lived in Canada, filling in the blank spaces I hadn't even known were missing. My former caregiver didn't sugarcoat what my life would have looked like if I wasn't adopted. She looked me in the eye and said, matter-of-factly, 'If you hadn't been adopted, you'd be on the streets. Or dead.' The words hit harder than I expected. Not because they were cruel, but because I knew they were true. I stood there, in the building where my life had started, trying to picture the version of me who never left. The boy who aged out of the system unnoticed. Who maybe learned to survive, but never had the chance to thrive. It was a version of myself I could almost feel in the walls — a shadow life I'd narrowly escaped. I thought about my bedroom back home on the farm in Canada. A large, extended family who had embraced me with open arms. The quiet, everyday things I'd once taken for granted suddenly felt sacred. That moment cracked something open in me. Gratitude, grief, guilt — it all came rushing in at once. I realized then that my story wasn't just about where I came from. It was about what I did with the chance I'd been given. To me today, being Canadian means more than just citizenship. It means living with compassion, responsibility and a deep sense of purpose. I didn't just inherit a new country; I inherited a second chance at life. As an adoptee, I view everything I have — my education, my freedom, my family — as a gift that countless others never received. That truth fuels something in me: a drive to give back, to live meaningfully, and to make my life count not just for myself, but in honour of the life I could have lived. Canada gave me the space to become who I am, and now it's my turn to turn that privilege into purpose.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We asked 7 celebrities what being Canadian means to them — here's what they said
Oh, Canada! Between keeping our elbows up, trying to make ends meet during a trade war and navigating a federal election, it's been a difficult year for many — and we're only halfway through 2025. But amidst the growing political tensions and the talk of annexation, there's been an undeniable resurgence of Canadian pride; the collective love for our country and our autonomy has bridged the gap between political parties. Although there's no denying that Canada still has its issues, the country also deserves celebrating. As part of our My Canada series, we spoke to Canadian celebrities, public figures, athletes and more about what it means to be Canadian for a special edition of Unapologetically. Scroll down to see what celebrities, athletes and changemakers say being Canadian means to them. Hometown: Toronto, Ont. Best known for: Host of Breakfast Television "Canada is my birthplace. It's my family, my friends, my career. It's my heart," the daytime television host told Yahoo Canada. "It's a whole bunch of people coming together in this beautiful cultural mosaic, learning together, growing together." Pugliese is quick to note that "there's been hurt" and "pain" for many Canadians. "But there's also healing," she said. "And there's beauty!" Pugliese is a first-generation Canadian who was raised to be proud of her Italian heritage. "To be Canadian is really about my roots. It's the family tree, it's, it's our roots," she said. "And then all of these beautiful trees come together in this beautiful Canadian forest, and here we are, hopefully flourishing together." Hometown: Regina, Sask. Best known for: Professional snowboarder, three-time Olympic medalist and 24-time Winter X Game medalist "I love being able to travel around the world and say I'm Canadian," McMorris said in an interview with Yahoo Canada. "It's the best thing ever. We are such a great nation..." Although he can "vividly remember" having Canadian pride as a kid, "everything really changed" after he won his first Olympic medal in 2024. That's when the athlete could fully appreciate the immense privilege of representing his country. "Those are really special things, and a huge honour," he said. "I'm proud to be a Canadian and proud to be setting an example for younger Canadians. It's a cool role to play." McMorris said his success was partly fuelled by his "determination" to prove to people that the flatlands of Saskatchewan can produce one of the world's most talented snowboarders. "Being from the Prairies has made me who I am and it's made me have a ton of grit... .," he said'. "And that has given me a lot of extra motivation to make it happen. I am super proud of where I come from and the people who hail from Saskatchewan. I feel like most people there, just the way we grow up, makes you humble and I'm thankful to come from a place like that." Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ont. Best known for: Cityline and Breakfast Television "Every time we're in a situation where there's some kind of national threat, we all remember that we're so proud," Moore recently told Yahoo Canada. The former Cityline host said while other countries may have a "base level of humanity," there's something intrinsically special about Canadians "At our core, people actually care about each other here," she said. "I see examples of it every day." Moore said acts of kindness might not always make headlines, but if you really pay attention you'll see that they're everywhere you look. "I see people helping the elderly take their groceries to the car. I see cars stopping to let people go across. I see people asking, 'Are you OK?' on the street to strangers….," she said. "There's a level of politeness there that's an unspoken rule and I respect that about Canadians." Hometown: Caledon, Ont. Best known for:The Social on CTV "Right now — to me — being Canadian means being able to speak your mind," Grelo said, adding that although it sounds "so simple" one only has to look at the political unrest in the United States to see that not everyone is afforded the same freedom of expression. "Not everybody likes what everybody is saying [in Canada], but I can appreciate the fact that we're all allowed to say what we want to say," she continued, while noting that her feelings don't extend to hate speech.""It it feels like something so simple, but you can see how quickly that right can be easily removed…." Grelo said the recent federal election was proof that while we may be a "divided country" there are some principles that Canadians agree on. "I think we still value what people will say Canada was built on: diversity in nationalities and diversity in thought," she said. "We're still allowed to have diversity of thought to a much greater degree... [compared to] the U.S. where there's actual consequences for that.' Hometown: Brantford, Ont. Best known for: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's 2025 cover star 'Being Canadian means so much to me. I didn't realize how proud I am to be Canadian until I moved away over a decade ago," said Chan, who now resides in New York City. "I'm very proud that being Canadian has instilled in me the impulse to act in a way that considers others. I've realized living abroad that it's not something that everybody in the world does... I am the way that I am because I'm Canadian. ' Hometown: St. Catharines, Ont. Best known for: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight fighter - ranked 6th in the world Jasudavicius recently told Yahoo Canada that she became more aware of her Canadian pride when she started fighting internationally. "I am very proud to be able to represent Canada on the international stage," she said. Given her strength in the octagon, it's hard to believe that Jasudavicius had never tried her hand at mixed martial arts (MMA) or any kind of training until 2015. In the span of a few short years, she's risen through the ranks to boast an impressive professional record of 14 wins to three loss — all of which were by decision. "I hope to inspire other Canadian females to challenge themselves," Jasudavicius said. "To make a goal that initially seems out of reach, work hard everyday towards that goal, and watch it get accomplished.' Hometown: Toronto, Ont. Best known for: Playing guitar for The Beaches "I think our country really came together this year, and it makes us feel prouder than ever to be Canadian," Earl recently told Yahoo Canada. Earl and her bandmates are no strangers to braving the elements for a show. The Juno award-winning group makes the best of it, even in the country's coldest temperatures. "The first time we ever played Quebec City it was negative 30 outside and we all went for a walk before the set," she said. "We thought it would be fun to get the maple syrup on a stick snack that they make in the snow.'
