A Grateful Heart on Canada Day: A Lebanese-Canadian’s Reflection
Elias Bejjani/July 01/2025
Today, as the maple leaf proudly flutters across our beautiful nation, Canadians from coast to coast to coast celebrate Canada Day. For my family and me, Lebanese-Canadians who have called this land home since 1986, this day carries an even deeper significance – a profound sense of gratitude and belonging.
When we arrived on these shores, we found more than just a new address; we found a sanctuary. Canada welcomed us with open arms, offering the promise of a life built on principles we hold dear: freedom, democracy, and an unwavering respect for human rights. Over the decades, this country has consistently delivered on that promise, providing its citizens with essential services in every domain, from healthcare and education to social support and economic opportunity. It is a place where hard work is rewarded, diversity is celebrated, and every individual is given the chance to thrive, regardless of their origin. We are truly grateful for the peace, stability, and opportunities this nation has afforded us.
As we celebrate the blessings of Canada, my heart also turns to my homeland, Lebanon, a nation of immense beauty and resilience that has endured unimaginable suffering for far too long. For years, Lebanon has grappled with the devastating consequences of multiple occupations – the Palestinian, the Syrian, and currently, the insidious Iranian occupation through the notorious terrorist and jihadist organization, Hezbollah. This group has created a mini-state within our beloved country, perpetrating terror, crimes, and assassinations, and systematically impoverishing the Lebanese people. On this day of Canadian freedom, I hold onto the fervent hope that Lebanon will soon be free from this oppressive grip, that its people will reclaim their sovereignty, and that peace and justice will finally prevail.
To Canada, on your special day, and to the Canadian people, thank you. Thank you for being a beacon of hope and a haven for persecuted people from all corners of the world. Thank you for embodying the values of compassion and inclusiveness. It is not only a joy to be Canadian, but a privilege for which I am eternally grateful and incredibly lucky. Happy Canada Day!
