SPOTLIGHT
FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE STORIES OF CANADA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL NEWCOMERS
Elizabeth May, the leader of Canada’s Green Party, presented US President Joe Biden with a chocolate bar made by Peace by Chocolate, the company founded by Syrian-born chocolatier Tareq Hadhad, during Biden’s state visit to Ottawa last month. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh look on. Hadhad arrived in Nova Scotia as a refugee in 2015. Image credit: Screen grab from a CBC News report on YouTube.
Learn what connects NBA star Chris Boucher, Syrian-born chocolatier Tareq Hadhad, tech entrepreneur Allen Lau, and broadcast pioneer Shushma Datt in Bags 2 Riches, a seven-part docuseries with episodes available each month until August.
Produced by The Good Karma Company and made possible by Simplii Financial, the series spotlights the personal and professional journeys of some of our nation’s most notable newcomers.
“As the son of an immigrant, this series deeply resonates with me on both a personal and professional level,” said Vinay Virmani, chief content officer, The Good Karma Company.
Bags 2 Riches is an ode to the risk takers with an emphasis on new Canadians and the diversity of their Canadian success stories, as told through first-hand accounts. The documentary traces the roots of each person’s journey while sharing their new life in Canada. The series relives the lows and celebrates the highs as each individual recounts the tests they faced in the lead-up to their success. The focal point is not only how they’re enriching themselves, but also those around them in their new home.
“We believe in giving newcomers the best start possible when it comes to their finances,” says Vineet Malhotra, managing director and head of Simplii Financial. “Our passion for the experiences of new Canadians is what compelled us to bring these stories to life.”
The first episode, available now, features Toronto Raptors centre, Saint Lucian-born Chris Boucher. Told in his own words, Boucher chronicles his family’s move to Montreal at the age of five, and the challenges he faced integrating into his new home.
His journey from poverty and homelessness to NBA Champion is an inspiring tale that showcases the power of belief and determination to achieve one’s dreams.
The series is an opportunity to inspire viewers, to believe that regardless of your background and journey, the ability to seize the moment and embrace your potential through hard work, community and vision exists in Canada.