Conversation with Carlos Zapata
description: This interview tells the story of Carlos Zapata, who immigrated to Canada from Santiago de Cali, Colombia, on the Pacific Coast. Carlos migrated to Montreal in pursuit of higher education at Dawson College and later at Concordia University. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he accepted a job at the University of Ottawa because of the opportunities, possibilities, and quality of life the city of Ottawa offered. While Carlos has found a rich and fulfilling life in Ottawa, he still celebrates his culture in myriad ways, including participating in holidays such as Petronio Álvarez and Christmas. Food is also a significant factor in how Carlos stays connected. His culture. He highlighted some of his favourite foods from back home, Santiago de Cali, such as chontaduro, cholado, sancocho, el aplastado, and salchipapa. Finally, Carlos emphasizes his love for salsa music, which he still listens to today to reconnect with his roots. Having lived in Canada for most of his adult life, Carlos emphasizes the disconnect he feels from his culture. Simple practices, such as cooking one’s favourite dish, become nearly impossible due to the lack of accessibility to ingredients needed to recreate meals from his hometown on the Pacific Coast. Now, through his work as a specialist in ‘Partnerships and Community Engagement’ in Community Service Learning (CSL) programming at the University of Ottawa, Carlos uses his personal experince as a guiding light in his endeavours to create unity among Latin American communities through storytelling. Community is a central value for Carlos, after growing up in what he describes as a “densely populated, rich ecosystem full of local shops, restaurants and pubs”. From Carlos’ perspective, it is important for Latin Americans to support each other, form reciprocal, trust-based relationships, and take up space.
date: 2026/03/18
format: MP3 file
language: English

Graphs of City of Ottawa Public Investment
description: These two graphs are from data gathered from the City of Ottawa Operating Budgets from 2012-2025, minus 2015.

1912 Historical Fire Insurance Maps of Sandy Hill
description: These images document Sandy Hill. By comparing these to the previous map collections, you can see how the neighborhood has changed. By clicking on an image and enlarging it, you can see where there were grocers , bakers, Chinese laundry, churches and schools.

1901 Historical Fire Insurance Map Of Sandy Hill
subject: Sandy Hill in 1901
description: These images document Sandy Hill. It serves as a baseline to see how the neighborhood has changed. By clicking on an image and enlarging it, you can see where there were grocers (GRO), as well as other businesses from livery stables, coal sheds, freight yards to hotels.

Conversation with Vera Cotter
description: This Interview features Vera Cotter and her journey from Trinidad and Tobago to Canada. Born in 1955, Vera spent her early years in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain. She then moved at the age of five to Princes Town, where she would spend the rest of her childhood and teenage years until moving abroad to the United States for University. When describing her upbringing, Vera explained that she grew up in a large, multi-generational household and neighbourhood. Education was very important in her family and within her community; you could attend either French or English school. Vera’s family chose the English system and, in turn, expected their children to attend English universities after finishing secondary school, particularly the University of Cambridge. Family is vital to Vera’s culture and has played a central role in how she ended up in the West years ago and how she continues to live today. She articulated that she was only able to go to the United States at all because of her aunt, who was already studying there. She describes this, stating, "our culture, you have to live with family, like you can't just go as a student to a strange land." She later moved to Canada and began attending pharmacy school at the University of Toronto. As she described her time in Toronto, she laughed and explained that she was a bit of a rebel within her family. While studying, she was still required to live with her family and, being in her early twenties, felt a strong need for independence that ultimately led her to drop out of university at the time she described this, stating, “being stuck with relatives, and I had a few more relatives in Toronto. And I just found living with, they became my parents. And it was like too much, too many parents. And we were allowed back then to work like 20 hours a week as a student in Canada. So, I hung out with a crowd that my family did not approve of, it was like, not good. So, there was a lot of pressure. There's school and there's the fr…
date: 2026-03-05
format: MP3 file
language: English

Conversation with Claudia Martinez
description: Claudia Martinez is an immigrant from Colombia and has been living in Canada for over 20 years. She shares her story, touching on themes of cultural adaptation and community growth. She explains that through family reunification, she was able to bring relatives to Canada and has since seen growth in the Latin community, making cultural foods more accessible. Claudia shares the importance she places on family-focused celebrations such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. She also explains comparisons in social norms between Colombia and Canada. Moreover, she emphasizes the strong work ethic of Colombian immigrants and their commitment to family and societal contribution. Overall, she is grateful for the Anthroharvest website, which serves as a great platform to share diverse immigrant stories and can promote a better understanding among the public of the different situations that lead to immigration.
date: Friday, March 13th 2026 at 9:00AM
format: MP3
language: English

Conversation with Maria
subject: Ethnographic Interview with a Mexican Immigrant
description: Maria is a Mexican immigrant studying Joint Honours in Political Science and History at the University of Ottawa. She first arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, as a boarding student, then moved to Ottawa for post-secondary education, and returned home in the summer to reconnect with her family and Mexican community. As a young adult, Maria looks forward to continuing her exploration and travelling the world, with the possibility of returning home afterward. Her decision to come to Canada was not her own; it was made by her parents, who saw Canada as a welcoming and open country for immigrants. None of her family members moved with her, except for her brother, who came one year after her arrival for a short time but left soon after because he was not enjoying his experience. This reality contextualizes her early experience of settlement, exhibiting the nuance and varied responses involved with being immersed in a new country and culture. Maria highlights that long-term integration has not always been easy for her and that this challenge persists long after one’s arrival in a new country. Maria mentioned that she has yet to find a Latin American community in Ottawa, stating she was unaware of its existence. She notes that Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are hubs for Latin American communities, with organized cultural celebrations and events. She articulated an uneven nature of immigrant integration across different cities and urban contexts. Maria still holds her cultural identity and the traditions she values very closely, as this helps her stay connected to her Mexican community. She expressed that a significant cultural holiday she celebrates is Semana Santa, a Catholic holy event popular in Mexico. She also appreciates foods such as Chilaquiles, a dish made with tortillas and tomato-chilli sauce, and she buys most of her ingredients at grocery stores like Loblaws and Food Basics. Her incorporation of Mexican culture into her Canadian life has helped Maria main…
date: March 10, 2026
format: MP3
language: English

Conversation with Tatiana
description: This interview features Tatiana, a Colombian immigrant living in Canada. Tatiana is a Political Science student at the University of Ottawa. She immigrated from Tunja, northeast of Bogotá, to Canada at the age of 18, seeking new opportunities and to expand her knowledge of the world beyond her hometown. During our conversation, Tatiana opens up about the efforts she’s made to stay connected to her Colombian heritage and the struggles she's faced along the way. One of the main things Tatiana has found difficult to access in Ottawa is ingredients and fresh produce, as she enjoyed at home. Fresh fruit, in particular, holds a special place in her heart, as her family in Colombia owns a fruit farm and she has strong memories of always having delicious fruit at her table. She describes this experience, stating, “I'd say at least once a week. Like the thing I used to love about Colombian foods is like fruits. And my family, at least my mom's side, they have a whole farm to grow fruits. So my house always has them. And here the selection is so limited and it's so tasteless. And I find myself craving like a juice, a lemonade with coconut or with cherry, because we have lemonade at all (*******) times. Like it's good, like a good juice, And I found a store here in Byward that kind of sells juices, but it's like $12 for a glass, which I find it's overpriced.” She noted that when she’s feeling homesick or has a pull to reconnect with her culture, she tends to seek out restaurants that serve Colombian food. In general, Tatiana explained that she sees a few different Latin American businesses around Ottawa, particularly in the Byward Market. Outside of food, Tatiana describes the differences she has noticed between Canadian and Colombian culture during her interview. Particularly, Colombians' collectivism, which she feels is a core value of her culture. She articulated this, stating, “I feel as if Colombians think of their community first a lot of times before taking a decision t…
date: Thursday, January 29th 2026
format: MP3 (21.3 MB)
language: English

Conversation with Jorge Garcia
description: This interview shared the story of Jorge Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant living in Canada. Jorge immigrated to Canada after fleeing the Civil War in El Salvador. Throughout this interview, he reflects on memories from his move to Ottawa, the ways he has seen the city transform, his broader experience engaging with Canadian culture as a Latin American man, and how he stays connected to his Salvadoran culture. Upon his arrival in Canada, Jorge stated that he prioritized learning about and integrating into Canadian society. He noted that the longer he’s lived in Canada, the more he's come to understand its diversity, particularly between anglophone and francophone communities. Jorge speaks of his efforts to assimilate into Canadian society while not forgetting his roots, and discusses his perspective on Canada’s bilingualism and questions he has had about French culture in Canada, stating, “Personally, I try to keep myself merging in not forgetting my roots, even though I'm in Canada. I'm part of the Canadian society now. Now, I have learned a lot about the Canadian society. What's the French? What's the English side? Why is it so important for the French constitution when they say that this is a country that is bilingual? When in certain parts of Canada, that bilingualism doesn't apply.” Jorge considers his efforts to connect with and learn about the different communities in Canada to sit at the core of his belief system, and described how, as someone living in a predominantly French neighbourhood, he’s enjoyed getting the chance to learn about French Canadian culture and their language. Building on this, Jorge describes how he feels it is his responsibility and pleasure to work towards improving and contributing to Canadian society as a Canadian; his goal is to be there to support not only the Latin American communities in Canada but society at large. Jorge celebrates his Salvadoran roots through maintaining connections to family. He also prepares and eats Salvadoran …
date: March 9, 2026
format: MP3, 16 min 40s
language: English

Conversation with Tamara Toledo from the Latin American Canadian Arts Project (LACAP)
description: We interviewed a representative-Tamara Toledo-- of the Latin American Canadian Arts Project or LACAP. Their mission showcased a good example of support for the community, by the community. Tamara's passion was infectious: “Because my background is in the arts, that sort of has been my focus with that activist intention of changing how art is understood, accepted, and the narratives that are a part of the Canadian dialogue.” LACAP is a Toronto-based organization that helps contemporary Latin American artists who are living in Canada connect to resources, such as help with exhibitions and research. They also provide public programming. LACAP frequently works with Toronto's institutions, such as Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD) and York University, providing lectures and seminars about Latin American artists and the history of Latin American art. LACAP’s two founders are Tamara Toledo and Rodrigo Barreda, who is in operations management. Toledo’s background in Art history and curation allows her to understand the artists' needs on a deeper level and provides mentorship for up-and-coming Latin artists. Having attended OCAD herself, she first-hand encountered the issues that many fellow artists were experiencing, allowing her to work directly with the University's programming to create a more inclusive curriculum. LACAP only has two paid employees; everyone else is contracted, depending on project funding. In 2025, they had 3 paid staff who received payroll thanks to an additional grant they received. In general, the organization relies heavily on a fluctuating number of volunteers, meaning that lots of people are constantly coming and going. LACAP is always looking for helping hands--you can apply on their website if you are interested in getting involved with the Latin arts community. One of LACAP’s main initiatives is Sur Gallery, located right on Toronto's Waterfront. The gallery is a dedicated space used to present contemporary Latin American and La…
date: Thursday, February 19th, 2026.
format: M4A file (29,758 KB)
language: English

Conversation with Irene Robalino
description: This interview features Irene Robalino, a fourth-year student in the International Studies and Modern Language program at the University of Ottawa. She was born in Ecuador but grew up outside Toronto in a strong Latin American community of friends and family. Since moving to Ottawa, Irene has built a small Latin American community here and lives with three other Latin American roommates, two of whom have family connections to Colombia and one from Venezuela. In this interview, Irene discusses different ways she stays connected to her culture, such as speaking Spanish with family and friends, listening to Ecuadorian music and especially cooking. Irene wishes more people knew about Ecuador’s cultural dishes, especially since shared meals are a big part of not just Latin American culture but also family connection. Her favourite dish that she has recently learned to make is Ecuadorian Ceviche, a combination of shrimp, fish, lime, cilantro, and tomato, traditionally served with Plantain chips. Throughout our conversation, Irene emphasized childhood and community when celebrating her Ecuadorian culture and her heritage. She articulates this, stating, “there's a huge emphasis on, like, you know, taking care of every family member [...] we're all very close-and every-there's so many gatherings that are just centered around, like, eating and just dancing and-and just being happy.” (Irene Robalino 5:11).
date: February 28th, 2026
format: MP3 File
language: English

Conversation with Lauren Keshvari Leyva
description: This interview features Lauren Keshvari Leyva. We had the honour of discussing Cuban culture with Lauren, a first-generation Cuban-Canadian. Lauren highlighted that Cubans pride themselves on hard work and family. Upon immigrating with her mother, she was immersed in Canadian culture and society, which she had to learn and adapt to quickly. A struggle that brought her family closer and really ingrained the importance of family within her household. Lauren mentioned that growing up in Canada, she and her family would attend Latin Fests. These festivals showcased Latin American and Spanish culture through live music, dance, and food. Her greatest source of connection to her roots came from her family. Throughout the interview, Lauren shared some of her favourite foods and music that help her feel connected to her heritage and culture, especially fried plantains and Cubanos, which are sandwiches made with seasoned pork and placed between soft, slightly sweet bread. An important point that Lauren highlights at the end of our interview needs to be repeated: "... every Latin immigrant has a different story, and every Latin culture and country is not the same. And I think that's also important to keep in mind when meeting Latin immigrants and interacting with Latin immigrants, because we all have different experiences and you want to be very careful not to overgeneralize as well, just to maintain a certain level of respect for everyone's unique culture."
date: 2026-03-04
format: MP3; 33.442 mb
language: English

Conversation with Eduardo
description: This interview features Eduardo, a Cuban immigrant living in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, whose experiences reflect the complexities of migration, shaped by strong family responsibility, cultural changes, and the lasting influence of life in Cuba. Eduardo spoke to us about growing up in Santa Clara, Cuba, and how he was raised in a rural farming family before later moving to the city. He describes life in Cuba as deeply shaped by both community and restriction. While daily life included music, dominoes, and large-scale carnival celebrations that brought people together, it was also influenced by government surveillance, which created a sense of caution and limited trust outside the family. Subsequently, he notes loyalty as a strong value in his life. Another integral social value we learned from him was food. Back in Cuba, he mentions how important food becomes as it is heavily tied to crucial memories and traditions; it represents the social connections made. However, many of the Cuban dishes he lovingly detailed to us, such as arroz congri, have been largely abandoned. Eduardo moved to Canada after being encouraged by his niece, who spoke of greater opportunities and a better quality of life. Migration did not mark a separation from his family, but rather an increased sense of responsibility toward them. For many years, he worked to support his parents and relatives in Cuba financially, often prioritizing their needs over his own. This sense of responsibility, “pressure” as he called it, shaped his daily decisions, often leading him to feel guilty about enjoying simple comforts. This sense of obligation shaped his daily decisions and motivated him to work consistently. Even after the passing of his parents, Eduardo continues to support extended family members, including a cousin who remains in Cuba. More recently, he was able to bring his sister to Canada, marking a significant shift in both his responsibilities and relief from the pressure he once carried. Today, …
date: 2026-03-10
format: MP3, 21.9MB
language: English

Conversation with UNAM-Canada
description: The organization we interviewed for this project is UNAM-Canada, an extension of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico’s largest and oldest public University. UNAM has thirteen international offices located in multiple countries, such as the United States, France, Germany, Spain, China, Chile, and, more recently, the United Kingdom. Founded in 1995, UNAM-Canada serves as the university’s international office in Canada. Located in downtown Hull, in Gatineau, this extension currently employs eighteen staff members. As part of this project, we interviewed Alex Méndez, the Academic Affairs Chief Executive at UNAM-Canada, and Brenda Colín, the Administrative Lead at UNAM-Canada. The UNAM-Canada primarily offers language courses in Spanish, French and English, as well as courses on Mexican and Latin American culture, welcoming more than 800 students each year (Unam Canadá 2019). Most of the students enrolled in Spanish courses come from the region and generally fall into two main categories. The first group consists mostly of retirees who enjoy traveling to Latin America and would like to improve their Spanish skills. The second group includes government employees or professionals who require Spanish for specific purposes and therefore will take classes with UNAM-Canada. When it comes to English and French courses, most participants are international students from UNAM in Mexico. In fact, twice a year, during the summer and winter semesters, the school holds a program called PUMA+. Through this program, Mexican students spend three weeks in Canada developing their English and French skills. In addition, UNAM-Canada is one of only two accredited institutions in Canada authorized to offer the SIELE examination, which provides an internationally recognized certification of Spanish language proficiency (Unam Canadá 2026). As a result, UNAM-Canada has established itself as one of the most important language learning institutions in the National Capital reg…
rights: Pictures taken by Noémie Burrs and Charlotte Lasnier Figure 1. Entrance of UNAM-Canada (March 17, 2026) Figure 2. Day of the Dead altar commemorating Québec artist Jean Paul Riopelle at Maison du Citoyen (November 3, 2024) Figure 3. Library at UNAM-Canada (March 17, 2026)
format: Audio file : MP3 file - 23.0 Mo Images : JPG file - 3.59 Mo ; JPG file - 7.38 Mo Mo ; JPG file - 3.50 Mo
language: English

Conversation with Ángel
description: Ángel Albarrán-Ponce is a 33-year-old PhD student at the University of Ottawa who originally comes from Mexico City, Mexico. His experiences as an international student and member of Ottawa’s Latin American community highlight how immigrants maintain cultural connections while adapting to life in a new country. Ángel moved to Canada primarily for academic reasons and is currently pursuing doctoral studies, balancing a demanding research schedule with efforts to stay socially and culturally engaged. Ángel describes his daily routine as “really busy with work,” reflecting the intensity of graduate studies. Despite this, he prioritizes social connection during his free time. He enjoys attending salsa events in Ottawa, spending time with friends, and sharing meals, activities that allow him to maintain a sense of community while living abroad. These moments of connection are especially important for international students who may be far from family and familiar cultural environments. Maintaining cultural traditions is central to Ángel’s identity. He expressed pride in being Mexican and highlighted important celebrations such as Mexican Independence Day on September 15 and Día de los Muertos. For Ángel, participating in or remembering these traditions helps him stay connected to his cultural roots while living in Canada. During the interview, he described the Mexican community as “welcoming,” “united,” and “chill,” emphasizing a shared sense of openness and hospitality. These qualities help foster connections among individuals who may come from different countries but share similar cultural values and experiences as immigrants. At the same time, Ángel reflected on broader social issues affecting his home country. He discussed what he called “modern colonization,” explaining that increased tourism and development in certain regions of Mexico have transformed local communities. From his perspective, these changes can leave residents feeling disconnected from their homeland…
date: 2026-03-09
format: MP3 - 19.6 MB
language: English

Conversation with Miguel Gonzalez
description: This interview features Miguel Gonzalez, who immigrated from Venezuela to Canada to escape what he describes as a “difficult situation” unfolding there. Miguel had family in Ottawa and Montreal prior to moving to Canada, and selected Ottawa as his home base because of his family's prior experince with English, which he believed would allow them to better integrate into the community. Family is central to Miguel’s identity and experince in Canada. He has many family members who immigrated to Montreal, and he sees them frequently. As a husband and father of two, he is motivated to provide stability and opportunity for his children. He believes success is measured not only by professional achievements but also by the ability to support loved ones and remain grounded in one’s values. Maintaining strong relationships is important to him, whether within his household or his broader social circle. Miguel has a passion for helping others with mobility and supporting them. He finds it deeply important to have mutual support and information-sharing, particularly within immigrant and Latin communities. He believes collaboration and empathy are essential for overcoming challenges, especially in unfamiliar systems. Having seen how easily people’s skills can be overlooked, he strongly believes in recognizing the knowledge and experience individuals bring. Overall, Miguel is guided by respect, hard work, and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. These beliefs carry over into how he celebrates and shares his Venezuelan culture, as he prioritizes seeing his loved ones share knowledge and supporting the broader Latin American community.
date: 2026-03-10
format: MP3, 21:45 minutes
language: English

Conversation with Hakim Marquez.
description: This interview features Hakim, a Venezuelan migrant living in Canada. Hakim spent the majority of his life in Venezuela, but Canada was not the first place he had lived abroad. In truth, Hakin was born in France and returned to Venezuela soon after. He later moved to Canada at the age of fifty-one, seeking opportunities in education and technology. Since then, he’s found success working at the University of Ottawa in Teaching Learning Support Services. Initially, Hakim's family had limited access to Latin American culture, let alone Venezuelan culture, and the Spanish language while living in Ottawa. However, they have been able to find a connection through an introduction to another Latin American family at their daughter’s school, and Hakim’s wife has since begun working at the Spanish Embassy. Beyond the social connections they have formed with other Latin Americans in Ottawa, Hakim and his family also prioritize maintaining their culture at home. He notes in the interview that social media has been one avenue that has helped them stay connected to Venezuela. Other ways they celebrate their family heritage are by making traditional foods, like Arepas, and by celebrating major Latin holidays. They listen to Latin music and dance, keeping their cultural heritage alive!
date: Thursday, March 12th, 2026, 1:30 pm EST
format: MP3, 20 MB.
language: English

Conversation with Lance
description: This interview features Lance, a Haitian man in his early 20s, who immigrated to Canada with his mother, father, and older sister in 2011. He and his family came to Canada due to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which occurred in 2010, and caused the Haitian economy to crash due to the high death toll and extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure (Pallardy 2026). He explained that his father was a judge in Haiti and already had professional connections to Canada, which is why they chose to come here. During our interview, he recounted what a day in his life was like when he lived in Haiti, sharing anecdotes about the heat, the loud bustling noises around him, the intense heat in the afternoons and playing soccer. Now living in Canada, Lance’s life is different. However, he has found ways to celebrate his Haitian heritage, such as by observing all the major holidays from back home. He provided examples of a few of his favourites, such as Christmas, January 1st/Haitian independence day, and a holiday in Canada usually celebrated around Halloween called Gide. He also works hard to cook traditional food such as a fried pork dish called griot. Overall, he wishes that Canadians could see Haiti for what it is, rather than believe all they see in the media about Haiti and its people. It is important to him that Canadians see past the politics of Haiti and see the people of the country for who they are. Resource on the 2010 Haiti earthquake
date: 2026-02-24
format: MP3, 7 mins, 10s
language: English

Conversation with David King
description: This interview explores the life story of David King, beginning with his childhood in Black River, Jamaica, and continuing through his immigration to Ottawa, Ontario, in 1976. The interview highlights key themes, including migration, identity formation, intergenerational knowledge, and cultural preservation. David's interview is punctuated by his keen sense of humour, kind disposition and detailed description of his childhood in Jamaica and the life he has built in Canada. David began his story by sharing details of his childhood in Jamaica, where he was raised by his grandmother, whom he believed was his mother until he was seven years old. He grew up in a small home with his Grandmother and fifteen of his cousins. During this time, his family struggled with food insecurity. They lived far from any stores, so his grandmother walked ten miles on Saturdays to shop for groceries and bring them home. Although there were many struggles, David looks back at this time fondly. He shared one story with a smile, stating, “Yeah, there was two beds in the house. 15 kids, and you sleep head to foot. So whoever get to the bed first, grab the corner. And if you're the edge, you get knocked off. **Laughs** Oh yeah, there were just two beds, and all the kids, they would sleep head to foot. My grandmother slept on the sofa. But I never see her sleep because she'll be up. We go to bed, wake up and she's still up. Oh yeah. It was great, because we thought we just live together, brothers and sisters. We had no idea.” (David King). Throughout David’s life, family has been an interesting, ever-changing reality. He was five years old when he was first introduced to his biological siblings, and continued to meet other siblings as he got older. Most shocking was his introduction to his biological mother when he was seven years old, who would return to take him to Canada when he was ten. David explained that even his last name, “King,” was not a direct link to family. It was a false name giv…
date: March 1st, 2026
format: mp3, 19.3 mb
language: English

Conversation with Emmanuelle
description: I interviewed Emmanuelle, a close friend of mine since high school. She is half Nicaraguan and half Canadian, born in Canada and currently living in Gatineau. Emmanuelle comes to Ottawa for her studies and attends the University of Ottawa. Although she grew up in Canada, she stays closely connected to her Latin American roots through her family, Nicaraguan food, cultural festivals, and visits to Nicaragua. She also has many friends from across Latin America, where she recognizes shared values and experiences. Emmanuelle embraces a blend of both cultures in her daily life, balancing Canadian experiences with her Nicaraguan heritage.
date: 2025-03-13
format: MP3, 8 min 51 s
language: French

Conversation with Taryn Ayton
description: This interview with Taryn Ayton by Adrian Machado is a part of a project for anthropological studies in the Caribbean and Latin America. Taryn is a 21-year-old Jamaican Canadian university student living in the GTA area (Richmond Hill). She is a long-time friend of the interviewer and provides a unique perspective on Carribean identity. The interview covers various aspects of her heritage and identity, such as celebrations, traditional foods, and values. Taryn hopes that her contribution to this project will enrich Canadians’ knowledge of Caribbean stories and bring members of the Latin/ Caribbean community together.
date: Conversation with Taryn Ayton
format: MP3, 20 mins 46 s
language: English

Conversation with Mr. Alberto Camacho-Magallanes
description: Alberto Camacho-Mallaganes was born in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico which is a city located approximately three hours northwest of Mexico City. At the age of three, the interviewee moved to California but frequently traveled back and forth between Mexico and the United States. Later the interviewee relocated to Ottawa for a PhD after receiving to participate in a research lab that was aligning with their academic interest.
date: 2025-03-18
format: MP3, 13 min 42 s
language: English

Conversation with Carlos Gnecco
description: Carlos Gnecco is a Colombian student studying International Development at the University of Ottawa. Inspired by Colombia's challenges, he developed a passion for social equity and sustainable development at an early age. After completing high school in Columbia, he set out to expand his understanding of global development issues through international education. Carlos is studying international development and globalization at the University of Ottawa through a multidisciplinary approach. His coursework encompasses sustainability, economic policy, and social justice, enabling him to analyze global issues critically. His active participation in student groups, advocating for marginalized populations and drawing attention to international problems, is a testament to his commitment. He has been involved in projects that promote environmental and community sustainability, demonstrating his commitment to creating positive change. Carlos aims to leverage his experiences and education to drive policy change and make a meaningful impact in Colombia and beyond, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation.
date: 2025-03-21
format: MP3 12 min 32 s
language: English

Conversation with Luis Abanto Rojas
description: Luis Abanto left his home country in 1985 when he was 17 from Peru and lived in France for six years as a refugee. Due to corruption and ongoing conflicts in his country, he moved for a better life. During his time at university, he met a Canadian girlfriend, which eventually led him to move to Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, where he lived for two years. Motivated by his connection to the French language, Abanto chose to move to Ottawa to pursue his master's degree. His experiences across different countries have shaped his academic and personal journey. He feels like Ottawa is not big when it comes to the Latin population compared to Toronto. When came to Ottawa he lived in Vanier for 13 years. He enjoyed spending time with Portuguese who lived in his neighborhood.
date: 2025-03-06
format: MP3, 29 min 08 s
language: English

Conversation with Alice Cordeiro Silva Veras
description: Alice Cordeiro Silva Veras is from Brazil and currently lives in Ottawa. She moved to Canada at the age of 9 with her mother and younger sister. Having been here for over 10 years, she is now a permanent resident. Alice enjoys celebrating her culture and is passionate about sharing its diversity beyond well-known events like Carnival. She also values community voices and recommends that more members contribute to online platforms to celebrate and reflect the richness of Latin American and Caribbean cultures in Ottawa. Her insights reveal a desire for deeper cultural representation and recognition in public community projects.
date: 2025-03-20
format: MP3, 19 min 58 s
language: English