I somehow managed to stumble across this:
http://www.canadianarabcommunity.c…It's a website based out of Windsor, Ontario. It has a few pages on high-profile Arab-Canadians. Go through the website and see if you notice anything - ALL the profiles are of men. There are about three women mentioned in various places on the site, but ALL the profiles are of men.
So I'm going to start to build an alternative list. Please feel free to contribute! These are in alphabetical order and are not "ranked" in any way! Men are welcome on the list, the point is to create an inclusive one. Also, the names that I have heard of will most likely be in fields that lend to that sort of visibility (arts, media) etc., but I am not trying to say that important contributions are only made in those areas, so let me know!
Nahla AbdoA Palestinian academic who is widely published. Of particular interest to Dr. Abdo are issues of "gender, sexuality, citizenship and the State in the Middle East; the dynamics between feminism(s) and nationalism(s); the gendered East/West discourse; and resistance and challenges from the field".
Dr. Abdo is currently a
professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carelton University in Ottawa.
Nahla Abdo was featured on a
2003 cover of Herizons magazine.
Suhail AbualSameed Suhail founded the
Muslim AIDS Project. He is also the coordinator of Supporting Our Youth's
EXPRESS: Newcomer/ Immigrant Youth Project in Toronto. Suhail made
international headlines by outing himself as a gay man at the November 2007 International Consultation on Islam and HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
Arabesque"One of hip hop’s most talked about artists,
Besque continues to intrigue Music’s biggest names. Signing with UK based label Sin Nombre with distro via Universal, “The Frenzy Of Renown” was released with glowing reviews. He was nominated Rap Recording of the Year at the 2007 Juno Awards, hosted by Nelly Furtado. International press in various publications, also landing him in a meet and greet with The Source Magazine staff in New York. Fall of 2007 Arabesque graced his first cover of an international magazine with NOX, the leading and most admired English speaking Mid East publication. A slew of global 12 inch singles with a wide-reach across campus radio charts. As well earning himself sponsorship’s from L-R-G and Scifen Clothing. Arabesque has opened up for artists such as Wu-tang's Raekwon, Little Brother, Zion I, Dilated Peoples and Sean Paul."
Ayah
Ayah is a graduate of Toronto's
Remix Project. She, "creates her own unique brand of music, an eclectic infusion of classic soul, R&B and hip hop." In a 2007 Now Magazine poll, Ayah was voted "
Best talent deserving wider recognition".
On May 28, 2008 Ayah will host her Problem Woman Mixtape and Video Release party at Revival nightclub in Toronto.
Nahlah AyedFrom her
CBC bio: "Nahlah Ayed is CBC Television's new correspondent in Beirut. She joined in Nov. 2002, and moved to Jordan, then immediately to Iraq, for the lead-up to the war. She covered the fall of Baghdad, and made the overland trip back several times over the next year to cover the war's aftermath for both TV and radio. Nahlah is an award-winning former parliamentary correspondent for The Canadian Press who also covered the war in Afghanistan."
Salah BachirIn March 2008, the National Post ran a story called "
Sepia city", profiling Toronto's brown (mostly South Asian, and some Middle Easterners) movers and shakers. Amongst those profiled was Salah Bachir. This is what the National Post had to say:
"THE FLAMBOYANT: SALAH BACHIR
President, CineplexMedia
Where joie de vivre meets society-rich. This pearls-donning owner of 50 Warhols is a renowned art collector and an even more renowned philanthropist. Has raised "eye-popping" figures to help build the 519 Church St. Community Centre."
Belly
Belly is a Palestinian-Canadian rapper affiliated with Ottawa-based Capital Prophet Records. His debut 2-CD album "The Revolution" debuted Number 1 on the Canadian rap charts in June 2007, becoming the first ever Canadian rapper to do so. Belly is also the first Canadian independent hip-hop artist to go Gold. His video for "Pressure (feat. Ginuwine)" earned him a MuchMusic Video Award. He has been nominated for two 2008 Juno Awards. Former label-mate Massari is a Lebanese-Canadian R&B artist and has also enjoyed chart success.
Eternia
That's right, one of Canada's hip-hop queens is of Assyrian descent. From her Myspace bio: "Juno-nominated and widely considered one of Canada's foremost lyricists, Eternia continues to carry the torch for those Hip Hop aficionados who crave... s' More.. ".
Ann-Marie Macdonald
"Acclaimed author, playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald, is the host of CBC's award-winning biography series, Life and Times. Ann-Marie's debut novel, Fall On Your Knees attracted a huge international readership and won critical acclaim. Her second novel, The Way the Crow Flies, is an international best-seller. This follows her earlier success as a playwright and actor. Her works for the theatre include the play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), which has enjoyed more than fifty productions worldwide. MacDonald has also acted extensively on stage and screen where her work has garnered many awards including the Gemini. Her literary works have earned her the Commonwealth Prize, the Governor-General's Award, the Chalmers Award, the Canadian Authors Association Award and several Dora Mavor Moore Awards."
Monia Mazigh
Dr. Mazigh first entered the public spotlight as a result of her husband Maher Arar's high-profile "rendition" and subsequent torture in Syria. She tirelessly advocated on his behalf and was courted by several political parties as a result. She joined the New Democratic Party (NDP) and ran in the 2004 federal election in the Ottawa South riding. She lost to the Liberals (Ottawa South is a Liberal stronghold) but managed to set a then-record for the highest number of NDP votes ever gained in that riding.
Vicky Moufawad-Paul
From the Toronto Arts Council website, where Vicky is a member of the Visual Arts/Media Arts Committee:
"Video artist and the Programming & Exhibitions Coordinator at A Space Gallery. As a Palestinian born in Lebanon, she situates the personal in the political while exploring ideas of home and the difficulty of return. Moufawad-Paul is the former Executive Director of the Toronto Arab Film Festival, where she was responsible for the curatorial vision of the festival, which focused on issues of anti-colonial struggle, diaspora and (mis)representation. She has presented her video work and cultural race politics oriented research at numerous academic conferences in Canada and the United States and has published articles in Fuse Magazine and the Journal of Canadian Peace Research."
Ruba Nadda
"Ruba Nadda is an internationally and critically acclaimed writer, director and producer living in Toronto. She has written and directed 16 films which include: Sabah (2005); Aadan (2004); Unsettled (2001); and I always come to you (2000); Blue turning Grey over you (1999), Black September (1999), I would suffer cold hands for you (1999), Laila (1999), Slut (1999), Damascus nights (1998), The wind blows towards me particularly (1998) So far gone (1998) Do nothing (1997), Wet heat drifts through the afternoon (1997), Interstate love story (1997) and lost woman story (1997)."
The al-Nadhir Sisters
Salma, Fatma and Basma are the sisters of the late Alwy al-Nadhir, who was fatally shot by Toronto police at the age of 18. Alwy was unarmed and an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of his death has been launched by the SIU (Special Investigations Unit). The al-Nadhir sisters are all actively part of the Justice for Alwy campaign and have publicly spoken out about the injustice committed against their brother.
