Syrian refugee says his family proves how Canadian openness pays dividends
HALIFAX — A Syrian refugee says his family’s thriving chocolate business should serve as an example of the value of Canadian “openness” in a world that has increasingly closed off its borders to refugees.
Tareq Hadhad spoke about his family’s journey from war-torn Syria to Nova Scotia, at a TEDx conference at Dalhousie University in Halifax Sunday.
The Hadhads say Peace by Chocolate has been struggling to keep up with orders since earning a shout out from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at an address to the United Nations last year. Trudeau even had a chance to sample some maple leaf-shaped treats upon meeting the chocolate makers during a trip to Sydney, N.S. last November.
“It’s not a chocolate business, as you all think. It’s all about a message from newcomers to their new community,” Hadhad told the crowd. “Peace is the most noble value that human beings should fight for … Chocolate is the magic product of happiness.”