Tag Archives: Canada

Arif Virani: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

In 2017, I had the honour of interviewing my friend, Arif Virani. This past week, the Honourable Arif Virani became Canada’s newest Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada!

Arif Virani’s impressive career and journey to success are truly captivating. As a Member of Parliament, he has made significant contributions to his community and the country at large. With a focus on human rights, social justice, and community development, Arif Virani’s passion for making a positive impact is evident in every aspect of his work.

From his early life experiences to his commitment to public service, Arif Virani’s dedication to advocacy and public policy shines through. As a lawyer, educator, and political leader, he has consistently strived to bring about positive change and empower marginalized communities.

With a background in international human rights law, Arif Virani has skillfully championed the causes of refugees and immigrants, providing a voice to those who need it most. His impressive accomplishments as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada further highlight his commitment to upholding justice and fairness.

Arif Virani’s journey is an inspiration to many, showcasing the transformative power of dedication, compassion, and hard work. As we delve into the pages of his story, we are reminded of the profound impact that individuals can have when they are driven by a genuine desire to create a better world.

This is Episode #283 of the Welcome! podcast.

Gabriela Casineanu

Gabriela Casineanu is an award-winning author who founded the Immigrant Writers Association in 2018.

The IWA is a non profit organization that assists new Canadian immigrants find support to express themselves through creative writing.

Each year the IWA releases a new anthology featuring short stories and poetry from their members. This past Tuesday the IWA released a new anthology called Finding The Way featuring 12 new Canadian writers. https://immigrantwriters.com/finding-the-way/

Finding The Way features writing from new Canadians that have come from Ghana, Ukraine, Romania, USA, India, Cuba, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago.

This is Episode #275 of the Welcome! podcast.

Jonathan Durand | Documentarian

Memory Is Our Homeland is a film by Canadian documentarian, Jonathan Durand. Charting the lost story of Polish refugees in Africa from 1942 to 1952 – this film brings to life a journey that brought a group of children from Poland through Siberia, Iran, India, and East Africa, to new lives in Montreal, Sheffield, and across the global Polish diaspora.

https://memoryisourhomeland.com/

This is Episode #267 of the Welcome! podcast.

PHOTO: Director Jonathan Durand filming in Astravok, Belarus, (formerly Poland) 2014.

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Husein Madhavji: Donkeyhead

husein madavji donkeyhead
husein madavji donkeyhead

This is Husein’s second appearance on the podcast. In this episode Husein calls in from hot and sunny Dubai where rumour has it that it is cold at night. Husien stars in the new film, Donkeyhead.

Donkeyhead is a 2021 Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Agam Darshi in her directorial debut. It stars Darshi as Mona, a woman tasked with taking care of her father with the help of her three siblings after he is diagnosed with cancer and his health starts to deteriorate.

This is Episode #262 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Kris Siddiqi and Nigel Downer

Kris and Nigel are two of the nicest and funniest people I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with on this podcast.

Bit Playas is a comedy series on CBC Gem/Amazon Prime created by Kris Siddiqi and Nigel Downer – two friends/actors that met while working at The Second City Toronto. Season One deals with Race, Nerd Culture, Dating, Marijuana and navigating the Canadian Entertainment scene as actors of color. The show originally came out December 2019 and was just released this past summer on Amazon Prime in the US and the UK.

Here is the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfzO9obrGwo&ab_channel=CBCComedy

This is Episode #243 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Jesse Thistle

On July 10 2020, Karim Kanji sat down with Jesse Thistle . Thistle is Métis-Cree, an author, assistant professor in the Department of Equity Studies at York University in Toronto. He is also the author of the best-selling memoir, From the Ashes. Thistle is an advocate for the  homeless.

This is Episode #235 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Award-winning author Tanya Talaga

Tanya Talaga is an award wining Anishinaabe author and former investigative reporter for the Toronto Star. Her 2017 book Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death and Hard Truths in a Northern City, won the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize for non-fiction and the 2017 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. Her latest book, All Our Relations served as the focus for her recent Massey Lectures across Canada.

This is Episode #221 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Laurie Dillon-Schalk | Conquer COVID-19

Laurie Dillon-Schalk owns a family maple farm, an agency and is a co-founder and volunteer with the Conquer COVID-19 team.

According to their website, Conquer COVID-19 is comprised of physicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other volunteers who are working together to ensure front line workers responsible for the health and well-being of Canadians have access to masks, gloves, and other supplies that are essential in treating patients and minimizing the spread of the virus.

This is Episode #220 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Dr. Ruby Alvi | Conquer COVID-19

Dr. Ruby Alvi is a family doctor in Mississauga and a volunteer with the Conquer COVID-19 team.

According to their website, Conquer COVID-19 is comprised of physicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other volunteers who are working together to ensure front line workers responsible for the health and well-being of Canadians have access to masks, gloves, and other supplies that are essential in treating patients and minimizing the spread of the virus.

This is Episode #218 of the Welcome! podcast.

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Ahmed Bulaleh

My next guest is part owner of Sport Stacking Canada and a coach with Northern Kings Basketball in Ontario. Part of his responsibilities with Northern Kings includes overseeing all its Junior NBA programs.

Welcome to the show, Ahmed Bulaleh!

This is Episode #203 of the Welcome! podcast.

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