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Chris Boucher
Chris Boucher picked up basketball on the outdoor playgrounds of Montreal North. He was a high-school dropout, worked in a fast-food restaurant and often found himself riding the overnight bus to stay safe. Today, he’s earned a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract as a professional basketball player.
Tareq Hadhad
After their business and home were bombed, Tareq Hadhad and his family fled the civil war in Syria and sought refuge in Antigonish, NS where they now enjoy sweet success with their fast-growing chocolate empire, Peace By Chocolate.
Shushma Datt
At age 22, Shushma Datt landed in Vancouver with no job, and was told being a woman of colour would hold her back from advancing in the radio industry. Undeterred, she went on to build her own radio and TV production company, becoming the first woman to be awarded a radio broadcast license by the CRTC.
Allen Lau
When Allen Lau co-founded Wattpad, he and his partner struggled with how to monetize the self-publishing platform. They hung on and the business slowly took off, recently selling for over $800 million. Now, Allen and his wife help other Canadian start-ups get off the ground and realize their entrepreneurial dreams.
Georgia Simmerling
Georgia Simmerling is an unstoppable force in the world of sports. Competing in alpine skiing, ski cross and track cycling, Simmerling became the first Canadian to compete in three sports at the Olympics. After retiring from her Olympic career, Simmerling founded AG Sports, a trailblazing agency that focuses on promoting gender equity and representing female athletes.
Isabel Kanaan
Isabel Kanaan started acting before immigrating to Canada from the Philippines in 2008. Today she’s an award winning Filipino-Canadian actor known for her work in CBC’s 'Air Farce', comedy troupe 'The Sketchersons' and Second City’s House Ensemble and Educational Company. Her most recent project, Abroad, uses comedy to challenge misconceptions about newcomers.
Ajay Virmani
From window washing in Toronto’s downtown core, to operating an airline flying across the globe, Dr. Ajay Virmani’s unrelenting spirit defines the new Canadian mindset. Virmani has overseen the growth of Cargojet from a start-up to Canada’s largest overnight air cargo airline, all while supporting fellow new Canadians and empowering diverse stories in Canadian media. Find out more about Ajay’s story and discover his advice for reaching new heights in business and life.
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