In a letter delivered to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry, Canada praised the achievements of its Lebanese community.
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe received the letter from Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon Chantal Chastenay, the National News Agency (NNA) reported on Friday.
The message, issued by Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau, expressed the country’s “appreciation for the successes achieved by the Lebanese community in Canada.”
Upon receiving the letter, Wehbe hoped that Canada provides “all possible facilities for Lebanese exports, in support of the agricultural and industrial sectors in Lebanon.”
The official is set to speak with his Canadian counterpart on the phone on March 25th, according to the NNA.
Facts About Canada’s Lebanese Community
- The 2016 Canadian Census – the most recent enumeration of Canadian residents – indicated that there were 219,555 Lebanese-Canadians in the country.
- They are distributed across different regions and provinces in the country, with notable populations being in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Alberta.
- The Lebanese community is regarded as one of the fastest-growing demographics in Canada.
- The first recorded Lebanese immigrant to Canada was Ibrahim Abou Nadir, from Zahle. He reached Canada in 1882, settling in Montreal.
- The largest wave of Lebanese immigration in Canada was recorded during the Lebanese Civil War when people escaped the war to seek better opportunities abroad.
- At the time of the war, Canada had more lenient immigration laws than other western countries, which made it – along with Australia – a popular target for Lebanese immigrants.
- The Lebanese community has since grown significantly, giving rise to numerous Lebanese-Canadian success stories and talents, including authors, doctors, artists, producers, singers, composers, prominent managers, and many more.
