Life As A Refugee

We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming 13th annual Life As A Refugee (LAAR) event: Moving Forward Through Adversity on June 18, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The London Cross Cultural Learner Centre and our community partners are honouring World Refugee Day with this virtual event, showcasing the continual perseverance, triumphs, and contributions refugees make in our local community. Tareq Hadhad, Founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, will headline the event as our keynote speaker with his powerful message. Panelists with lived refugee experiences will share their stories of resiliency and resettlement, while the Engaged Refugee and Community Champion Awards will highlight outstanding refugees and refugee advocates.

To register, please, follow the link: https://bit.ly/3wgto8G

About our LAAR 2021 Keynote Speaker:

Tareq Hadhad was a Syrian refugee and now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family on Canada’s east coast. He is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, the recipient of Start Up Canada’s National Newcomer Entrepreneur Award, named one of the Top 25 Immigrants in The Maritimes and selected by Google as the National Hero Case for 2018 and most recently was awarded RBC’s Top Immigrant Award and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020.

Since Tareq’s arrival on Canada’s East Coast in 2015 as a Syrian – Canadian newcomer, he has been invited to speak to countless audiences across Canada and internationally. He has had the privileged to meet former President of the United States, Barack Obama, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and had conversations with many World Leaders.

His family’s journey has been detailed in a book called Peace by Chocolate, and in spring 2021, we see the release of their story released in a feature film.

In January 2020, Tareq received his official Canadian Citizenship, which garnered international attention, and can’t wait to collect stamps in his passport.

Thank you to our funder:

Thank you to our sponsors:

Thank you to our community partners:

LAAR Past Events:

Life as a Refugee: Community Event 2019 Aftermovie