Arab Canadians

According to the latest 2006 census the Arab Canadian population is 470,580.^[2] The large majority of the Canadians of Arab origin population live in either Ontario or Quebec.

Arab Canadians come from all of the countries of the Arab World including Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan and Yemen.

2001 census

The distribution of the Arab population of Canada according to the 2001 census was as follows

Notable individuals

Politicians

• Pierre De Bané - Former Liberal MP (1968–1984) and Cabinet Minister (of Palestinian descent)
• Michael Basha - former member of the Senate of Canada (of Lebanese descent)
• Fonse Faour - Former NDP MP and leader of Newfoundland NDP (of Lebanese descent)
• Eddie Francis - Mayor of Windsor, Ontario (of Lebanese descent)
• Mac Harb - Senator, Former Liberal MP (1988–2004) and Former Ottawa City Councilor (of Lebanese descent)
• Omar Alghabra - Former Liberal MP (2006–2008) in the federal riding of Mississauga—Erindale in Ontario, Canada (of Syrian descent)
• Lorraine Michael - former Nun, leader of New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (of Lebanese descent)
• Maria Mourani - Current Bloc Québécois MP (2006–) in federal riding of Ahuntsic in Quebec, Canada (of Lebanese descent)
• Khalil Ramal - Ontario MPP (of Lebanese descent)
• Joe Ghiz - former Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
• Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
• Samira Laouni, former NDP candidate of Bourassa riding for 2008 federal elections (of Moroccan descent)
• Sana Hassainia, current NDP member of House of Commons for Verchères—Les Patriotes riding (of Tunisian descent)
• Sadia Groguhé, current NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Lambert (of Algerian descent)
• Tarik Brahmi, current NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Jean (of Algerian descent)
• Djaouida Sellah, current NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert (of Algerian descent)
• Mohamed Boudjenane, former NDP candidate of Ontario Legislative Assembly for Etobicoke Centre riding for 2007 provincial election (of Moroccan descent)

Political Activists

• Maher Arar - human rights activist; deportation and tortured victim in Syrian jail (of Syrian descent)
• Monia Mazigh - human rights activist and New Democratic Party candidate (of Tunisian descent)

Actors

Filmmakers

• Anisa Mehdi, Emmy Award winning film director, journalist and director of Inside Mecca (of Iraqi descent)
• Donald Shebib - documentary filmmaker (of Lebanese descent)

Singers

• Paul Anka - Singer (of Lebanese descent)
• Belly Rap/Hip Hop artist (of Palestinian descent)
• Andy Kim - pop singer/songwriter (of Lebanese descent)
• K.Maro - rapper (of Lebanese descent)
• Massari - pop and hip-hop singer (of Lebanese descent)
• The Narcicyst - rapper (of Iraqi descent)
• Vaï - rapper, hip hop singer (of Moroccan descent)
• Karl Wolf - singer (of Lebanese descent)

Sportsmen

• Nazem Kadri - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• John Hanna - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• Alain Nasreddine - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• Ed Hatoum - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• David Azzi - professional player in Canadian Football League (of Lebanese descent)
• Joey Haddad - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• John Hanna - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
• Fabian Joseph - former professional hockey player (Canada men's national ice hockey team) (of Lebanese descent)
• Ramzi Abid - professional hockey player (of Tunisian descent)
• John Makdessi - professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter (of Lebanese descent)
• Jean Sayegh - water polo player (of Lebanese descent)

Others

• René Angélil - Manager and husband of Céline Dion, (of Lebanese & Syrian descent) [3]
• Reema Abdo - former backstroke swimmer (of Yemeni descent)
• Omar Khadr - Detainee currently being held in Guantanamo Bay detention camp (of Egyptian descent)
• Habeeb Salloum - author, cookbook author, writer, travel writer (of Syrian descent)
• Mamdouh Shoukri - current president of York University (of Egyptian descent)

See also

• Canadian Arab Federation (CAF)
• National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR)
• Arab Christians

External links

• Canadian Arab Federation official website
• National Council on Canada-Arab Relations official website
• Ottawa Arab Forum

References