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Transcript: Bags 2 Riches — Tareq Hadhad
(gentle music)
[Aerial view of a large, densely forested land to the left against a sandy coastline heading out into deep blue water, filling the right half of the image. Fishing boats dot the water just off the coastline.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We did not come to Canada to take —
[Closer aerial view of the coastline reveals sparsely packed large, single-family homes with large grassy lawns abutting the sandy coastline against the deep blue water, with waves rippling gently.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — we came here to contribute.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking, sitting in a Peace by Chocolate retail space, in front of blurred shelves displaying chocolate products, and a large, golden peace sign.]
Tareq Hadhad: And there is that misconception about immigrants and refugees. People think people are arriving here —
[Close-up aerial of a paved road at a 90-degree bend in the coastline. Boats are docked in an inner marina. A large rock break wall lining the coastline appears from the bottom left corner leads to a lighthouse at the bend in the coast line. Deep blue ocean waters ripple gently towards the coastline.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — relying on taxpayers’ money to live every single day.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Well the fact is, they start their lives and become contributive, and that’s what my family wanted.
[An ornate white picture frame holds a picture of Tareq, smiling, with his family, in front of a residence door. A second brown picture frame hold a picture of Tareq, surrounded by a large group of people, many with arms raised, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of a large blue warehouse with a Peace by Chocolate sign at the top of the warehouse.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We just wanted to build our own life —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — our own dream, but at the same time not forgetting that we have a moral responsibility to give back to the country that opened the doors for us.
[Tareq stands in front of a blurred lighthouse that is white with red trim, with a bright clear sky behind. Tareq takes a few steps forward and is now looking out over the rocky edge into the dark, blue water.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: My name is Tareq Hadhad.
[The words Tareq Hadhad, Founder & CEO, Peace by Chocolate appear on screen, as Tareq stands on the street, cars driving by, with one-and two-storey storefronts behind.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: And this is my Bags 2 Riches story.
[Aerial view of the town of Antigonish, a main street stretching five or six blocks, with many low-rise buildings on either side. A church steeple rising from a white church building can be seen at the far end of the main street. The area surrounding the main street is densely covered with large, leafy green trees, with glimpses of single family home rooves peeking through.]
[Title: Bags 2 Riches]
(gentle music)
>> Tareq Hadhad: I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria.
[Title: Damascus, Syria. Aerial view of a densely populated, sprawling city, with tightly-packed buildings stretching far into the background. A minaret stands tall over the sprawling city.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: The chocolate company that my parents started in Syria became the second-largest chocolate manufacturing facility in the entire region.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space. Liquid chocolate pours gently into a large vat and is stirred slowly by a machine. A worker, wearing a white coat and white hat, holds molding trays under a spout of liquid chocolate scraper to scrape away the excess liquid chocolate.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: The secret sauce in making the product has always been happiness.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(gentle music)
[Tareq’s father, Essam, places nuts into molding trays. A worker stands in the warehouse, smiling, holding a box of chocolate. Behind the worker, three other workers standing, filling boxes of chocolates and preparing boxes.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: When the Arab Spring started, I was 18 years old —
[Silhouettes of minarets appear dark against a vividly orange sky, the sky shining through dark, heavy clouds. The scene changes to crowds of people standing in the streets holding large, handmade cloth signs.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — and late in 2011, the war broke out across the country.
[People climb a multi-storey stone concrete building and tear a picture of Bashar al-Assad hanging on the side. Crowds of people stand in the street, a few holding homemade cloth signs with writing in Arabic. A crowd of people gathers at night and chant together, arms raised and bodies jumping as they chant. A group of male soldiers stands with machine guns raised, chanting.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Two thousand and twelve, the war reached Damascus.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(explosions thundering)
[Aerial view of mid-rise cement structures, with a large black plume of smoke rising up quickly as explosions thunder. Buildings shake as bombs explode in an area with already-crumbling buildings, large plumes of smoke erupting.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Soldiers were on the streets, tanks were bombing on the neighbourhood. Helicopters were just hovering around our building.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(people shouting indistinctly)
[A shell of a multi-storey building, large pieces of the crumbling building covering the ground, is engulfed in smoke as flames roar inside. Three firefighters carry a heavy hose towards the fire and water sprays in an attempt to extinguish the flames. An elderly person climbs out of the building behind.]
(explosion blasts)
[A person jumps out of the driver’s side door of a white van into heavy smoke, and begins running into the smoke.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: By the end of 2012, I’ve lost many family members.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tared Hadhad: We have lost our house that was burned and was bombed by a tank.
[Crumbling multi-storey buildings lay empty, with rubble piled up along the dirt street. Overhead views show empty buildings, destroyed, with rubble lying all around the bases of the buildings.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We lost our factory. The facility was bombed by an airstrike. And then I told my family —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — “There’s not time to do business, it is time to survive. It's time to leave.” We left the country with clothes on our back.
[Several pedestrians walk peacefully along a path next to a harbour in a bright, bustling city. Across the street, multi-storey, white residential buildings stand, completely intact. Close-up of the street view reveals white apartment buildings, and in front an active, busy street lined with palm tress. The sun shines brightly overhead.]
[Aerial view of crumbling, empty buildings, rubble scattered on top and around the bases.
>>Tareq Hadhad: And then we went to Lebanon.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: At that time, we became refugees for over two and a half years.
[A narrow street lined with multi-storey residential buildings. The beautiful, waterfront buildings on palm-lined street. The words Sayda, Lebanon appear in the middle of the screen.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Living as refugees without basics of rights.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: You know, losing our identity as — as Syrians —
[Aerial view of a refugee camp. Emergency tent-like structures, many with old car tires scattered on the tops, are lined up in a muddy field. Children play in the mud against the backdrop of the trailers.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — it was one of the hardest experiences of our lifetime.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(gentle music)
[Toronto skyline, with many multi-storey condominium and office towers packed together, the CN Tower in the background. The words Toronto, Canada appear.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: I remember telling my family that we got accepted to travel to Canada —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — in the winter of 2015.
[Snow falls heavily and rapidly against the backdrop of a Toronto city street. A red 505 streetcar and heavy vehicular traffic move slowly in the snow. Next, residential street of single-family homes in Toronto is buried deep with snow, parked cars buried deep in the drifts, with a single lane of tire tracks visible in the street, and snow continuing to fall.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We are going to a place that’s gonna give us the dignity back.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: that’s gonna respect our humanity. That we can rebuild for ourselves and our kids and grandkids in the future.
[Tareq and Essam stand smiling in front of a small, red house, surrounded by large, leafy green trees. The next image shows Tareq and Essam standing with the extended family, looking forwards as if posing for a picture. A young child looks off to one family member and smiles.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: When that plane touched the ground in Toronto —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(gentle music)
[Looking out a small airplane window is a view of a sprawling expanse of buildings in the Greater Toronto Area. An Air Canada plane touches down on a landing strip at the airport.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — Everyone was crying their hearts out.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(sentimental music)
[Images of Tareq arriving family members in the airport. A large group of welcomers stand behind smiling and clapping.]
>>Tareq Hadhad: They gave me these heavy boots and clothing, and then they told me I am not staying in Toronto —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: I am flying to Nova Scotia, which I had absolutely no idea where it was on the map.
[Recurrent view of the main street in Antigonish. The words Antigonish, Nova Scotia appear. Three large, towering white flag poles display three flags: a red flag, the Canadian flag in the centre, and the Nova Scotia flag to the right. A mural depicting a white lighthouse with red trim standing tall over the rocky waves of the ocean, with detailed, decorative sunbeams stretching out across the water, is displayed on the side of a red-bricked building.]
>> Lucille Harper: And we were there, and we had signs —
[Lucille Harper sits outdoors speaking, with a grassy and treed backdrop, eagerly waving her arms as she speaks. The words Lucille Harper Founder SAFE appear.]
>> Lucille Harper — and we had Arabic translators.
[Nine people stand, smiling, in the airport. They are holding three signs. One sign reads "Tareq Welcome to Antigonish!" in English and Arabic. Another, also in English and Arabic reads "Syria Antigonish Families Embrace." A third sign on green Bristol board reads "Welcome to Nova Scotia" and displays the Canadian and Syrian flags.]
>> Lucille Harper: And down he came, and of course, this huge smile, and everybody was just so thrilled to see him.
[Tareq and family members walk down an airport hallway. The welcomers smile as the Syrian family members approach.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: I’m meeting the warm-hearted Canadians.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Carrying flowers and signs, and saying “Welcome to Canada, Tareq.”
[In the airport, Tareq kneels in front of his family members who are all standing behind him, some holding up peace signs, in front of the baggage carousel. Tareq holds a sign reading Peace for You in Canada and is adorned with a Canadian flag. Next, Tareq, standing in a room painted white in a residence holds the sign reading Tareq welcome to Antigonish! in English and Arabic.]
>> Lucille Harper: It was very emotional.
>> Tareq Hadhad: I never realized that there could be human beings who cared so much about us.
[Still photographs cycle. First, in the airport waiting area, Tareq holds up a sign that says “Guess who’s excited that Alaa’s home?” The sign has a square cut out at the bottom, and Tareq looks through, smiling. Next, Essam, standing in the airport, holds the sign reading “Peace for You in Canada”. A third selfie photo of Tareq and family with Lucille Harper and other members of the welcoming committee, all smiling.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: If there is simple advice that I would give to any newcomers is make sure that you do not build so much expectation ahead of the time that you arrive here. Immigration is not an easy journey.
[Tareq Hadhad walks down a street in Antigonish. Tareq looks across the street at a single-storey building called the Antigonish Store. Several cars are parallel parked on either side of the street. Tareq continues walking past an outdoor restaurant patio. In the distance are more single and two-storey stores. A white church steeple stands off in the distance.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Arriving in a new place like Canada is not easy, and you have to learn a lot of life-saving skills really, to survive.
[Aerial view of a city skyline, approaching from above the water. In the distance stand multiple high-rise buildings along the coastline. In the water, a large sailboat moves creating a stream in the water behind it. The aerial view closes in on the city revealing closer images of the high-rise buildings.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Prepare yourself for some cold days.
[A snowy open landscape, sparsely dotted with evergreen trees, is broken up by a two-lane road running through the middle. Overhead the clouds are thick and dark. Time is sped up to show the light traffic passing quickly.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Prepare yourself for a cultural shock.
[A busy highway on the left is presented in timelapse to show a fast stream of lights whizzing by in both directions. On the right is a dark and dreary image of train tracks with two rows of freight containers lined up on tracks.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Prepare yourself to ask yourself hard questions. What are you doing here?
[On a rocky coastline, under a dreary, cloudy sky, large waves crash into the rocks, while a lighthouse stands in the background. An image of a do not walk sign on a street light blurs to reveal a building behind with a Canadian flag positioned on top of the building, blowing in the wind.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: How are you gonna learn the language?
[Tareq stands on the street, cars driving by, with one- and two-storey storefronts behind.]
[Tareq stands in front of a sign reading "Welcome to Downtown Antigonish."]
>> Tareq Hadhad: But at the same time, make sure that you do not lose hope because nothing actually is perfect. If you do not find your opportunity, go create it.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
(dramatic music)
>> Tareq Hadhad: The plan that we had in Canada was we wanna start a family business and to give back in any way we can.
[Liquid chocolate spins and flows through a series of mechanical processors. The chocolate drips heavily from a tap into a molding tray. A worker uses a scraper to scrape off the excess chocolate to create clean molded pieces of chocolate. A worker places cashews, one into each well in the compartment. The tray is again placed under the chocolate tap. Essam, wearing a chef’s hat and white lab coat looks at Tareq, who is wearing a white hairnet and a white lab coat.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We started making chocolate in the home kitchen. We went to a community potluck.
[Title: August 2016 Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Tareq approaches the kitchen where Essam is tapping a scraper on processing equipment.]
Tareq Hadhad: We brought the chocolates, and they were all gone within a few minutes.
[Images of dark rosebud chocolate rest in a black paper cup held on the tips of a person’s fingers. Behind, a tray of rosebud chocolates in paper cups of various colours is shown. A closeup of a mandala-, heart-, and rosebud-shaped chocolates. A patron takes a bite of chocolate and smiles, looking at the remaining piece still held in her hand.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: So, we started selling chocolate at local farmers’ markets, Antigonish Winter’s Market.
[At a warehouse, a sign reads "Farmers’ Market" and there are many people standing at pop-up tents on either side of the entrance. Inside, Tareq smiles as patrons eagerly engage in front of their table.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We signed up for a network of events around Antigonish and then, it was a huge success.
[A large group of people stand in line outside of a house. Inside, Essam and several people stand. A close-up of a box of chocolates in rows of paper cups is shown. On the box is the company name, Peace by Chocolate.]
>> Newscaster: Alberta has declared a provincial state of emergency.
[Helicopter blades rotate quickly overhead as the helicopter flies towards a large cloud of smoke. Several white trucks and cars are all stopped at an enormous orange cloud of smoke and fire roars in front of them.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: When there were wildfires in Fort McMurray in Alberta, we were seeing Canadians who were leaving everything behind.
[Images of the wildfires showing huge plumes of smoke pushing upwards from the ground. People run towards their vehicles. A photo of a neighbourhood destroyed by wildfire with houses reduced to rubble.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We were watching the news and feeling upset because we remembered our days of losing everything.
[Inside a school gymnasium, at a makeshift shelter, a woman stands at a table sorting items. In front, a sign reads Everything is Free. The camera pans to reveal many tables with clothes piled high.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We launched a campaign to donate all of our profits to relief efforts to help Canadians who were evacuated from those wildfires.
[CBC News Headline reads "Syrian chocolate makers in Antigonish donate profits to Fort McMurray cause." In the background there is a faint image of Tareq, Essam and Ahmad Haddad.]
[At the United Nations Leaders Summit on Refugees, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, speaks about Tareq's and his family's story.]
>> Justin Trudeau: Just eight months after arriving in Canada, the family realized their dream and opened a small chocolate factory in their new hometown.
[CBC News logo appears on the screen. Screen pans to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau standing at a lectern in front of a screen reading Leaders Summit on Refugees.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: In September of 2016, we got the shout out by the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who went to the United Nations, and he was speaking about our story to the leaders of the world —
[Images appear of Justin Trudeau. The first image shows Justin Trudeau in a close embrace with a smiling Essam, while Tareq looks on, smiling. Next, Justin Trudeau stands with Tareq, dressed in a tuxedo, in a nighttime setting, with a bright chandelier suspended between two large trees. Justin Trudeau displays bars from Peace by Chocolate, while standing with Nancy Pelosi.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — as an example of how kindness begets kindness. How the leadership of our community of Antigonish —
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — and the leadership of Canadians who helped us resettle here —
[The Hadhad family and a few members of the community stand around a Peace by Chocolate sign resting on a red leather couch with the words Canada 150 on the back.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — has led us to the success of starting a business.
[A group of Canadians stands with Tareq’s mother, Shahnaz, in front of the original Peace by Chocolate shop. Shahnaz holds a sign reading One Peace Won’t Hurt.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Peace by Chocolate became a phenomenon after that, and it was not a brand, it was a cause.
[Tareq Hadhad stands smiling, looking off to the left, his back to the camera. The camera blurs Tareq and focuses in the distance on a brown sign that reads "Peace by Chocolate, a Syrian family tradition" with the phone number "902-735-2762" and email "peacebychocolate.ca."]
>> Tareq Hadhad: It was a cause that brought people together.
[Tareq stands with Barack Obama, both smiling, against a black backdrop. To the left is a Canadian flag and to the right is an American flag.]
[Photographs cycle. First Tareq stands smiling with a host of CTV Morning Live; the host holds a box of chocolates from Peace by Chocolate, smiling widely. Next, Tareq stands in a room with three other people at Google Arts & Culture. Tareq looks intently across the table at the speaker.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Peace by Chocolate has grown from a company that started in a home kitchen to a big factory.
[A piece of sanded lumber nailed to a wall shows hand-painted Peace by Chocolate with Arabic writing underneath. Next, Tareq and Essam stand in front of their house, Essam shaking a man’s hand. To the right is a banner sign that reads "Peace by Chocolate, a Syrian family tradition. Owned and Operated by one of Canada’s Newest Syrian Families, The Hadhads of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Handmade traditional Syrian chocolate."]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Now Peace by Chocolate is one of the largest employers in the town of Antigonish.
[An aerial view of a blue warehouse with a large white garage door to the front left of the building, and white and brown doors on the front. Above the doors is a sign Peace by Chocolate. At ground level, in front of the warehouse, Tareq and Essam stand with a large group of people. In front of the group is a large red ribbon. Essam cuts the ribbon and the group cheer and clap.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: One, actually, of the fastest-growing chocolate companies in the country.
[Close-up of the Peace by Chocolate peace sign logo hanging on the side of a storefront. Camera pans out to reveal to reveal a glass-walled storefront with a lit sign reading "Peace by Chocolate" above the door. In front of the store is a patio with light blue tables and chairs, surrounded by large glass panels. The interior of the store reveals a bright, open space. The back wall is made up of many L-shaped pieces, used in the logo, displaying bright packaging resting on top.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We ship chocolate to a list of national distributors and retailers —
[Close-up of chocolate products. First, Peace by Chocolate 40-gram gold boxes. Next, Hero Bar chocolate bars with images of superheroes on the front, with statements “THANK THE SUPERHEROES AMONG US!” and “Strong, Brave, Sweet.” Next, chocolate bars with the Canadian flag with sayings “Hey Buddy,” “Give’r,” and “Eh?”]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — and shipping chocolate not only in Canada, but around the world.
[A large painting inside the store of a chef holding a Peace by Chocolate chocolate bar. First, a closeup of the chocolate bar he is holding. Next, a close-up of the chef's brown eyes.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: And we sent our chocolate outside of this world, to the International Space Station.
[Photograph of Peace by Chocolate chocolates floating around the face of Andrew Feustel on the International Space Station.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Everyone in Antigonish believed in us as newcomers.
[A photo of a group of travellers stands in front of a large Coach Atlantic bus, as they pose for a picture with Tareq Hadhad, holding a box of Peace by Chocolate chocolates ]
>> Tareq Hadhad: They have stepped in since the first day. Plumbers, electricians, business counsellors, everyone who could help —
[Three patrons stand with Tareq Hadhad in front of the Peace by Chocolate storefront, holding a large white sign reading "Peace by Chocolate a Syrian family tradition." Still photos cycle quickly. First, three workers look at an unfinished floor, one worker holding a small piece of lumber. Next, a worker is crouched in the back corner laying plywood flooring. Next, two workers crouched down, using a box cutter and a piece of wood trim as a guide to cut a piece of drywall.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — came and built our first chocolate kitchen outside of our house.
[Aerial view of the first Peace by Chocolate store, in a small red house. A large white sign post out front holds a sign top reading Peace by Chocolate. The interior of the small, red house shows a small store with a blue walls on the left and right displaying small shelves with the colourful chocolate products.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: This was extraordinary. You know, you do not find that kindness around the world.
[Still photos cycle quickly. First Tareq Hadhad in front of a large crowd of people. In the back is a sign #heretohelp. Next, Tareq holds a large red balloon that reads "I [heart symbol] CHOCO" with two patrons. A third photo shows the Hadhad family holding two large Canadian flags, standing in front of a harbour, with many docked boats behind.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We are so proud of all the community members who stepped in to help not only our family, but over 150 Syrians who live now in Antigonish, and call it home.
[The Hadhad family stands with a few members of the community in front of a large backdrop with the StFX logo. Members of the Hadhad family hold signs reading "All are welcome in my community," "Tolerance + Inclusion = Freedom," and "Diversity Makes Us Strong." Next, a photo of the Hadhad family standing in front of a large airport, welcoming families. In front, three people kneeling are holding signs reading "Welcome to Canada" and "Welcome to Canada Hudhud family."]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We brought our values of giving back from our faith as, as Muslims. We are so proud. Zakat and Séléka and Islam are one of the main pillars.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: What matters to us is not the ROI, the return on investment.
[Still photos cycle. First, the Hadhad family stands in front of a rocky shore, the ocean waters rippling gently behind. Next, the Hadhad family stands in front of the blue Peace by Chocolate warehouse.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: We care about the ROK, the return on kindness.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Contributing to the partnerships and the causes that we care for right now, from mental health, with the Canadian Mental Health Association, to support[ing] Indigenous communities across Canada.
[Close-up of Tareq speaking in the Peace by Chocolate retail space.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: To support refugees who are arriving here.
[A long suspension bridge in the distance with light traffic crossing in both directions. Cuts to a harbour.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: As well, as homeless youth in cities like Halifax.
[Skyline of the Halifax harbour revealing tall, multi-storey buildings. Large red and white cranes in the distance extend over the container terminal.]
[CBC Your Morning logo appears on the screen.]
>> Lindsey Deluce: Peace by Chocolate is booming, and at a ceremony later today, Tareq Hadhad will become a Canadian citizen.
[CBC Your Morning logo appears on screen. Lindsey, seated on a couch, introduces the story. In the next scene, the CBC News logo in the bottom corner, the title Halifax in the top right, Tareq walks forward and stops to speak with the justice.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: On January 15, 2021, I became a Canadian citizen.
[Tareq is seated on a rock wall in front of large ocean waters, the water rippling gently behind.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Now I have a big Canadian family of 38 million.
[At the citizenship ceremony, Tareq walks forward, carrying a Canadian flag, shaking hands and waving to people watching. Tareq stands with a group of others holding Canadian flags, singing.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: And it was absolutely very heartwarming moment for me, just sitting there —
[Still of Peace by Chocolate book cover. The book cover fades to background and over top, a CBC News headline reads "Peace by Chocolate founder Tareq Hadhad tells a sweet story of family, food and fortune. Tareq Hadhad and his family are the subjects of the book Peace by Chocolate by Jon Tattrie."]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — and swearing that I would be a faithful Canadian citizen —
[Tareq Hadhad @TareqHadhad Twitter post On Dec 18th, 2015, "I landed in Canada as a Syrian refugee. On Dec 18th, 2020, I am a Canadian citizen, a business owner with a mission, and living the dream. For everyone who changed my despair into a bright future: Thank you! I belong, I am home [Canadian flag] & still enjoying the snow!"]
>> Tareq Hadhad: — acting as an ambassador to this country. I am proudly now talking about Canada and the values that we have in this country, to every place I go to.
[Tareq standing on stage giving a talk to a large auditorium, in front of a sign TEDx Moncton. Next, Tareq gives a similar talk at TEDx DalhousieU. At a Liberal 2018 convention, Tareq walks on stage from the right and greets the speaker in an embrace. Tareq stands at the lectern giving a speech in front of a red backdrop at the Liberal 2018 convention.]
>> Ahmad Hadhad: What he has done for the family, I mean, without him, I don’t think we would be —
[Aerial views of the Antigonish coastline. A built-up rocky coastline appears from the right. The rocks continue to a 90-degree bend in the coastline, which then continues on to the top of the screen. The land is met by dark blue ocean waters rippling gently. On the land is a paved area, dotted with five or six small, white buildings with bright teal rooves. A few single-lane roads lead to the paved area from further inland. To the right of the paved area is a marina with docked sailboats. Members of the Hadhad family gather at the coastline, looking out over the water. Family members embrace, the women reaching down to hug children.]
>> Ahmad Hadhad: — we would be where we’re at today.
[Ahmad stands looking off camera, the rocky coastline and water blurred in the background.]
>> Alaa Hadhad: He is my soulmate. Tareq is everything to — for me.
[Alaa Hadhad stands smiling, the water blurred in the background.]
>> Lucille Harper: What’s so compelling, I think, about their story is that they’re making chocolate. That’s good. But they’re making chocolate in a way that speaks to the larger world about the need for peace, about the need for justice.
[Several members of the Hadhad family and friends gather around a large picnic table, eating and drinking, the rocky coastline and water in the background. Next, Lucille stands speaking with a large green grassy area blurred behind. Next, slow motion of Tareq walking towards the picnic table where family and friends are seated.]
[Essam speaking in Arabic. Subtitles on screen: The feeling of someone who can find hope here. That is us since we came. And we are proud of this thing that Tareq is doing and what the whole family is doing.]
>> Essam Hadhad: The feeling of someone who can find hope here. That is us since we came. And we are proud of this thing that Tareq is doing and what the whole family is doing.
[Essam seated. The marina with docked sailboats blurred in the background. Tareq stands beside his father, who is seated at the picnic table with family and friends. Tareq gently pats his father on the back.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: Starting over can be bittersweet. It’s not something that anyone can go through easily. What matters is finding that sense of a family around you. In times of test, family is best.
[Tareq stands at the picnic table where family and friends are gathered at the coast. A white lighthouse with red trim stands blurred in the background. Next, Tareq is seated on the large rocky coastline, the water rippling gently behind. The scene returns to a distant view of Tareq standing beside his father while family and friends are seated at the picnic table on the coast.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: My dad, and everyone in the family, has been absolutely proud of the, the achievement. We believe that when our family are all together, we will have an absolute magical life.
[Tareq is seated at the picnic table with family and friends. Tareq turns towards his father and smiles. Family and friends continue to enjoy a picnic. Two of the young children play with dolls in the pebbles surrounding the picnic tables. Two young girls, seated at the picnic table smile and wave to the camera.]
>> Tareq Hadhad: I truly believe anyone around the world should try to live in Canada, even once in their lives, to really understand that this country is about, you know, it’s about peace, and it’s about making sure that everyone has an absolute equal opportunity to success.
[Close-up: Tareq speaking, the ocean waters rippling gently behind. Camera pans out and Tareq is speaking, sitting on the rocky coastline, waters rippling gently behind.]
(gentle music)
[Title: Bags 2 Riches]
[Aerial view of Antigonish coastline showing the marina, photo blurs. Photo fades to black.]
[Simplii Financial logo]
[gentle music ends]
[Fade to black]