Author Archives: Maan Alhmidi

Admitted to Canada under pilot program, refugee nurses ready for work as PSWs

By Maan AlhmidiThe Canadian PressSat., Sept. 19, 2020 OTTAWA—Halfway through their 14-day quarantine period, Diala Charab and Yehya Al-Ayoubi are excited to start working as health-care aides after arriving Sunday from Lebanon. Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions that prevent most people from coming to Canada, the two nurses were exempted, resettled under a pilot project to bring skilled refugeesContinue reading “Admitted to Canada under pilot program, refugee nurses ready for work as PSWs”

Memories inspire refugee playwright Ahmad Meree

MAAN ALHMIDISPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAILPUBLISHED JANUARY 6, 2020 When Ahmad Meree sits alone in his living room, he misses his family. When he eats his meals, he tastes the food he once ate with them. When he sleeps, he dreams of the happy and the horrible moments he had in Aleppo, Syria. ThisContinue reading “Memories inspire refugee playwright Ahmad Meree”

Syrian refugees overcoming war memories brought back by COVID-19

By Maan Alhmidi The Canadian Press OTTAWA – Five years after the first of them arrived in Canada, thousands of Syrian refugees had to adapt to the COVID-19 lockdown, which brought back memories of the horrors of the war and disturbed the lives they had begun to recreate. On 10 December 2015, following a promise madeContinue reading “Syrian refugees overcoming war memories brought back by COVID-19”

Ethnic media aim to help maintain boost in voting by new Canadians

Maan Alhmidi Published: August 23, 2019 Zuhair Alshaer spends most of his day editing articles and organizing interviews with politicians for his Ottawa-based Arab Canada newspaper, to introduce Arabic-speaking new Canadians to federal politics. The community Alshaer’s paper serves is growing — more immigrants are arriving in Canada from Africa, Asia and the Middle East thanContinue reading “Ethnic media aim to help maintain boost in voting by new Canadians”

Toronto activist calling on federal parties to nominate more black candidates

Maan Alhmidi Published: August 16, 2019 at 1:20 PM A Toronto-based activist is calling on Canada’s political parties to nominate more black candidates in winnable ridings in this fall’s federal election in order to enhance the chances the community is better represented in the next Parliament. Fewer than 20 black Canadians have been nominated soContinue reading “Toronto activist calling on federal parties to nominate more black candidates”

Montrealers march for women’s rights despite the Arctic cold

Published: January 21, 2019 Dozens of people joined a rally inside Place Émilie-Gamelin in downtown Montreal for women’s rights. The event was one of dozens of marches that  were held across Canada and around the world as part of Women’s March. The turnout in Montreal this year was small given the Arctic deep freeze, whichContinue reading “Montrealers march for women’s rights despite the Arctic cold”

The immigrant pilot: Abdel-Noor Sakhniya

Starting a new life in a new country is not an easy job. For Syrian newcomer Abdel-Noor Sakhniya, it was also about fulfilling his childhood dream. In 2016, Sakhniya was studying in a flying school in Florida. He had to come to Ottawa to renew his student visa in the United States. The American embassyContinue reading “The immigrant pilot: Abdel-Noor Sakhniya”

Dartmouth biotech firm Mara Renewables develops fish oil without the fish

By Maan Alhmidi Fish oil is important to health but it’s unsustainable due to declining marine life. Dartmouth scientists have found an alternative product and is making it profitable. “We went to the ocean, to the Bay of Fundy, and we found a micro-organism that can actually make oil. It’s a micro-algae,” said Roberto Armenta,Continue reading “Dartmouth biotech firm Mara Renewables develops fish oil without the fish”