First Generation

Episode 7 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series features Paola Gomez – community organizer, human rights activist and writer.  In this raw but uplifting conversation, Paola shares her journey from Colombia to the US and then to Canada as a refugee. She talks about various aspects of making Canada home – finding the tools to support herself and her child, harnessing her passions to make a good life and going on to create spaces for artists like herself to have a sense of community and belonging. Paola gives some excellent advice and provides inspiration for those who are looking to grow and invest in themselves, no matter what that looks like.   Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.   Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Episode 6 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series, features Ginella Massa - journalist, news anchor and Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winner. What did it take for Ginella to get past the initial barriers and find her place? How does she deal with her multiple identities? What's in the newsrooms today? Ginella Massa shares her experiences, learnings and some excellent advice for immigrant professionals, including those in the media, looking to pursue their dreams. Get ready to be inspired! Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan. Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Episode 5 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant podcast series, features Ahmed Hussen, Somali refugee, lawyer and Member of Parliament. Minister Hussen shares his inspirational journey - from a teenager trying to figure out how laundry machines work to advocating for community services for residents of Toronto's Regent Park to entering public service to help make a difference in the lives of others like himself. He shares his experiences, learnings and advice for immigrants looking to make Canada home and ways that they can pay it forward to help others like themselves find their feet. Get ready to be inspired!  Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.  Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021. 

Episode 4 of the Canadian Immigrant podcast First Generation features LGBTQ+ activist, documentary filmmaker and social worker of South Asian heritage Alex Sangha.   In this episode, we unpack Alex's journey from changing his Punjabi birth name to fit into Canada to facing the challenges in finding his identity as a gay South Asian man to setting up Sher Vancouver to help others like himself. Alex shares his experiences, learnings and inspiration for those looking for courage to make those non-traditional life choices. Host Farah Mohamed also discusses helpful resources for those on the immigrant journey with Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan.  Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Episode 3 of “First Generation,” the Canadian Immigrant Podcast, features mental health expert, family man, British-born Kwame Mackenzie of Caribbean heritage who shares his journey to Canada. Why Canada? What did it take for him and his family to make Canada home? Why is making professional inroads not easy here? Kwame shares his personal journey in this very open conversation, offers advice for immigrants on how to find support and five-a-day tips for mental health. He provides a very realistic assessment of challenges that health care professionals face as they rebuild their careers in Canada. Host Farah Mohamed and Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan also discuss helpful resources for those who are on the immigrant journey. Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Episode 2 of First Generation, the Canadian Immigrant Podcast, features Iranian-Canadian Gina Cody, successful business leader, engineer, philanthropist and a first-generation immigrant. In this episode, we unpack Gina's journey from Iran to becoming the first woman in Concordia University's history to earn a PhD in building engineering to having the School's Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science named after her. Gina shares her experiences, learnings and inspiration for immigrant women seeking to build a career in Canada, and also in the STEM field. Host Farah Mohamed and Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan discuss helpful resources for those who are on the immigrant journey. Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Did you know that almost 98 per cent of all businesses in Canada are small businesses? Meet Vikram Vij, successful entrepreneur, restaurateur, chef, sommelier, and a first-generation immigrant! In this episode, we unpack Vikram's journey, how he got from India to Canada, his beginnings as a restaurateur, and his experiences and learnings along the way. Host Farah Mohamed and Canadian Immigrant editor Ramya Ramanathan discuss helpful resources for others who are on the immigrant journey. Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more at canadianimmigrant.ca/podcast2021.

Coming Soon: First Generation, a podcast from Canadian Immigrant magazine. Inspiration, information, helpful tools, tips and resources – find all this and more in our new eight-episode Canadian Immigrant podcast series First Generation. You'll hear from a wide range of immigrants – successful entrepreneurs, refugees, young Canadians, artists, Canadian Immigrant Top 25 winners and everyone in between as they share the story of their unique journeys. Find more at canadianimmigrant.ca, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.