Browse Items (47 total)

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  Conversation with Shameena

  This interview features Shameena, who migrated from Guyana to Toronto, Canada, at the age of Sixteen with her family. She explained that her father decided to bring them to Toronto because he saw Canada as offering his family better opportunities, education, health care, food, and a higher standard of living. Shameena explained that, luckily, Guyana is one of the few predominantly English-speaking places in the Caribbean, which made coming to Toronto easier, as she and her younger siblings were already proficient in the city's main language. Shameena speaks lovingly about her home in Toronto, where she has established a strong community not only of Guyanese people but also of people of the same religion, and she deeply appreciates the way she can engage with religion locally. Beyond her faith, Shameena describes the primary focus of Guyanese culture to be food and family. Extended family relations are weighted similarly to close relations, as everyone is included in traditions and events. Even without specific social events, families still gather regularly. Food strengthens their cultural roots. Despite immigration from Guyana to Toronto, she continues to uphold her culinary practices and familiar dishes. There are also specialized markets where Guyanese can purchase food for cultural dishes. Given that Toronto is a large and diverse city, Shameena states that Guyanese feel welcome there.

  Shameena explained that she sees similarities between Guyana and Toronto in that both are immensely diverse places. She enjoys being part of a global community and, although there are differences between her life in Guyana and Canada, she remains deeply connected to her community and family. 
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  Conversation with Lucia Rios

  Lucia Rio is a Brazilian-born psychotherapist and doctoral student currently living in Ottawa, Canada. She moved to Canada several years ago, initially to Winnipeg, and later to Ottawa to pursue her studies. She currently holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master's in public health. She recently decided to pursue her PhD in anthropology. Since moving to Ottawa, a place where Lucia has no family, she has built a strong community through new friends and participation in Latin American organizations, including Saravade and Acher, both named after Brazil's African religion.
  
  In the interview, she explained that a strong value in the Brazilian community is prioritizing community and connection over individualism. Lucia is very involved in Ottawa’s Latin American culture. She participates in this through volunteering with organizations that promote music, tradition, and important values rooted in Latin American and Brazilian history. Her favourite event in Ottawa is the Carnival. She describes this event as a symbol of resilience, unity and cultural expression. To maintain her heritage, she takes great pride in her Brazilian accent. She believes her accent is a proud representation of her past and should never be hidden.
  
  Finally, she shows pride in her heritage through her food. Dishes like feijoada, which is a Brazilian stew, and large barbecues help her share her heritage with her new Ottawa friends.
  
  As a queer individual, Lucia explained the political shift in Brazil, which contributed largely to her decision to move to Canada. She expressed in her interview that she felt much safer in Canada. Overall, Lucia highlighted how important community and culture are to her and how they affect everyone. Lastly, Lucia is proud to share her story on this website and hopes that, in the future, it will be more language-accessible so that more immigrants can use it and connect with stories similar to theirs.
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  Conversation with Diego Martinez

  Diego Martinez is a 22-year-old engineering undergraduate student studying at the University of Ottawa. Diego immigrated from Mexico City, Mexico, to Calgary when he was four years old because his father found a job in the oil and gas industry. Diego believes that his family’s decision to immigrate to Canada was a good choice because it is safer than Mexico. After graduating from high school, Diego moved from Calgary to Chelsea, QC, to live with his uncle and cousin and pursue his studies at the University of Ottawa. Diego describes Chelsea as having a small Latin American community. However, he found a larger community presence at uOttawa. Throughout the interview, Diego discusses the key aspects of his culture, namely language, celebrations, art, and family ties. He talks about how all aspects of his culture have family elements. For example, he mentions that Christmas is an important celebration in Mexico that gets the whole family together. Additionally, he talks about how the arts are used to connect the family.
  
  Diego and his family make sure to keep the culture and heritage alive by speaking Spanish daily. Diego also has a friend who is learning Spanish at the time of this interview, and he takes time to explain how fun it is to speak with him and how much he’s enjoyed getting the chance to use his language outside of his home. He also discusses how his family in Canada makes sure to travel to Mexico to visit their relatives. When asked about his favourite Mexican food, Diego highlighted tortilla soup as his first choice. He enjoys making a variety of traditional foods weekly. He described tortilla soup as a comforting staple food from his childhood, often prepared by his uncle while he was growing up in Mexico.
  
  One thing that Diego thinks is very important is travelling to countries in Latin America. He wants people to be curious when they travel by trying new foods or visiting different landmarks. Essentially, he wants people to really explore the culture as much as possible. He also mentions that an exchange is a great opportunity because you can learn the language and experience everyday life there.
  
  Although Mexico has an amazing culture and is a great place to visit, Diego stresses that there are still issues like cartel violence and corruption that people should be aware of. However, like travelling anywhere in the world, there is always some level of risk.
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  Conversation with Monica Fosado

  This interview features Monicaa Fosado, a vibrant member of Ottawa’s cultural landscape, sharing her personal passions, cultural identity, and community engagement rooted in her Mexican heritage. She pursued her academic journey in Canada at Carleton University, where she completed a master’s degree in journalism.
  
  In her free time, she is highly active and engaged in personal hobbies that bring her joy and connection. She teaches salsa dancing at least once a week, and plays soccer regularly. She emphasized both physical activity and social connection as important parts of her routine. Food also plays a central role in how she maintains her connection to her Mexican heritage, regularly preparing traditional dishes such as tacos and quesadillas not only as meals but also as meaningful cultural practices. She also celebrates culturally significant traditions, such as the Day of the Dead, honouring the celebration's importance in Mexican culture. However, what stands out most is how she chooses to engage with her culture on her own terms. She maintains her cultural identity through food, language, and personal traditions, while also contributing to the community in her own way. She teaches Spanish one-on-one, helping others learn the language while sharing aspects of her culture in an informal setting. Her story offers an important insight into the diversity of immigrant experiences. While some individuals seek out strong cultural communities abroad, she demonstrates that cultural identity can also be maintained in more private, self-defined ways.
  
  Her life in Ottawa is a blend of independence, cultural pride, and active engagement, showing that belonging does not always require a formal community hub, but can instead be created through everyday practices and personal choices.
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  Conversation with Anonymous

  Anonymous is from Uruguay and immigrated to Canada. They Came to Toronto 25 years ago to start their graduate studies and 10 years later moved to Ottawa to be a professor. Anonymous speaks Portuguese, English, and French but mainly uses Portuguese when talking to their family. They have a larger community in Toronto since most of their family and Uruguayan community are integrated there. Anonymous often travels between cities for celebrations, Uruguayan food items, and gatherings with their community. Eating food at family gatherings is important to their culture. Uruguayan culture consists of a meat heavy diet that grills large amounts of beef. Toronto is the only place where they can find Uruguayan style beef. Anonymous is not integrated into Ottawa’s Latin community.
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  Conversation with Anonymous

  Our Dominican-born interviewee moved to Ottawa, Canada, for higher education and family connections. Their sister's presence in Ottawa influenced their relocation, and over time, other family members likewise settled there, forming a strong support system. Despite living in separate homes, their family remains close-knit, frequently gathering for meals and celebrations. Cultural preservation is central to the interviewee's identity, with language playing a key role. Spanish is actively spoken at home, ensuring younger generations maintain fluency. Celebrations such as Christmas, birthdays, and Father's Day reinforce their heritage. Dominican holiday traditions, including festive gatherings, music, and food, are preserved within their family. Culinary traditions further connect the interviewee to their Dominican roots. They highlight "sancocho," a hearty stew, and "la bandera," a meal of rice, beans, and protein, as cultural staples. Access to Latin American ingredients in Ottawa supports their ability to cook traditional dishes. Overall, the interviewee underscores the challenges of cultural preservation while adapting to a new society. Their experiences provide insight into the immigrant experience in Ottawa, reflecting the importance of family, language, and tradition in maintaining cultural identity.
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  Conversation with Kelmys S.

  Kelmys is an international student at Algonquin College. She is currently in her second year, studying advertising and marketing communications. Although she is very busy with school, in her free time, she loves to try new food and eat at different restaurants. She also loves going to jazz lounges with her friends.
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  Conversation with Daniel Torres

  Daniel Torres is a master's student studying medical anthropology at the University of Laval. He earned his joint Hon. B.Soc.Sc. in Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Ottawa. Daniel immigrated to Quebec from Colombia as a child. Throughout the interview, Daniel focused on the lack of a distinct Colombian community in Ottawa and the specific Colombian and Latin American small businesses he would frequent. Daniel said that occasionally, there would be clubs or restaurants that would host "Latin Night", but he wasn't particularly interested in those. He discussed Novenas, a Colombian holiday that is celebrated around Christmas. When discussing how he celebrates his heritage, he said it was something he carries with him rather than being a detached part of his identity.
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  Conversation with Kevin Parre Duque

  Kevin Parra Duque was born in Medellín, Colombia, and later immigrated to Canada 15 years ago to pursue new opportunities. His journey began at the University of Toronto, where he laid the foundation for his career. Over the years, he travelled extensively, exploring different regions before settling in Ottawa three years ago. Kevin's move to Ottawa was driven by a job opportunity that allowed him to establish himself in the city and kept him closely connected to his Colombian roots. His work enables him to travel frequently between Canada and Colombia, maintaining a strong link between both countries. With 15 years of experience living in Canada, Kevin has built a life that bridges cultures, blending the best of both worlds.
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  Conversation with Elvira Arteaga

  Elvira hails from Mexico, is a medical interpreter, and is the president of the Asociación Cultural Mexicano Canadiense Ottawa-Gatineau (ACMCOG). She has lived in Canada for the past 10 years and currently lives in Ottawa with her husband and children. Along with her work with ACMCOG, she regularly collaborates with the Mexican Embassy and takes part in cultural events throughout the year. Maintaining cultural values is very important to Elvira and her family, and she is consistently working to embrace the Latin American community in the capital region.
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  Conversation with Jaime Bustamante

  Jaime Bustamante Salazar was born in Sonora, Mexico on March 3rd, 1976. He lived with his family until age fifteen, when he got an opportunity to go abroad as an exchange student in Columbus, Ohio, for a year. When he turned eighteen, Jaime moved to Mexico City, where he studied Industrial Engineering and International Commerce. Following University, he went on to work in Mexico City for a Canadian company that had recently started to operate there. After working for them for 3 years, the company offered him a position in Ottawa. Jaime moved to Ottawa in June of 2005 and has been here ever since. Jaime also celebrates his heritage by cooking, spending time with family, and sharing values such as respect for others, especially elders. Jaime strives to never forget his history and culture.
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  Conversation with Alicia Lopez de Ferro

  Originally from Argentina, Alicia has lived in Canada with her family since 2011 and in Ottawa since 2016. When she first moved to Canada, she was welcomed by the Argentinian Manitoban Association in Winnipeg, which helped ease her transition to Canadian life. Over her time in Ottawa, Alicia has brought together nearly two hundred Argentinians. She has found joy in connecting with them, whether through watching soccer matches, celebrating Mother’s Day, or coming together for other meaningful events. Her passion for community has helped others feel a sense of community and belonging far from home. Aside from her involvement in her community, she has also enjoyed integrating herself into Canadian culture, from learning how to skate to camping to going to Cabane à Sucre. Today, we sat down to ask a few questions about her experience moving to Ottawa and explore more about her Argentinian culture.
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  Conversation with Laurine Beau de Rochars

  Laurine is a student at the University of Ottawa. She is currently studying in the graduate program in Anthropology. She mentioned being recruited to participate in the study through Taylor Paterson, our T.A., for this course in the Anthropology of Latin America and the Caribbean. Laurine is originally from Haiti. She was born in Port-au-Prince and grew up there until age eleven, when the 2010 earthquake hit, and she and her family moved to the United States. Later, they moved to Toronto and then to Ottawa, where they have been living ever since. In this conversation, Laurine shared how it can be difficult to feel fully accepted by the Haitian community on and off campus as someone who doesn’t speak and, for the longest time, was not allowed to speak the native language.
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  Conversation with Juan Pablo Higuera

  Juan Pablo was born in Colombia and moved to Canada after meeting and falling in love with a Canadian woman. Juan Pablo now lives in Ottawa with his wife and children. Although far from his home country, he remains connected to his Colombian roots through his work and community engagement. Although Juan Pablo does not live in a distinctly Latin neighbourhood, he still plays an active role in the local Latin American community. Through work, he collaborates closely with the Colombian embassy in Ottawa and has built strong connections with various Latin American embassies. For Juan Pablo, crucial aspects of his Colombian identity and community are celebration, togetherness, community values, and food. He additionally places immense value on the friendships and professional relationships he has established in Ottawa, and he recognizes the importance of maintaining cultural ties while integrating into Canadian society.
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  Conversation with Uribe Dominguez

  Uribe Dominguez is a devoted leader in Ottawa’s Dominican community, and this interview details how he got where he is today. Born to a family of ten children in the Dominican Republic, Uribe started his life wanting to become a priest, so much so that he travelled to Canada to see Pope John-Paul II once he was an adult. Initially arriving on a short visa, Uribe saw Canada as a place full of opportunity for those willing to work for it and decided to stay. Eventually, he met his wife, and they had four children, raising them in Canada. Uribe takes great pride in the fact that his children are trilingual and speak English, French, and Spanish. Still a devout catholic, Uribe found that church was a valuable way to celebrate his community and soon represented Ottawa’s Dominican Canadians at functions all over Southern Ontario and Quebec. To this day, Uribe cherishes his community and wears Dominica’s colours proudly.
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  Conversation with Arturo Ortega

  Arturo is twenty-eight years old and born in Mexico City. He lived in Ixtapaluca, Mexico, before moving to Ottawa in August 2024. Arturo is taking his master's in bilingualism studies at the OLBI department. Arturo enjoys cooking Mexican food and attending Latin American events throughout the city to celebrate his heritage and feel closer to home. While he didn't move with any family, he is engaged to a Brazilian woman and enjoys spending time with her and her family.
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  Conversation with Rafael Rodriguez

  Rafael Rodriguez is a Dominican-Canadian from Santo Domingo who moved to Canada in 1999 after his grandmother’s passing to join his family. Now living in Ottawa, he actively fosters the Dominican community by organizing cultural events, including hosting this year’s Dominican Independence Day celebration, which features live music, performances, and dancing. He values community connections and has seen Ottawa’s Latin community grow over the years despite the absence of a sizeable Latin neighbourhood. Significant celebrations for him include Christmas, Dominican Independence Day, Dominican Mother’s Day, and community picnics. Passionate about music, food, dancing, and baseball, Rafael also works as a financial advisor, a career he pursued after taking various courses. A pivotal moment in his life was losing his 38-year-old sister to breast cancer in 2012, which led him to prioritize family and a meaningful career. His dedication to community and culture makes him a key figure in preserving Dominican heritage in Ottawa.
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  Conversation with Jonathan Griffith

  Jonathan Griffth is a twenty-year-old second-year Nursing student at the University of Ottawa. Jon is originally from Barbados. He came to Canada in 2013 with his parents and siblings. His mother was posted to Ottawa as a Diplomat. Jon was eight when he moved to Ottawa, so most of his life was spent in Canada. However, Jon made it a point to honour his country while living in Canada. He discussed that when he was in high school, and there were culture days or black history assemblies, he would ensure that his heritage was honoured, whether through food or general facts regarding Barbados. Although not mentioned within the podcast, Jon also told us that he wears a Barbados Flag Pin at his place of employment to honour his hometown. Near the end of the interview, Jonathan also takes a few minutes to reflect on his experience and offer any valuable advice.
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  Conversation with Ana Paneque Leivas

  Born in Cuba, Ana has experienced a life shaped by movement, adaptation, and a deep connection to her roots. At age ten, she relocated to Sherbrooke, Quebec, before living in Calgary and Florida. Eventually, Ana immigrated to Canada for family reasons and ended up settling in Ottawa to pursue her studies. Despite being immersed in Western culture and having lived in multiple cities and countries, she remains strongly connected to her Cuban identity.
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  Conversation with Saelle Pierre

  Saelle Pierre is a twenty-three-year-old who profoundly values her Haitian heritage and strong family bonds. She immigrated to Canada in 2009, an experience that shaped her appreciation for both her roots and her new home. Raised in a close-knit household, she was taught resilience, unity, and the importance of cultural identity. For Saelle, family extends beyond blood ties, encompassing the broader Haitian community, with whom she shared traditions and fostered a sense of belonging. She is passionate about preserving her heritage and ensuring future generations remain connected to their culture while embracing new opportunities in Canada.
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  Conversation with Paolina Valdez

  This project is an ethnographic interview conducted with Paolina, a fourth-year Sociology student at the University of Ottawa. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, she shares her experiences of cultural adaptation, preservation, and connection as a member of Ottawa’s Latin American and Caribbean community. Through this interview, Paolina reflects on her heritage, the significance of food, music, and celebrations, and the challenges and opportunities of maintaining her Dominican identity while living abroad.
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  Conversation with Rommel Molina

  Romel Molina is a Nicaraguan immigrant and political refugee who moved to Ottawa, Canada, in 1988 at the age of 13 to escape Nicaragua's communist regime. Initially eager to return home, Romel eventually embraced Canadian society. Although he and his family visited Nicaragua frequently until 2018, political instability has since prevented their return. In Canada, Romel found a sense of belonging within the broader Latin community, although he notes a divide between the Nicaraguan community and his own extended family due to political disagreements. Passionate about community involvement, Romel actively participates in events like Latin Fest, drawing inspiration from his parent's cultural engagement. He talks about the upcoming Tamale Festival on April 5th, celebrating Latin American culinary diversity. Romel is also dedicated to preserving his Nicaraguan culture within his family and instilling that into his children. Rommel reinforces through the interview the importance of family and work ethic to himself and his community. His story highlights the vital role of family and community within the Latin diaspora and how each cultural group contributes to Canada's rich diversity and evolving national identity.
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  Conversation with Rafael

  Rafael is a Mexican male in his mid-20s who engineers software apps with a team and enjoys playing video games casually in his free time. He has been enjoying a quiet life since moving to Ottawa.
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  Conversation with Sandra Carranco

  Sandra Carranco, a Bolivian immigrant with a PhD in physiotherapy, relocated to Ottawa from Mexico due to political instability in Bolivia. Encouraged by her brother-in-law, she sought safety and economic stability in Canada. Despite initial challenges like language barriers and professional setbacks, Sandra adapted and became an educational assistant. She is deeply committed to preserving Bolivian culture in Ottawa. Sandra co-founded a women’s group that plays Pasanaku and organizes cultural events, including Bolivia’s National Day and a Christmas celebration, emphasizing inclusivity. Sandra uses food as an essential vessel of her cultural heritage, seeks ingredients for traditional dishes, and passes cultural values to her children. Sandra’s story illustrates the resilience of Ottawa’s Latin American communities and her desire to change perceptions of Bolivia and Latin America.
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  Conversation with Ivana by Linda Iganze

  Ivana is a self-assured Peruvian woman who has preserved her brilliant heritage after emigrating to Montreal, Canada, at the tender age of nine. She later moved to Ottawa to pursue higher studies before finally settling into a thriving career in event management while continually reaffirming the traditions and cultural practices that constitute her heritage. Ivana now resides in Gatineau but remains intimately connected to her heritage through family gatherings, cherished culinary traditions, and continuous community participation.