Episode 3: A Warm Welcome

A Warm Welcome, captures the lives of five Muslim Canadians and their families, discovering the vital role they play in their field and the significant contributions they have made to their country.

Alan Okanovic is a young Bosnian refugee, who completed a cross-Canada bike trip to raise awareness and funds for children of war torn countries. Following in the footsteps of great Canadian’s like Terry Fox, Okanovic, made his arduous journey across Canada on bike and personally delivered the funds raised to Chechen refugee camps. Alan now works for the Canadian Red Cross and has made humanitarian work a life career. His values and beliefs provide a role model to other Canadian youth.

Success for some is defined as living in peace and being able to shelter and feed ones family. Canada has great pride in being a home to those who have suffered wars, hunger and oppression. Salim Haji and his family left Somalia and the civil war that tore their country apart along tribal lines. After much struggle adapting to life in Canada, Haji is now working as a Senior Programmer Analyst with Statistics Canada. His children are pursuing university degrees.

Dr. Tyseer Aboulnasr has made a mark in Canadian academic history as being among the first few women to become Dean of Engineering at a Canadian university. She came to Canada as an engineer from Egypt more than 20 years ago, received her Doctorate from Queen’s University and is now working at the University of Ottawa. Challenging myths and stereotypes about Muslim women, Dr. Aboulnasr exemplifies the long tradition of Muslim women’s scholarship.

Dr. Sheema Khan is a founding director of the Muslim lobby organization CAIR-CAN (Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada). She is a tireless volunteer and a national spokesperson for the Muslim community working collectively with other interfaith and social action groups advocating for a more just and tolerant Canada. As a mother of three she is uses her faith in God to help her balance her family life, her career and her volunteer efforts.

Dr. Ali Rajput is a neurologist and researcher living in Saskatoon. He was among the first Muslim immigrants to Canada in the 1960s, Dr. Rajput has had a distinguished career both as a devoted physician as well as a world-renowned researcher on Parkinson’s disease. Among the many awards he has received is the prestigious Order of Canada in 1997. His life and work will be examined.