Happy Lebanese Independence Day!
On this special day, let’s celebrate the resilience, strength, and unity of the Lebanese people. Today marks the 79th anniversary of Lebanon’s independence, a testament to the enduring spirit of a nation that has faced challenges with courage and determination. We celebrate the 22nd day of November Lebanese Heritage Month with Spotlight on our four honorary consuls which span across Canada from Halifax, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
NCCAR would like to express its appreciation and gratitude to the four honorary Lebanese consuls serving in Canada. Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in supporting the Lebanese community are truly commendable. These individuals play a pivotal role in fostering strong ties between Lebanon and Canada, facilitating important diplomatic and community initiatives. Through their commitment, they contribute significantly to the well-being and cohesion of our community, bridging cultural connections and providing valuable assistance to those in need. Their exemplary service reflects a deep sense of responsibility and a genuine passion for strengthening the bonds that unite us. Thank you to these honorary consuls for their invaluable contributions and for being pillars of support for the Lebanese diaspora in Canada.
Today’s spotlight spanning from coast to cost (in Alphabetical order) are:
Mr. Gregoire Bostajian consul in Toronto
Biography to come.
Wadih M. Fares, Honorary Consul in Halifax.
Mr. Wadih Fares exemplifies entrepreneurial spirit and community service. Escaping the civil war in Lebanon as a teenager, he settled in Nova Scotia, learned English, graduated from university, and founded his own company. An innovator, he combined building design, construction and property management into one company that has transformed Halifax’s landscape and helped boost the local economy.
With over 30 years of experience, Wadih Fares has been involved in every aspect of building design, project management and development. Wadih received his Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and a Diploma of Engineering from Dalhousie University. He wanted to create a company that would bring all of the disciplines involved in a development project together under one roof. The result was WM Fares Group, a company that started with the philosophy that customers crave simplicity. Wadih’s goal was to rid his customers of the challenges and stresses of dealing with multiple consultants and contractors and give them a much more comfortable and convenient experience.
Since that time, Wadih has led his team of professional engineers, architects, planners and support staff to the successful completion of many major projects. These include hospitality, multi-unit residential and commercial projects throughout the Maritime Provinces, Ontario and Alberta. He has also shared this expertise with others in the industry, through his membership with the Engineers Nova Scotia, and past membership in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Alberta and Ontario.
For as long as Wadih has been developing the buildings in which people live and work, he has worked to develop the communities united within them. As a Lebanese immigrant, he believes strongly in celebrating the unique talents and contributions everyone brings to this province and country. The success of the WM Fares business has allowed Wadih to be quite involved on a community level. Wadih actively participates on high-profile boards and committees volunteering his time and talent. He values his business and community accomplishments equally.
Elie Ghanime, Honorary Consul in Calgary.
Mr. Elie Ghanime was born in Lebanon and immigrated to Canada in 1974. He runs a real estate development and financial investments firm in Calgary Alberta and maintains close ties with the Lebanese diaspora community, religious, businesses and political leaders in his region. Mr. Ghanime proudly achieved his dream, when he built the first Lebanese Honorary Consulate in Calgary in 2019 raising the Lebanese flag in the blue skies of Calgary and beside the Rockies mountain of Alberta.
Mr. Ghanime was a key contributor to building the Lebanese Diaspora village in Batroun (Canada house) – Lebanon a project that aims connect the Lebanese Diaspora with the Lebanese Nationals in a cultural and touristic Context. He also worked tirelessly on the project Honouring the first Lebanese immigrant to Canada.
Since the opening of the consulate in 2019, he has assisted numerous Lebanese needs in Alberta and continues work hard to serve the community at large.
Mr. Ghanime favourite travel destination is to the most country in the world LEBANON.
Dr. Nicolas Kahwaj, Honorary Consul in Vancouver.
Dr. Nicolas Kahwaji, known as “Neck,” was born in Sidon. He graduated from the Free University of Brussels as a dentist in 1981 and later moved to Vancouver in the late eighties to practice dentistry. He served as the former president of the Lebanese Canadian Society in British Columbia in the nineties and a former Secretary-General of the Worldwide Lebanese Cultural University. He is a founding member of the “World Committee for Lebanese Titanic Victims” and a founding member of the “Phoenician Studies Global Center.” Additionally, he is a founding member of the British Columbia Council at the Cultural University, which, through his efforts, erected the Gibran Monument at Simon Fraser University.
In 2018, he was appointed as an honorary consul in Vancouver and has since been serving his community with dedication and integrity.
For twenty years, he worked on a massive project with a group of Lebanese individuals, namely the establishment of the Lebanese Diaspora Square in Victoria, which was inaugurated this year to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the arrival of the first Lebanese to Western Canada in 1888.
The statue, resembling the one found in the Beirut Port area, now stands in a heritage square resembling an open-air museum at the entrance of Western Canada, specifically in Victoria. This underscores the significance of the role that the Lebanese community continues to play in Canada and other countries of the diaspora.
In collaboration with the Consul of Halifax, Wadih Fares, he planted a Lebanese cedar and unveiled a commemorative plaque in honor of the Lebanese Titanic victims at the Lebanese cemetery.
