Conversation with Juan Pablo Higuera

Title

Conversation with Juan Pablo Higuera

Description

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.

Date

2025-03-17

Format

MP3, 16 min 48 s

Language

English

Interviewer

Charlotte Roy; Juliana Higuera; Deian Assadi

Interviewee

Juan Pablo Higuera

Transcription

The following interview was conducted by Charlotte Roy, Juliana Higuera, and Deian Assadi. The interview participant, Juan Pablo, is Juliana’s father and is originally from Colombia.
Charlotte [13:36:20]: Okay, so I'll just give a very brief introduction to the study. I'm sure Juli said that you had read the consent form.
Charlotte [13:36:29]: I'm just going to go over the purpose of the study super quickly.
Juan Pablo [13:36:29]: Yes.
Charlotte [13:36:33]: So the study has three different goals. The first one was to teach us students ethnographic interviewing skills.
Charlotte [13:36:41]: The second one was to learn about the cultural vibrancy of the Latin and Caribbean people here in Ottawa.
Charlotte [13:36:48]: And the third one was to create an archive for the Latin American and Caribbean community so they can access it as a tool.
Charlotte [13:36:56]: For keeping their cultures alive. So the interview itself has 12 questions and we'll each take our turns asking you four questions.
Charlotte [13:37:05]: And so on. And really quickly, before we begin, did you have any questions at all about the interview?
Juan Pablo [13:37:13]: Well, everything is okay. If you can hear me, perfect. It's okay, better. So I'm ready.
Charlotte [13:37:19]: Okay, perfect. So I'll start with the first one. What is your country of origin?
Juan Pablo [13:37:27]: Colombia in South America.
Charlotte [13:37:30]: Perfect. And what brought you to Ottawa?
Juan Pablo [13:37:35]: Love.
Charlotte [13:37:39]: Okay. Do you…
Juan Pablo [13:37:39]: Yes, yes. I met a beautiful Canadian native woman living in Colombia And… Yeah, that was the hook to attract me and that's why Yeah, that's the reason.
Charlotte [13:37:59]: And do you have family here and do you see them frequently?
Juan Pablo [13:38:04]: Not at all. Just myself and my wife and my kids, but there is no relatives in Canada at all.
Charlotte [13:38:12]: And do you live in a Latin community or a neighborhood where people speak Spanish?
Charlotte [13:38:18]: And or Portuguese and celebrate various occasions.
Juan Pablo [13:38:24]: Yeah, there is some people around. I know they speak some Spanish.
Juan Pablo [13:38:30]: Also, I'm quite involved in some way with the community because I work with closely with our Canadian embassy sorry our Colombian embassy in Ottawa, so also have some friends working in different embassies from different latin american countries So… Also, I have a friend who owns a newspaper specialized for the Latin American community.
Juan Pablo [13:39:01]: Because my work related with different Latino people So yeah, that's why I have a a lot of connections with uh with latin america but there is no special community around my house or my place maybe in the past used to be in the past
Juan Pablo [13:39:25]: Spanish class. As part of the international language training whatever that Ottawa carleton district board of education offer So we used to bring the kids to every Saturday, I think, or Sunday.
Juan Pablo [13:39:41]: And that was the closest maybe Latino community
Charlotte [13:39:47]: Okay.
Juli [13:39:48]: Yeah, we also, what celebrations are most important to you?
Juan Pablo [13:39:54]: Like Latino celebrations? Oh.
Juli [13:39:57]: Yes.
Juan Pablo [13:40:00]: Yeah, maybe… Maybe the last day of the year.
Juan Pablo [13:40:06]: Is quite important for us as a Latino American culture. The Colombian national day which is in July.
Juan Pablo [13:40:15]: 20, July 20? So I think those are the Yeah, Christmas time as well but maybe those two first that I just mentioned are the more representative i think of
Juli [13:40:29]: And could you describe a typical day in your community?
Juan Pablo [13:40:30]: My sorry?
Juli [13:40:31]: a typical day in your community
Juan Pablo [13:40:32]: When I'm… with people from Colombia.
Juan Pablo [13:40:45]: Maybe number one. Theme that I want to highlight is Laughing.
Juan Pablo [13:40:51]: So every time I'm with the community, with Latino community we are smiling we are laughing, we are having fun.
Juan Pablo [13:40:59]: I don't know if that's related with our culture But it's always there you know that that desire to talk to to have fun uh music and sometimes you know, enjoying a special I don't know this or this from from our countries
Juan Pablo [13:41:23]: I think those are very particular things that happens with Latinos are together.
Juli [13:41:30]: And how do you celebrate your heritage?
Juan Pablo [13:41:34]: Yes, again, every July 20th. The Canadian, because I have a very strong relationship with I work here at Colombian embassy in Canada with the ambassadors and people working there uh they organize every year the Colombian national party day so we go there and celebrate
Juan Pablo [13:41:58]: There is soccer games, there is different activities, people get together. They bring different foods or different products from Colombia, we spend the day.
Juan Pablo [13:42:12]: Celebrating there is people who also in ottawa and getting all these Colombian association which is quite strong so they celebrate, they organize this day, they bring groups of people that the dance and show our work culture and folklore So it's a party and maybe that's the main activity. And from time to time, our Colombian embassy organize different activities during the years.
Juan Pablo [13:42:43]: They invite an artist or a folklore or a musician or a movie so there is a movie that invite us to to be together and to share experience and Yeah, maybe that's the best way.
Juli [13:43:05]: And building off of that, what are some values that you hold most dear to you as a member?
Juli [13:43:10]: Of the community.
Juan Pablo [13:43:12]: The values uh Yeah, as I mentioned, you know, like, I don't know how you do translate to english like joyful to be together, you know, like celebrating and happiness maybe
Juan Pablo [13:43:34]: Yeah, maybe…
Juan Pablo [13:43:39]: Work together in some way, try to help each other because we are not in Colombia we are outside so there is always you know this desire to help you, to give you information or to assist you if you need something
Juan Pablo [13:43:57]: So maybe that's, you know, cooperation and that's something that uh I can highlight.
Deian [13:44:07]: Okay. So what would you like to share about yourself or your community that you think is important for people to know?
Juan Pablo [13:44:17]: Uh… I was talking with our Colombian ambassador recently a couple of weeks ago And he mentioned to me that there is a study that prove or show that people coming from Colombia are very hard workers. There is a lot of people coming from Colombia.
Juan Pablo [13:44:43]: With a high standard of education level different to the other ones And… And for us, it's very important to see our community uh working in industries with different companies with a very representative or very important roles in the society.
Juan Pablo [13:45:10]: That's very important for us because that show us that as an immigrant we can immigrants contribute we can contribute come to this country with our brains, not only our hands, but our brains and you know thinking and be part of this
Juan Pablo [13:45:29]: Society. So that's one of the things that I found with our colombian community.
Juan Pablo [13:45:36]: Yeah, for sure, there is possible. To find people that are not very maybe align with the values we have in Canada that could happen but after 20 years living in Canada.
Juan Pablo [13:45:54]: Every Colombian that I met are very committed uh you know, working hard for our Canadian values and giving everything for our economy and our community.
Juan Pablo [13:46:09]: So I'm really proud to be Colombian there's a lot of Colombians working and giving everything to this country.
Deian [13:46:20]: Very nice. So what foods do you make that remind you of home and where do you purchase your groceries to prepare traditional meals?
Juan Pablo [13:46:28]: Oh, that's good. That's a good question. Now there is a couple of uh places that you can find some places tropical fruits, tropical vegetables you know that are very uh strong It's a strong part of our culture
Juan Pablo [13:46:52] You can find… in all the grocery stores you know you can find a lot of our tropical fruits Our roots that were, you know, like cassava or a space that kind of sweet potatoes we use.
Juan Pablo [13:47:08]: There is a lot of… things that remind us our heritage our culture So it's very easy. It's very simple.
Juan Pablo [13:47:17]: Maybe 20 years ago, it was a little bit difficult at that time but right now We have a nice trade relationship with Colombia we have a a free trade agreement.
Juan Pablo [13:47:31]: For last 10 years. So it's easy to find some of our There is a couple of restaurants in Ottawa as well. Not too much, not too many. Maybe Montreal is more rich. There's more flavor of Latino American, Montreal.
Juan Pablo [13:47:49]: Even Toronto. But in Ottawa has been growing for the last decade.
Juan Pablo [13:47:57]: We eat a lot of one of those things is corn bread we we name we call arepa it's a kind of cornbread that we use for breakfast so that's very very typical from our our country and also we eat a lot of plantain which is a kind of banana
Juan Pablo [13:48:20]: But we use a lot of plantains. Mango, avocado, that kind of fruits really it's good for us to be close to our not your home, you know?
Deian [13:48:37]: Okay. And so how likely would you and your family be to use the website we are creating for uploading your stories?
Deian [13:48:45]: And how would you use it? So we'd like to better serve the community. So any suggestions from you about access as well as what should be posted would be greatly appreciated.
Juan Pablo [13:48:56]: Yeah, as I mentioned before, Colombia has a very strong community of Colombians, auto work Colombian Association or something like that.
Juan Pablo [13:49:11]: So… this tool would be nice, would be very useful for our community.
Juan Pablo [13:49:19]: And, you know, to share experience or to would be okay for us maybe also maybe approaching every embassy that would help to you also to help promote this website or the tool that you just mentioned So it would be nice to have that
Juan Pablo [13:49:44]: Website to find a place to meet each other maybe to meet to talk about our history our what we are doing in Canada perhaps create a networking of people helping each other. When you are an immigrant and you calling for the first time to a country
Juan Pablo [13:50:05]: You have so many questions. And it's good to know there is people outside that can help you.
Juan Pablo [13:50:13]: To answer those questions or simple things you know like to open a bank account.
Juan Pablo [13:50:19]: Or whatever so many times you just gain a new world everything is new So if you have a website or a place or tool that you can communicate or give you contacts with other Latin American people living in your city
Juan Pablo [13:50:37]: That would be nice. That would be very helpful.
Deian [13:50:40]: Okay, great. And then last question, just do you have any other comments or concerns for us?
Juan Pablo [13:50:48]: No, actually, I'm very happy that you as a student and as a faculty in the university helping Latin American and Caribbean community We are close. We have a lot of things that are in common even though the weather is totally different
Juan Pablo [13:51:12]: We have several, as I mentioned before, free trade agreements not only with Colombia but we have Honduras costa rica peru recently ecuador. So trade is especially right now with this problems that we are facing with the United States.
Juan Pablo [13:51:30]: It's very important to key is strengthen our relationship with Canada.
Juan Pablo [13:51:39]: When I came to Canada for the first time, I was able to write a book.
Juan Pablo [13:51:45]: For trade as a consultant and one of the themes that I realized 20 years ago it was like uh united states is like a wall and that dan And because that, as Canadians, we are not allowed to see the Latin American culture
Juan Pablo [13:52:06]: Latino America is more than Mexico. And also the Latin American people thinks that Canada is like another extension of United States. And no, Canada is totally different, totally different values So I think right now there is an opportunity to strengthen our relationship to
Juan Pablo [13:52:28]: Meet each other's. And that will be helpful for every country in Latin America and for us in Canada for trade So it's a very special momentum does what I think is happening right now.
Juan Pablo [13:52:43] So yeah, I'm very glad that the university is helping in some way to strengthen that relationship.
Deian [13:52:53]: All right. Thank you.
Juan Pablo [13:52:55]: Oh, thank you guys. That was easy.

Original Format

On Zoom