Canadian Salad

Trudeau's resignation as Prime Minister has the political world buzzing with hot takes on the economy, election forecasts, and who’s next to wear Canada’s crown of responsibility. But let’s cut through the noise: mainstream media won’t touch the real cost of this transition—what it means for those locked out of power, privilege, and prestige.

For many Canadians, government promises are like maple syrup on a rock—sweet, but useless. Marginalized communities, especially people of colour, have long known better than to bank on a system built without them in mind. Instead, they’ve survived by leaning on their own networks for care, resources, and resilience, while Eurocentric institutions continued their same old tune.

Now, with political uncertainty looming, it’s time to look to those communities for guidance. They’ve been navigating hostile systems forever, and their advocacy, survival strategies, and lived realities hold the keys to rethinking our political and social approach. If we want to thrive in this new era, we need to step out of silos and into collective action—because together is the only way forward.

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Embrace the weekend as we embrace a whirlwind discussion of mopping dishes and spilling all the tea on immigrant misconceptions. We will passionately debunk the myths that immigrants get handouts, pointing out that paying steep fees, with no freebies, and equal tax payments as Canadian-born people contribute vastly to the economy. We'll expose the irony of corporate 'handouts' to big businesses like Air Canada and wonder where is all the rage against them. 

With truth bombs dropped left and right, we'll call out the flaws in reasoning that pit current immigrants as moochers while emphasizing the hard work and contributions of both past and present immigrants. Tune in as we vow to leave no crumbs and to ditch the trope that immigrants somehow have all these handouts.

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You love their hotdogs, love their prices and you'll love them even more because of what we're about to tell you! Costco! The big warehouse chain that we all know is under scrutiny for resisting and combating conservative think tanks who think DEI policies will lose them money. We applaud Costco's response so far and here's why. 

The founder of Costco, a descendent of Jewish immigrants, had a different kind of perspective of the customer. For him, the customer's trust was primary. And it still is. We applaud Costco for their pushback towards DEI antagonists and their advocacy to keep their DEI policies and not re-examine them for the smoke-screen of financial risk. Research shows that the financial benefits of DEI far outweigh the risks. But we want to go a step further and say that DEI is more about doing what is just and right and fair than it is about money. 

If you've never shopped at Costco or find yourself there every Saturday morning devouring their samples, then you'll love them even more! Take a listen and let us know what you think!

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Some naysayer referred to immigrants giving Canada a bad reputation. While there is zero substance, we unpack and dish out on this very ridiculous comment. Canada's reputation on the global stage, particularly regarding immigration and multiculturalism, is something that European countries, Asian countries and even the United States have admired from afar and others have adopted. With an overwhelmingly positive reputation externally from queer communities and those seeking refuge across the globe, there is an overwhelming positive sentiment when it comes to Canada's stance on immigration. We will, of course, not deny the internal reputation of colonization and oppression. But for our naysayer, that's not what he's complaining about. 

Positive or negative, whatever reputation Canada has, it's up to us to make sure we lean into the good and remind people what really makes a country's reputation bad . . . and we'll give you a hint, it isn't immigrants. 

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It's the last episode of 2024 and we cannot end the year without a look back at the laughs, the tears, the funny moments and the inspirational stories that graced Canadian Salad! From stories of being in love, to parenting, to the impact of fried chicken and racism, our podcast saw immense growth and immense impact to both us and to those who listened. Sure, we had some haters, but we sure had some lovers, some people who understood the complexity of living out our identity in a collective, liberating and inclusive way. Because the reality is, we all want to make Canada a more just, kind and safe world for all people.

So take a listen and hear our reflections, our thoughts and of course, our banter as we reflect and appreciate where we've come from while looking forward to where we are going. Be sure to jump on our YouTube Channel where you can see both Hostion and I recording this episode!  Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.

See you next year with some exciting new guests, new topics and new tea to spill! We love you all and cannot do this podcast without you!

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Act Canadian? Does that mean we say 'eh' a lot? Does that mean we have a high-intake, poutine diet? Does that mean we should drape Canadian flags over our big Ford F150s? What does it mean to act "Canadian"?

Before you answer (or think you have an answer), our question to you is to really think about what is "Canadian". Most Canadians can't agree on what is a Canadian food, let alone what it means to be a Canadian. The answer is always diverse, with rarely a monolithic idea or personification to cling to. The latest behaviour police online told us to "Act Canadian and don't try to change things and you'll be just fine." We're just wondering how many immigrants have it on their agenda to change things when they arrive. Truth be told, many immigrants come here trying to fit in just so they don't stand out or seem like they're different.

Take a listen as we unpack this not-so-well-thought-out comment and as we argue against the idea that Canadian culture is all the same, slurry sludge that people think it is. It's not. And that's why we love it here.

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The Al-Assad regime has fallen. Syrians around the world celebrated in the streets while Syrians inside Syria reunited with family members once thought to have passed away. Before the regime fell, however, many Syrians fled from the cruelty and violence. How does a person live through unimaginable circumstances and still rise above with advocacy and efforts to liberate not just themselves but others as well? 

Across the landscapes of Turtle Island, stories as intricate as the land itself grace us if we but open ourselves to it —stories of flight, resilience, and a longing that stretches across continents. This week, on the Canadian Salad podcast, we are invited into the intimate lives of those who have journeyed from the shadows of war in Syria to unfamiliar and unseen spaces in Canada. We will hear from the hearts of Mustafa, Hasna, and Montaser - Syrians who not only understand the refugee experience but also understand what it is to hope beyond what is seen.

The episode encapsulates not only the struggles but the hopes and humanity of Syrian refugees. Each story shared is a thread in the larger fabric of resilience, a testament to enduring spirit and the dream of a regime-free Syria. Their experiences remind us that with every turn away from the familiar, new paths open—a testament to the enduring capacity for hope and rebirth in the face of unimaginable odds.

To learn more about Hasna's humanitarian advocacy and her lived experience under Hassad's regime and imprisonment, click to read her full story here. 

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Popular! The new 'Wicked' film is out in theatres and we are giving our full blown amazing analysis of the realities of the gravity we all face in our Western world. Join us as we explore themes of outcasts and resilience, reflecting on how Elphaba's journey mirrors real experiences of marginalized groups. The systems that tiny men have created are but illusions and at some point we have to rise above the weight and defy the systems that weigh us down. We'll spotlight two inspiring true stories of immigrants in Canada who have overcome tremendous adversity and created inclusive, liberating and healing work even when society wanted them to keep quiet and conform. Whether you identify with Elphaba or Glinda, the challenge is the same: how will you respond to the weight of systemic gravity? This will be a wicked episode of justice, self-reflection and collective liberation you won't want to miss.

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We are back spilling the tea and roasting online trolls who think that immigrants shouldn't send money back to their families far away. (We know . . . so many levels of eye roll). We hit a viral TikTok milestone and with that came a milestone of ridiculous sentiments about what immigrants should be doing with their money. We call out the hypocrisy of people criticizing immigrants sending money overseas when most goods bought in Canada are foreign-made. Immigrants also pay taxes, visa fees, and pour into the social economic system with their money. So what if they send it back home? 

We're sassy and we leave no crumbs! Tune in for your weekly dose of laughter and hear Hostion's bro-voice!

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In May of this year, KFC announced the release of Halal chicken at majority of their restaurants across Ontario. As the year went on, what seemed like inclusion only led to exclusion - and the eventual downfall of any inclusive efforts originally made. What went wrong?  

Well inclusion can create exclusion when it's done without diversity, equity and without profit-seeking goals in mind. In this episode, we explore what true inclusion looks like and why true inclusion can't exclude - if done without the goal of dollars in the pocket. We will focus on systemic racism, the role of equity in business decisions, and the broader implications for inclusion done inclusively and intentionally. 

We can fully inclusive where no one is excluded - that's not a threat, but a world we can create. And yes, we did just use the word "inclusive" eight times . . . you're welcome! 

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