January 22nd 2023 is Lunar New Year! ✨
To help get you ready to receive your red envelopes 🧧🧧🧧 tune into this episode to brush up on your Cantonese and Vietnamese greetings! 

Visit the Holding Heritage website and episode show notes to view/download all of these greetings in a pretty PDF! 😊

Wishing you all the best for this year to come 💛

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Taj Singh is the owner of Campbell River's first ever Pita Pit! Taj immigrated from India, and has a wealth of experience and drive that is incredibly inspiring!

Listen to us chat about his education and career journey, cultural upbringing, family, and more!

Taj's story is also featured in Campbell River's People Project Magazine - so be sure to check out the printed article, too! 

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This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre's Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Campbell River Mirror Newspaper - which are both based on beautiful Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in Campbell River who own businesses in the community. We chat with them about their journeys, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Sarmad Almoullem is a Syrian artist and photographer - and current owner of Campbell River's camera goods store Phototech Fotosource!

We talk with Sarmad about his immigration story to Canada from Syria, his passion for photography and art, culture and community, and more!

Sarmad's story is also featured in Campbell River's People Project Magazine - so be sure to check out the printed article, too!

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This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre's Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Campbell River Mirror Newspaper - which are both based on beautiful Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in Campbell River who own businesses in the community. We chat with them about their journeys, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Make sure to check out the full Filipino Snack Tasting Video! We made a trip to the JRV Filipino Asian Store to pick up some of their most popular items to give them a try.  😋

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This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre's Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Campbell River Mirror Newspaper - which are both based on beautiful Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in Campbell River who own businesses in the community. We chat with them about their journeys, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Meet my uncle Kenny and join us in a chat about heritage, finding belonging and guidance, and passing along the things we learn and value to the next generation. Also hear the heartwarming story of how my dad and him became best friends, and brothers!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

In May of 1978, the North and South Vietnamese đồng currencies were unified. This episode features a story from my  婆婆 po4 po4 (maternal grandmother) about one particular memory and experience she had during this time in Hanoi. Her home was raided, searched and most of her belongings taken away. Tune in to hear the full conversation in both English and Cantonese!

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As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Today, April 30th 2022 marks 2 special occasions - Journey to Freedom Day here in Canada, and Holding Heritage's 1 year anniversary!

To learn more about Journey to Freedom Day, hop back over to Episode 3!

In today's episode, I share a couple parts of a really special memento, which is a handmade scrapbook that was gifted to my mom’s family by their 9 sponsor families when they first arrived in Canada almost 42 years ago.

My late grandfather’s name was Ly Van Huy, but to me, he was  公公 (gong1 gong1). He wrote a letter addressed to all 9 of the incredible families - in response to receiving this heartfelt book. My mom and I read this letter in both Vietnamese and English.

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As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Today’s episode is the final one in this round of our Newcomer Entrepreneur Series and I am so excited to have the honor of featuring Thanushi Eagalle - Thanu for short - she is the owner of Wild Bee Florals in the Comox Valley.

Head over to wildbeeflorals.com to check out Thanu’s beautiful website and everything they have to offer and you can also find her on instagram @wildbeeflorals!

This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre’s Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Comox Valley Record Newspaper – which are both based in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in the Comox Valley who own businesses – and create jobs – in the community. We chat with them about their stories, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses in the Valley. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

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As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Today we sit down with Juan Calero - owner of HJ Landscaping in the Comox Valley.

Juan was born and raised in Nicaragua and left the country during his mid twenties - around the historically significant Nicaraguan Revolution. 

We explore Juan's immigration experiences and entrepreneur journey.
You can also read the online article for Juan's story here.

This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre’s Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Comox Valley Record Newspaper – which are both based in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in the Comox Valley who own businesses – and create jobs – in the community. We chat with them about their stories, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses in the Valley. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

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As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

Today we sit down with Tania Ly - owner of Gold Phoenix Asian Foods in the Comox Valley.

Gold Phoenix Asian Foods focuses on offering the Comox Valley authentic Cantonese and Vietnamese cooking classes as well as small batch dim sum orders via their online store!

We explore Tania's entrepreneur journey, experiences, challenges and successes.
You can also read the online article for Tania's story here.

This episode is produced in collaboration with the Immigrant Welcome Centre’s Welcoming Communities Coalition and the Comox Valley Record Newspaper – which are both based in the beautiful Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. 

The goal of this series of interviews aims to learn more about and amplify the voices of newcomers in the Comox Valley who own businesses – and create jobs – in the community. We chat with them about their stories, successes and challenges starting and running their businesses in the Valley. The goal is to help dispel negative misconceptions about the impact of newcomers on the Canadian economy, to highlight diversity and underrepresented voices, and contribute to making our communities more welcoming for all.

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As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!

As always, head over to holdingheritage.com to check out the episode show notes!

Intro & Outro Music by Blue Wednesday – be sure to check him out!