Browse Items (60 total)

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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.