PERSIAN TRIBUNE Volume 2, Issue 6 by Persian Tribune

www.PersianTribune.ca • Volume 2, Issue 6

CYNICAL CAMPAIGNS UNDER THE NAME OF FREE SPEECH

THE LEGENDRY CUISINE OF PERSIA

BUILDING A PARADISE, AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KARIM HAKIMI ABOUT HIS LATEST EXOTIC PROJECT

PERSIAN RUGS AND THEIR OWN UNIQUE CULTURE

CANADA AT 150 - A NATION THAT HAS COME OF AGE ISSN 2291-580X

9 772291 580004

2005 DON PERIGNON, THE ULTIMATE BUBBLY…

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE STORY

BUILDING A PARADISE

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KARIM HAKIMI

ART

AGA KHAN MUSEUM WELCOMES ITALY'S RENOWNED BRUSCHETTINI COLLECTION OF ISLAMIC ART

PEOPLE

PERSON OF THE MONTH: PROFESSOR LOTFI A. ZADEH

COMMUNITY

160 REASONS TO CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS

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A NATION THAT HAS COME OF AGE

BOOK REVIEW THE LEGENDARY CUISINE OF PERSIA

OPINION CYNICAL CAMPAIGNS UNDER THE NAME OF FREE SPEECH

CREAM OF BARLEY SOUP “SOOP-E- JO”

JEWELLERY

FIRE AND WATER IN PERFECT BALANCE… CARRERA Y CARRERA’S NEW TWIST ON ITS ICONIC COLLECTIONS

RUGS

PERSIAN RUGS

FREE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH OHIP+

INSURANCE 34

MORTGAGE INSURANCE VS LIFE INSURANCE

EVENTS OUT AND ABOUT WITH PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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HEALTH

POLITICS CANADA AT 150

FROM THE PERSIAN KITCHEN: DOM PERIGNON

CANADA'S OWN, EMILY CARR

FOOD & WINE

ENVIRONMENT WHEN TIMES GET DARK, WE MUST SHINE BRIGHTER

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LETTER FROM EDITOR Volume 2, Issue 6

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus, The Algerian born French literally icon

“I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” M. Montgomery, Canadian author, Ann of Green Gables.

“Autumn is the spring of the poets and literalists.” Unknown source, Persian literature. The fall season besides being one of the most colourful time of the year, it always had a significant meaning to mankind and more in particular to the ancient Iranians. In fact according to historians, Iranians of more than twenty five century ago had two New Year celebrations. One at the first day of the spring season and another one at the beginning of autumn. In the Iranian calendar, the first month in the fall is called Mehr, which means love and affection. This indicates the desire of the ancient Iranians to commence their second New Year with love and friendship in their lives. The significance of the fall season in ancient Persia was to the degree that they would postpone all the important tasks in their lives to the beginning of autumn. It was during the Darius the Great reign (522-486 BC) in Ancient Iran that the education system was founded, and the beginning of each academic year was on the first day of autumn, a tradition that is still being observed in modern day Iran and as well as in most countries around the world.

Publisher: Persian Tribune Inc.

Editor-in-Chief: Kiumars Rezvanifar

Senior VP Marketing Communications: Silviu C. Apostolide

Creative Director: Ramin Deravian Art Director: Courtney Boyden

Managing Editor: Courtney Boyden

Graphic Designers: Hoda Gharaie Amir Vafamand

Associate Managing Editor: Teresa Tiano

Contributing Writers: David Akhlaghi Robert Atkinson Courtney Boyden Kim Galway Ian Hanington Natalia Lisochkina Stephanie Mann Hon Reza Moridi MPP Duncan Pike Doris Pontieri Naser Roushan Margaret Shaida David Suzuki Bryon Wilfert

Associate Editor: Artmiz Rahimi Copy Editor: Arezou Amin Kim Galway

Research: Artemiz Rezvanifar Account Executives: Arman Hedayat Nooshin Riahy David Zand Behrouz Ziaci

Autumn is also a very sacred time and season of the year for us Iranians, since according to the historians, the country of Iran was founded by Cyrus the Great in October of the year 539 B.C. So to all of our readers around the globe I wish Happy Autumn, and may every fallen leaf turn into a beautiful flower around you and in your lives. I hope that you enjoy this issue of Persian Tribune as much as we always do to bring it to you….

Printing: Quatro Canada

Special Projects Jacques Reiss Web Management: Ramin Emadi Director of Marketing Development: Dawn S. Marvasti

Kiumars Rezvanifar Editor-In-Chief kiu@persiantribune.ca Persian Tribune magazine is published twelve times a year by Persian Tribune Inc. It is distributed free of charge in libraries, business and cultural centers in GTA. Persian Tribune magazine is an independent publication and its contents imply no endorsement of any product or service. Opinions expressed are those of the writers. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission from the publisher. Canadian Head Office (Toronto) Persian Tribune magazine 25 Valleywood Drive, Suite 12 Markham, ON L3R 5L9 Canada

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Dubai Office Ms. Roya Devon royadevon@outlook.com 0097-150-734-8005

Paris Office Mme. Niloufar Manii 9, rue de Chartres 92200 Neuilly Sur Seine, FRANCE

U.S. Office (Los Angeles) Persian Tribune magazine 22726 Ventura Blvd., Suite C Woodland Hills, CA 91364, U.S.A.

OMDC is a catalyst for economic development in Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative industries THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE

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ONTARIO SPARKS CREATIVITY Ontario produces film and television that the whole world enjoys. OMDC is building stronger creative industries in Ontario. Be part of it.

•ART

CANADA, 150 YEARS OF HISTORY, AND ARTISTIC TALENT

CANADA'S OWN, EMILY CARR

Emily Ca By: Doris Pontieri

2.2 million dollars. What would the great Canadian painter Emily Carr have thought of that? Many years after her death in 1945, her painting completed in 1939 titled Wind in the Treetops, sold for just that. Emily Carr, being one of the only female artists of great influence during her life, could not have imagined how important her story and her life’s art, would become to the Canadian history of art.

arr’s parents were British immigrants and came to Canada, settling in Victoria, She had four older sisters and one brother. As a child, she began to draw and found great joy in this. As a teenager, she traveled to San Francisco to study art at the California School of Design. While there, she learned the techniques of paintIng, studying for three years. When

Emily returned home she taught art classes to children. In 1910, she had a desire to study modernist art, which she knew deep down was something she had to do abroad, so she and her sister went to Paris and began classes at Studio Colarossi. When she returned to Canada in 1912, she was filled with a new vision for colour and landscapes, which is evident in her depiction of Aboriginal Cultures and the distinctive landscape of Canada's west coast. She travelled throughout the countryside, drinking in the bold colours she would use to showcase Canada worldwide through her art, and to tell, through her many paintings, the stories of past Aboriginal cultures.

mily Carr, Canadian artist and writer who was so inspired by the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, made her mark on the Canadian art scene then and continues to grow in relevance, as one of the first painters in Canada to reflect Modernist

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and Post-Impressionism in her paintings. Well known in Canada for the West Coast totem poles she painted, and for being given the honour of winning the Governor-General's Award for non-fiction in 1941, she was so much more than the accolades she received. Emily struggled to be relevant and recognized early on. With only herself to rely on, the task was daunting. But time would finally see the beauty of her work recognized, and in 1988 she was included with the iconic Group of Seven.

ly arr F

or over a decade, she exhibited in prestigious shows including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Tate in London, the 1939 World's Fair in New York, the Yale University Art Gallery and the Exposition Internationale in Paris. Recognized worldwide, by 1952, her work was posthumously selected, along with three other artists, to represent Canada at its debut at the Venice Biennale. Two decades after all of this, Emily Carr's work was shown at the Commonwealth Institute in London and the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris. Art enthusiasts around the world were beginning to

understand what Canadians had known for many years: that Carr's landscape paintings were some of the most original and important of her time.

n 1937, Carr's health began to decline with her first heart attack, which prompted her to write more, as she did not have the strength to paint as vigorously as she had in years prior. Emily Carr was born in Victoria on December 13, 1871, and she died in Victoria on March 2, 1945, where the inspiration for her most memorable paintings came from. She remains one of our great Canadian icons and will live on through her recognizable work with strong brush strokes and bold colours that interpret the Canadian landscape through her beautiful eyes. ď Ž

Doris Pontieri is an award winning artist and art teacher. Her work is featured in many galleries in Canada and U.S. Since being invited to exhibit at the Louvre in Paris, she has been awarded the medal for Outstanding Artwork by the Paris Society of Arts, Science and Letters, one of the oldest societies in France. PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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•HEALTH FREE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH OHIP+ ONTARIO TO PROVIDE THE FIRST UNIVERSAL DRUG PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN CANADA IN 2018 By: Hon. Reza Moridi, MPP

s part of the 2017 Budget, Ontario is giving children and youth a better start in life by moving to make prescription medications free. Beginning January 1, 2018, all children and youth 24 years of age or younger will be able to get their prescription medications for free by simply showing their Ontario health card number and a prescription. Patients will not need to apply to join the program. Coverage will be automatic, with no upfront costs.

The new program will improve access to prescription medications for more than four million children and young people, and will help many families to afford the medications their children need to stay healthy.

his is a watershed moment for healthcare in Ontario. As the first Canadian province or territory to introduce universal pharmacare for children and youth, we are making sure that every young person across the province has access to the medications they need to live full lives. We are easing parents’ worries, while making life more affordable for them.

reimbursed under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, including medications listed under the Exceptional Access Program, at no cost. These include drugs to treat cancer and rare diseases. Other medications that will be covered include asthma inhalers, antibiotics, drugs to treat depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and oral contraceptives.

ntario's drug funding program is already one of the country's most generous, helping to pay for needed prescription medications for seniors, people

with high drug costs, and other vulnerable populations. Ontario is investing $465 million to expand coverage through OHIP+. The province is investing an additional $7 billion in health care over the next three years. With these new investments, growth in health spending will now average 3.3 per cent over the medium term.

This is a major step forward towards universal pharmacare.

aking prescription medications more affordable for families is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives. 

Beyond the most common prescriptions, OHIP+ will give young people access to more than 4,400 drugs

The ConstitInformation Provided by the Constituency Office of Hon. Reza Moridi, MPP PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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THE POWER OF ART CONNECTING CULTURES

Photo Â© Philip Castleton

Photo by A.BIBAK

Anything you need for your home is under one roof

•ART

AGA KHAN MUSEUM

AGA KHAN MUSEUM WELCOMES ITALY’S RENOWNED BRUSCHETTINI COLLECTION OF ISLAMIC ART

unique chance to be entranced by the spellbinding beauty of works of art that already inspired the Renaissance masters! Opening on September 23, 2017 as a world premiere, Arts of the East: Highlights of Islamic Art from the Bruschettini Collection introduces Canadian and international audiences to a choice selection from one of the world’s most important private collections of Islamic art.

andpicked by Alessandro Bruschettini in conversation with Aga Khan Museum Curator Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip, the 43 objects showcased in the exhibition were chosen for their remarkable vibrancy, their technical perfection and as representatives of the diversity of the collection. At the same time, given their origins in the vast Islamic empires that flourished from East to West between the 13th and the 17th centuries, the objects offer eloquent evidence of cross-cultural relationships, the transformation of local styles, and an enduring fascination with luxury goods. Among the highlights on display is a sumptuous velvet panel decorated with discs of goldwrapped thread.

(continued on page 14)

“

TEXTILES WERE EASILY TRANSPORTABLE, AND THEY MADE EXCELLENT DIPLOMATIC GIFTS AS WELL AS ITEMS FOR EXPORT. IN TURN, CULTURAL INFLUENCES CIRCULATED BACK FROM ITALY TO IRAN, AND TODAY, WE CAN SEE HOW THEY LED TO BOTH TECHNICAL AND STYLISTIC DEVELOPMENT.

”

- Çakır Phillip

"Moses Challenges Pharaoh’s Sorcerers” Folio from a manuscript of the Falnameh (The Book of Omens); Gazvin, Iran; 1550–1560 Opaque watercolour and gold on paper Copyright © The Bruschettini Collection PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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•ART “The golden discs on this velvet panel remind me of a shower of gold coins,” says Çakır Phillip. “This is quite apt considering the fabric’s status as a luxury object.” According to the curator, the discs’ shape may have been inspired by a Buddhist symbol of good fortune and protection called çintemani, which appears on Ottoman textiles and ceramics from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Detail of “Greek and Chinese Painter Competition” Folio from a manuscript of Masnavi-i Ma‘navi (“The Spiritual Couplets”) by Jalal al-Din Rumi (Maulana) (d. 1273) Tabriz, Iran, ca. 1540–1550 Opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper Copyright © The Bruschettini Collection

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Lampas Panel with Courtly Scene Iran, 16th century Silk, lampas Copyright © The Bruschettini Collection Artisans from China, the vast Mongol Empire, and, later, from the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Iran, devised many variations on çintemani, reflecting their own ingenuity as well as the cultural interests of their time. The fabric’s offset disc pattern — which has been created using metallic thread in a twill weave — also

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AGA KHAN MUSEUM

has a long history. The earliest reference to it seems to be in the 1295 inventory of Pope Boniface VIII. There, it is identified on a fabric from Tabriz, a centre for luxury textile production. How did an Iranian textile make its way into Italy? According to Çakır Phillip, “Textiles were easily transportable, and they made excellent diplomatic gifts as well as items for export. In turn, cultural influences circulated back from Italy to Iran, and today, we can see how they led to both technical and stylistic development.”

Reza Moridi

MPP Richmond Hill Serving the riding of

Richmond Hill

Celebrating the arts and culture of civilizations from regions including Turkey, India, and Iran, Arts of the East is accompanied by a diverse array of special programming at the Museum. Highlights include a one-day symposium with experts in the field of Islamic art, an afternoon lecture titled “The Ottomans in Italy,” and a hands-on workshop on Ottoman geometric patterns. In December, Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip offers an afterhours Curator’s Tour through the exhibition. A 248-page catalogue with full-colour plates accompanies the exhibition, discussing the Bruschettini Collection artworks in five chapters: metalwork, ceramics, the art of the book, textiles, and carpets. Diwan, the Museum’s restaurant, will be offering a selection of exhibition-inspired menu items throughout the run of the exhibition. 

Arts of the East: Highlights of Islamic Art from the Bruschettini Collection runs through January 21, 2018 at the Aga Khan Museum. To learn more, visit agakhanmuseum.org

We are proudly here to assist you in accessing the programs and services offered by the Government of Ontario.

9555 Yonge Street, Suite 311 Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9M5 T: 905.884.8080 | F: 905.884.1040 rmoridi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org www.rezamoridi.onmpp.ca b /rmoridi | a @rezamoridi PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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•RUGS

pERSIAN

RU G S

By: Naser Roushan

ersian rugs, also known as Iranian rugs, have been in existence roughly 3000 years.

During the period of the “PERSIAN EMPIRE”, Persians started to weave handmade rugs for economic purposes, both to be used inside their own buildings and to be exported. They used them to cover their floors, or simply, to decorate. These rugs were produced all over regions governed by the PERSIAN EMPIRE.

The city rugs are produced with a high number of knots per square inch, in vertical looms.

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here are multiple types of Persian rugs which are woven by Nomadic tribes, villages, cities, towns and also the Royal Court workshops. Each have their unique type of weaves, patterns, and designs, reflecting their unique history.

C I T Y & TOW N RU G S :

ersian Rugs from different cities of Iran such as Tabriz, Kerman, Mashad, Kashan, Esfahan, Naein, Qum, etc. have unique character with specific and traditional patterns, designs, color, high quality materials and technically sophisticated weaves.

Persian rugs are known as an art influenced by diverse Persian culture, showing varieties of color combinations, textures, designs and patterns. This wide variety is a true reflection of - and almost metaphoric for - the diverse culture within the country.

he patterns, designs, and colors are prepared by artists who have sophisticated levels of knowledge and expertise. These experts also super vise the full process of weaving down to the last step. City rugs such as these are woven by master weavers who are highly experienced. Master weavers create the highest quality of city rugs.

•RUGS V I L L AG E & N O M A D RU G S :

hese rugs are created by villages of Nomad people who create them as a hobby during their free time, and often after working either on a farm or raising sheep in the mountains.

The designs and colors for these rugs are created by the weavers as they go, so each is created with originality and spontaneity, at the creative mercy of the weaver.

The materials used (i.e. wool and dyes) are produced locally, because they have access to wool from their own sheep. They will also prepare the wool by hand, spinning it. Leaves and roots from different plants and vegetables are also available for wool dye.

ach rug reflects its own individuality. In fact, sometimes there is no symmetry in the rug’s design. Moreover, this kind of rug is known for its course weave and intense colors. One example of Village or Nomad rugs are Gabbeh Rugs.

K I L I M RU G S :

ilims are also weaved to cover floors but can also sometimes be used as a blanket. For creating a Kilim, weavers use a horizontal loom. Kilims are a flat weave and do not have pile, unlike actual rugs. For this reason, the Kilim is usually less durable than rugs. Kilims are mostly created by village or Nomad weavers.

The Kilims, like village rugs, do not have a premade design or pattern/colour template.

here are many different designs and patterns for Kilims, though they tend to be geometric in design.  Naser Roushan is the President of Blue Paisley Fine Rugs located at 1440 Bathurst St. Toronto in Canada BLUEPAISLEY.COM

PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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•FEATURE

BUILDING A PARADISE KARIM HAKIMI AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH

ABOUT HIS LATEST EXOTIC PROJECT

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Karim Hakimi is an epitomy of a Canadian immigrant success story. His brand of Hakim Optical has been a household name in Canada, and this year he celebrated 50 years of successful operation. A part from his business he has been involved in many aspects of community activities and philanthropy, but for the past several years Hakim has taken another challenging, yet enjoyable project outside of Canada. His dream, to build an exclusive resort on his private island off the shores of Belize. We had an opportunity to sit down with him and to discuss this latest project. By: Kim Galway

PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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•FEATURE

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS INTERVIEW AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS YOUR NEW PROJECT, THE LUXURY RESORT THAT YOU’RE BUILDING. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, ASIDE FROM BEING THE FOUNDER OF HAKIM OPTICAL, WHICH JUST CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, YOU ARE ALSO AN AVID SAILOR, CAPTAIN AND DEEP-SEA DIVER. TELL ME ABOUT THAT SIDE OF HAKIM, YOUR AFFINITY FOR WATER AND THE OCEAN.

Thank you for asking. As a young boy, I fell into cold water and I went through shock. I ceased to speak for a while. As I grew older, I decided to fight the fear, so I pushed myself to become a better swimmer. In Iran, there was a place called Amjadieh, which was a swimming pool, and I ended up having an Olympic swimming pool pass, so I could swim among the Olympic candidates. I was a skinny teenager, I swam like a fish, I wasn’t afraid to jump from the high dive and did crazy things. When I joined the Iranian Navy, I volunteered to become a salvage diver, getting information from the bottom of the ocean. For instance, I would gauge the condition of ships in the Persian Gulf that had been sitting there, rotting.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FELL IN THE WATER? I believe I was 4 or 5 years old. This is where fighting my fear made me love the water rather than fearing it. I was in the Navy for two and a half years when I visited Italy, Egypt, India, and many other foreign destinations with our battleships. I have always had a yacht since I came to Canada and I’ve kept it in the Caribbean. When I was married, all my children enjoyed the yacht and we took it from island to island. We were in Canada to work, and in the Caribbean to enjoy.

WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS THAT YOUR FEAR OF WATER BECAME A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Right, the fear became the love of water. Eventually I 20

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bought a larger yacht, and at one point, I saw that there was a market to charter my yacht, so I bought a few more yachts and built a giant one in Australia. At one point, I had a few to charter; some in Marbella, some in Barcelona, some in the Greek Islands, and some in the Bahamian Islands. I had a few captains, engineers and ships on the payroll. The biggest yacht I had, I chartered for $250,000 US a week.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY YOU BECAME A REGISTERED CAPTAIN. I always captained my own yacht. Actually, one of the ladies that I used to date - a lovely Romanian woman learned to captain my yacht. She also learned to charter the oceans. Sometimes, we would sail to some locations that would take 24-hours to reach, so I would be in charge six hours, she would do the next six hours and we let the crew take care of the rest.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LUXURY RESORT, YOUR NEXT PROJECT. HOW DID IT ALL START? My resort idea happened by accident. I have enjoyed diving for pleasure all over the world, from Australia to

the old Bahamian islands, and the Caribbean islands. Diving is part of my life. About 10 years ago we were on our way to South America to dive all over there. On that trip we dove in Cuba, in Mexico, then we went to Belize. When we got there, I found a large beautiful reef under my ship and I stopped and dove every few hundred feet. I realized there was a mile of healthy, beautiful reefs near a bay in all-protected water. I decided to take my ship into the bay for the night, and continued to dive every day for a week in those reefs. I fell in love with it. I started thinking that this bay, with its beautiful couple of miles of protected water, could be a fantastic marina - if I dig deep. So, I bought a centre piece of a nearby island. It was an insect infested swamp. A very terrible

•FEATURE

place. I bought a giant pump from Holland that was the size of a house, and I dredged the bay from 1 or 2 feet to 9 or 10. I took the sand from that mile and a half of bay and raised the island 4 feet, filling the swamp. There were 4 to 6 tractors spreading sand all over the place. Then I bought the neighboring island and today, I have close to 500 acres that house this beautiful marina and can anchor 50 boats and yachts.

fresh rain water. When it rains there, it’s really no joke, it pours. That fresh rain water all funnels into these reservoirs. We stopped making water. Before, we had a few giant water-makers that take ocean water and make fresh water through osmosis. We were only using it for concrete. But now the rain water is captured and stored.

WHEN DID YOU START THIS RESORT PROJECT?

Getting material to the island, especially the heavy materials. On the island, if you need a nail, you have to import it from somewhere. When you build accommodation for 200 people to stay overnight in a luxury hotel, you need to have a lot of material. I had to buy British-made landing craft and rebuild them because they were rotten and needed repairs. Next, I had to buy some equipment from the US army surplus, things like barges and landing crafts, which had been used to carry tanks from ship to shore or shore to ship. I purchased

Basically 10 years ago, when I bought the first piece of island. I then bought more land and built giant warehouses, because I knew anything I imported had to be stored somewhere. I helped build a village for the workers with hundreds of rooms, sleeping quarters, a kitchen, facilities, and generators. I dug the ground as deep as I could, and made an underground fresh water reservoir. We have 5 reservoirs total. One is under the main building and contains half a million gallons of

THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON. WHAT WAS THAT PROJECT’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

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•FEATURE much equipment like this and rebuilt it; some in Florida and some in Belize. I created something like a miniarmy or navy. I realized I also needed a marina to repair this equipment, so I bought a parcel of land in the ocean, and turned it into a ship building and repairing place. I found out most of the workers went to town to eat lunch and for their breaks, so I ended up building a place there to accommodate 200 people for lunch and relaxation. The second-floor offices and rooftop became a disco/bar for people to go and enjoy themselves. I also built a giant “travelling lift”, a machine that can pick

up a 200 ton, or 200-foot-long ship from the ocean and bring it to land for repair. I ended up owning the largest shipyard in Belize.

WHAT’S THE ISLAND’S NAME? It is called “Belize Dive Haven Resort and Marina by Sir Hakim”.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED TO BUILD THE RESORT PROJECT? Currently 100 people. 50 people work on the island, 25-30 work on the mainland, and then when I’m ready to operate I need 350 to run the resort. 3 shifts a day, plus security.

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IS THIS PROJECT BEING PRIVATELY FUNDED BY YOU? I am the sole owner, the sole provider, the sole hammal (labourer) [laughs].

YOU ALSO DUG A CANAL WHICH BASICALLY CHANGED THE SHAPE OF THE ISLAND AND IS VISIBLE BY SATELLITE. TELL US ABOUT THAT. I realized there are times when the weather is severe and all the ships in the bay in front of the building could be at risk. Sometimes the winds can pack a punch hurricane winds can be 200 mph - and could pick up any

ship from water and push it to the island. I had to dig a canal from the back of the island where there is a huge lake with calm water. The dimensions of the dig were 150 feet by one mile, so 2 ships could pass each other, and at the back of the building, I created a basin where a ship could turn around and go the other way. With this canal, in case of bad weather, 100 boats or ships can come and stay. It’s like an inland water resort.

WHO WAS THE ARCHITECT THAT DESIGNED THE RESORT? I didn’t have any architect, expert engineer, or project manager. All those tasks I did myself. I bought all the equipment and I hired skilled labourers. They knew how to dig, so I gave them equipment to dig. I bought them all kinds of materials to create the foundation upon which to build. It was fantastic engineering!

•FEATURE

“

I BELIEVE I WAS 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD. THIS IS WHERE FIGHTING MY FEAR MADE ME LOVE THE WATER RATHER THAN FEARING IT. I WAS IN THE NAVY FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS WHEN I VISITED ITALY, EGYPT, INDIA, AND MANY OTHER FOREIGN DESTINATIONS WITH OUR BATTLESHIPS.

YOU MENTIONED YOU PURCHASED THE ISLAND TEN YEARS AGO. DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WOULD TAKE THIS LONG FOR YOUR DREAM BECOME REALITY? When I bought the island, I bought it not knowing what I would do with it. But I knew the reef was a gold mine, and I could bring people from all over to dive here. As I started to build, I realized that one building wouldn’t be enough for the security staff of 10 and employees needed for the 10 ships that were already there. So I built another building next to the first one. That one could accommodate 200 people. I plan to build 50 villas around the canal. Each one would have 4 double bedrooms to accommodate overnight guests, if the (primary) occupiers wanted their own space and privacy.

DID YOU EVER THINK ONE DAY YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR OWN RESORT. Never. I never dreamed I would have my own resort. I dreamed I would retire and stay in my yacht travelling between Marbella, Spain and the south of France and

”

go to Monte Carlo and Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, go to Argentina, around the world, wherever, just with my lady, and enjoy life. I never thought I would settle somewhere and build a resort. But destiny controls you more than you control it.

HOW MANY ROOMS DOES THIS RESORT HAVE? 100 double rooms and suites, and then the penthouses. The fact that it is an island, it only caters to the rich and famous, and people for whom privacy and safety can be more complicated, such as celebrities, diplomats. At this place, you can see a boat from all directions from miles away. You could see if it is a registered guest or not.

WHAT OTHER FACILITIES DO YOU PROVIDE? Well, there is a rooftop disco where 200 people can dance all night. There is also a hacienda, which is a place for 200 people to sit and congregate, even in bad weather. They don’t have to go to their rooms. All around are trees and shrubs and flowers. It has a piano

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•FEATURE

bar, a stage for a live band, a 30 foot bar that fits 50 or 60, with space for sitting outdoors to look at the ocean and a waterfall that pours into the ocean.

WHAT ABOUT THE POOLS? One of the pools is 40 by 200 feet with a bar. The other, which is bigger, is 260 by 40 feet and has 2 giant Jacuzzis that fit 20 people in each. We also have a deck that can easily fit 200 people. We had a call from a cruise ship that said if we agree, they can drop off between 50-100 passengers in the morning and pick them in the evening. These guests would use our facilities and go diving, and of course they would pay separately.

I KNOW YOU HAVE ALSO PLANTED MANY TREES THERE. I planted about 600-700 palms and coconut palms in a centre area to create an oasis, a paradise. I also bought a few-hundred flower species, and I bred a few thousand by creating a greenhouse. I also planted a lot of fruit trees, creating huge gardens where you can pick your own mangoes, avocados, papayas and many other tropical fruits. There are also a lot of oranges, limes, lemons that the kitchen always needs. I arranged it so that the trees have 20 feet of space in front, allowing people riding horseback to follow a trail in between and enjoy themselves picking their own fruit as they go.

BUT DIVING IS THE MAJOR SPORT I GUESS?

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

Yes indeed. There is diving, and we have a lot of boats for chartering. Motor boats, bigger boats for people to charter for the entire day, and we have also smaller yachts that people can rent. We supply the captain to go with them. We have a larger yacht, like my personal yacht that we can charter for $150,000 a week if someone wants to have a private ship to cruise around in the area. Currently I’m building an airport, because I find with some of my private guests who come via the ocean, the men don’t mind the rough waves but the women and the children suffer in the rough weather. So, I realized in order to cater to the sophisticated ladies and children, I had to build an airport. I had to go through hell to get the permit from the local government, then I had to go through international aviation authorities to get engineers to approve and create and give me a floor plan for the runway. We have almost a mile of runway, and we’ve raised it by several feet in the middle so rain water can wash to the side. The top 9 inches of concrete have steel reinforcement, which is 1 mile long and 60 feet wide. After its completion, the local airline can bring guests from the international airport to the island in 15 minutes.

HOW FAR IS THE ISLAND FROM BELIZE? The Resort Island is about 29 nautical miles from the mainland. In a speed-boat you make it there in an hour and 20 minutes. In a yacht or slower boat with 20-30

ANY PERSIAN RESTAURANTS THERE?

•FEATURE

No Persian restaurants at this time. We will have Italian, local and Mexican foods. We will have a menu of 20 items. There’s enough for everybody.

HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A PERSIAN RESTAURANT IN THE FUTURE! For sure, if we see a lot of Persian guests, then we will make them the best Chelo Kabob. But we plan to have an Italian-designed pizzeria in the Hacienda, where guests can have several types of pizza with smoked fish…

BUT THAT STILL CANNOT BEAT THE CHELO KABOB! [LAUGHS]… ANYWAY, WHAT KIND OF CLIENTELE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTRACT?

people, it takes 2 hours, for example, by ferry. We aren’t open to the public now and we are still working on the construction of the runway, but we should be operational in 5 months. And we also have a lot of problems with the local government because their views on business are, let’s say, different from ours.

THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK, HOW DID THE GOVERNMENT VIEW AND RESPOND TO YOUR PROJECT? The government has 2 sides. One group love it and know it is the biggest asset to happen to Belize, and then there are those that don’t care and aren’t as business minded. That was one dilemma that pushed me back a few years, that also cost me probably 10-15 million dollars. Belize also lost about 10 million dollars in revenue that they could have had all the while. These were challenges I had to move through.

HOW MANY RESTAURANTS ARE YOU PLANNING TO HAVE? The resort is going to have to have 4 eateries. One of them is 300 feet out in the ocean. We built a bridge to the water and there we have a kitchen and sitting area. This could also be used for weddings or private functions. Then we have 3 others. One is formal, black tie, air conditioned, in a hall furnished with the most luxurious furniture and ambiance for meetings.

Well, my original plan is to invite the rich and famous. I’m also planning to build a few houses along the ocean with the names of John Wayne, or Celine Dion, or Burt Lancaster, famous actors, and these private houses on the ocean become geared for celebrities. We also have a data base with the names of affluent and famous people in the U.S. and in Europe. We would contact them and inform them about this very exotic piece of paradise which is unique and second to none in South America. Nothing like that exists in the area. What I build is much nicer and safer than all the hotels in Cancun or somewhere else.

WHEN DO YOU FORESEE THIS BEING OPERATIONAL? The resort will be operational as soon as I finish with the runway, which should be in next five to six months. Sometime in 2018.

ANY PLANS FOR THE GRAND OPENING, SOMETHING STRONG? Well I haven’t thought about it, but when I get close enough I have to invite all of the Belize government officials as well as some from Canadian government. You might ask why Canada? Because the Canadian government has been so good to me. I have a letter from the Minister of Immigration that who expressed a sentiment wishing there were more immigrants like me in this country. All this acknowledgement is very refreshing and encouraging, and I believe I would like to invite a lot of Canadian government officials to see what Canadians can do outside of Canada.

I KNOW YOU’RE BUSY WITH HAKIM OPTICAL, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU AT THE JOB SITE IN BELIZE? I stay on the island for 2 weeks and get things on the track, then I fly back to Canada for 4 weeks. I have factories and shops from Halifax to Vancouver, so I travel from province to province, city to city, to make sure that every store is running at our high standard and efficiency. So far my health is good and I’m managing my work very well.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS CHAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GRAND OPENING OF YOUR RESORT, AND WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST.  PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 25

•BOOK REVIEW THE LEGENDARY CUISINE OF PERSIA

ersian cooking is one of the oldest and greatest cuisines of the world. It is justly famous for its fragrance, sophistication, elegance and subtlety. The unique combination of ingredients such as fresh herbs, dried limes and saffron had a remarkable influence on the cooking of the Middle East, Spain, and India. In her highly acclaimed cookery book, Margaret Shaida traces the origins of this alluringly exotic cuisine and weave her research through a colourful tapestry of lively anecdotes and quotations to provide the most complete collection of authentic recipes available.

BOOK REVIEW

entral to a Persian meal are the numerous rice dishes, some containing almonds, pistachios, and raisins, others with vegetables and spices and occasionally meat. Additional recipes include stews, dumplings, kebobs and stuffed vegetables accompanied by different sauces. The sweetmeats and pastries are especially mouth-watering. Persian cuisine is perfectly suited to today’s style of eatingmany of the dishes are vegetarian, and marriage of sweet and savoury, such as grains and pulses stewed with fruit and spices, make for unforgettable meals. The Legendary Cuisine of Persia is an original and fascinating cookery book which will provide stimulation to all the senses. The book won the Glenfiddich Food Book of The Year Award and it was first published by Grub Street in 2000, since then it has never been out of print, and it is justly regarded as a classic. It is now re-issued in an updated and revised edition with colour photographs throughout. This book could be obtained from www.fitzhenry.ca 

About the Author: Margaret Shaida was born in England. She married an Iranian and and she went to live in her husband’s country in 1955. She stayed there for 25 years and learned Persian cooking from her mother –in- law and other friends and relatives in their own kitchen. She used to buy her spices fresh from the great bazaar in Tehran, and her fruits, vegetables, and meat from local markets. Her love of Persian food grew even more passionate during the five years she spent researching this book. She takes us on a culinary adventure, illustrating the diversity of food as represented by its many different religions-Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrianwhilst explaining the many customs and traditions which make up the exotic and colorful threads of a cuisine which span more than a three thousand years.

uthor: Margaret Shaida Published by: Grub Street in UK, May 2017 Distributed by: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Publishers in Canada No. of pages: 384pp Colour photography throughout

PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 27

•OPINION

CYNICAL CAMPAIGNS UNDER THE NAME OF FREE SPEECH

Free S By: Duncan Pike

n May 26th Jeremy Joseph Christian stabbed three men, two fatally, after they tried to stop him from verbally harassing a pair of teenage girls, one of whom wore the hijab. Entering a Portland, Oregon courtroom days later to answer charges of murder, Christian immediately began yelling.

expect such protests at the very least to address these issues, or to look critically at a President whose stated agenda is so hostile to basic civil liberties. Yet the groups organizing the rallies are utterly silent on these assaults on free speech, and embrace Donald Trump with a slavishness and devotion to power that would embarrass the editors of Pravda.

“Free speech or die, Portland! You got no safe place. This is America. Get out if you don’t like free speech!”

You would be forgiven for wondering what in God’s name he was on about. He had been arrested for murder, after all, not violating lèse-majesté. Yet this was not merely a nonsensical or random tirade. Christian, an active white supremacist, was directly following the tactics of the ‘alt-right’ in annexing the rhetoric of ‘free speech’ as a cover for an ultra-reactionary, nativist ideology.

This spring and summer saw a series of protests, advertised and widely covered as “free speech rallies”, take place across the United States, organized and promoted by far-right groups like the III Percenters, Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys.

t ought to bring joy into the heart of any lover of liberty to see ‘free speech rallies’ arise spontaneously in the United States, especially in a time of growing mass surveillance and an authoritarian president given embolisms by the very existence of an independent press. One might

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

similar dynamic played out in Canada during the debate over Motion 103, a non-binding parliamentary motion condemning Islamophobia. Introduced in December 2016, the motion gained additional resonance after the murder of 6 worshippers at a Quebec mosque in January. While a similar motion passed without controversy in October 2016, debate on M-103 coincided with a heated Conservative Party leadership race and the rise of several independent right-wing media outlets, Rebel Media most prominent among them, whose business model depends upon the reliable manufacturing of outrage. Several candidates in the crowded Conservative race sought to differentiate themselves by denouncing M-103 as a sop to mewling progressive multiculturalism and a means to chill criticism of Islam. Right-wing media was less subtle, portraying the motion as an Islamist plot by the Liberal Party and sponsoring MP Iqra Khalid (“Pakistan-born”, as they suggestively never failed to mention) to introduce Sharia-style blasphemy laws to Canada. Rebel Media advertised its February

•OPINION THE RISE OF REVANCHIST, ETHNONATIONALIST GROUPS IN WESTERN COUNTRIES IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THEIR IMMEDIATE RHETORICAL TARGETS - IMMIGRANTS, MUSLIMS, VISIBLE MINORITIES - BUT TO THE VERY IDEA OF A PLURALISTIC, OPEN SOCIETY AND THE PEACE AND LIBERTY UPON WHICH IT DEPENDS. ONLY BY EXPOSING THE FAULTY PREMISES, EMPTY BLUSTER, AND ROTTEN LOGIC OF THESE GROUPS CAN WE ENSURE THAT THEIR IDEAS, AND THEIR VISION FOR SOCIETY, ARE NOT JUST DEFEATED BUT DISCREDITED.

Khaliq was subject to the most appalling abuse and threats. And the audience of these outlets, who are ceaselessly told that all other media is corrupt and untrustworthy, were set against their Muslim neighbours, and made to think that brown skin, beards and headwear were signs of a hostile, alien force that wanted to take away their freedoms. It is entirely unsurprising that we are witnessing rising anti-Muslim hate crimes, and hear stories like the Quebec town of Saint-Apollinaire voting against allowing local Muslims to build a cemetery.

his is a cynical and dangerous campaign. That those who participate in it so frequently claim for themselves the mantle of ‘free speech defender’, tainting a sacred principle by association, redoubles their shame. They are free to use such language if they wish, but no one else is under any obligation to take them at their word.

Speech “Rally for Free Speech” by declaring, falsely, that “the Canadian government is preparing to silence anyone who criticizes Islam.” It did not matter that none of this bore any relationship to reality. The difference between a bill, which changes the

law, and a motion, which does not, was either not understood, or deliberately obfuscated to confuse, frighten, and anger their audiences. You can decide which is more worthy of contempt.

ith such quantities of bigotry and ignorance sowed, the reaping was swift and predictable. A series of anti-M-103 “free speech rallies” were organized on the first Saturday of every month in cities across Canada, drawing hundreds of protesters from far-right groups like the Jewish Defence League, Soldiers of Odin, and the Worldwide Coalition Against Islam. Ms.

The rise of revanchist, ethnonationalist groups in Western countries is dangerous not only to their immediate rhetorical targets—immigrants, Muslims, visible minorities—but to the very idea of a

pluralistic, open society and the peace and liberty upon which it depends. Only by exposing the faulty premises, empty bluster, and rotten logic of these groups can we ensure that their ideas, and their vision for society, are not just defeated but discredited. Media outlets can start by declining to uncritically describe any gathering of anti-Immigrant, anti-Islam groups as a “free speech rally.” 

PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 29

Farah Financial Services Inc.

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NASIROLMOLK MOSQUE, SHIRAZ Photographer: Amir Vafamand

•WINE

DAVID’S

Wine Pick OF THE MONTH By: David Akhlaghi

Executive Director at The Wine Cave

DOM PERIGNON

terling Dom Pérignon (1638–1715) was a monk and cellar master at the Benedictine abbey in Hautvillers.

He pioneered a number of winemaking techniques around 1670—being the first to blend grapes in such a way as to improve the quality of wines, balance one element with another in order to make a better whole, and deal with a number of their imperfections; perfecting the art of producing clear white wines from black grapes by clever manipulation of the presses; enhancing the tendency of Champagne wines to retain their natural sugar in order to naturally induce secondary fermentation in the spring; being a master at deciding when to bottle these wines in order to capture the bubble.

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

e also introduced corks (instead of wood), which were fastened to bottles with hemp string soaked in oil in order to keep the wines fresh and sparkling, and used thicker glass in order to strengthen the bottles (which were prone to explode at that time). The development of sparkling wines as the main style of production in Champagne occurred progressively in the 19th century, more than a century after Dom Pérignon's death.

he 2005 vintage of this king of Champagnes, Dom Pérignon, is a marvel full of finesse and elegance, balanced perfectly between toasty goodness and vibrancy. It's less muscular than previous vintages, but nonetheless brimming with character. Pair with Google stock cash in. C h a m p a g n e fo o d p a i r i n g s : l o b s t e r t h e r m i d o re , l i g h t l y s p i c e d c u r r y d i s h e s , l a m b s t e w, w h i t e t u r key meat. Dom Pérignon Brut Vintage Champagne 2005 Wine: Price: $219.95 Drink: 2013-2020 Bottle size: 750 ml 

•FOOD

From the Persian Kitchen... CREAM OF BARLEY SOUP

“SOOP-E JO”

By: Margaret Shaida

t is said that this soup entered Iran in the early par t of the 20th centur y, along with the white Russians f leeing the B olshevik revolution. Its Persian name soop implies an alien background. But over the past hundred years, it has become a fir m favour ite in the restaurants and homes in Iran where it is ser ved as a first course.

GARNISH Chopped parsley DIRECTIONS Wash the barley and set to soak for 30 minutes. Wash the leeks well, chop finely and reser ve.

"Soop-E Jo" is quite delicious, especially when made with a good meat stock . T he addition of lemon juice and sour cream g ives a piquant Persian f lavour to this r ich and comfor ting soup. INGREDIENTS 180 gram Pearl barley 2 medium leeks 2 medium onions Salt and pepper 1 ½ litres of good meat stock 1 large carrot Juice of 2 lemon 2-3 dessert spoon sour cream

hop the onions and fr y in a little oil till soft and golden. Stir in the salt and pepper and add the drained barley and leeks. Stir until all ate coated with oil, then add about 1 ½ litres of the meat stock . Cover, br ing back to the boil, and then simmer gently for two hours. Stir from time to time, adding a little more stock if necessar y. Grate the carrot and add to the soup with half the lemon juice. Continue simmering until the barley is completely soft. Just before dishing up, stir in the sour cream and lemon juice to taste and garnish it with chopped parsley. Enjoy and Nooshe Jan!!!  PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 33

•POLITICS

C A N A D A A T 15 0

A NATION THAT HAS COME OF AGE By: Bryon Wilfert

his year, Canada celebrates 150 years as a nation.

We have much to be proud and much to acknowledge. Our duty as Canadians is to ensure awareness within our communities about our rich cultural and political history. Our Fathers of Confederation, from Sir John A. Macdonald to George-Etienne; George Brown, to Sir Charles Tupper, all shared the vision of a new nation on the North American continent, and one which would be different and unique from the United States.

ringing together people of French and English backgrounds, aboriginals and peoples of different religions, would prove challenging but not insurmountable. Designing a nation based on a federal system, preserving French language, education and culture, was certainly a departure from policies found south of the border. Our founders were pragmatic, understanding the

NOTHING CAN BE MORE SPECIAL, AND NOTHING MORE FULFILLING, THAN BEING A CANADIAN. 34

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

challenges they were facing and the ever-present shadow of United States. Building a nation based on responsible government, where the Prime Minister and the Cabinet were responsible to Parliament was key.

anada was a nation based on British parliamentary democracy, with’ Peace, Order and Good Government’ as a central tenet. This philosophy was how Canadian governance reflected how our society - and the development of the country - would evolve. Recall the orderly settlement of the Canadian West; formation of the Northwest Mounted Police in 1873; and the only major Indian uprising, the Riel Rebellion of 1885. No gunslingers here! Canada evolved as a nation. No revolution or civil war. We gradually developed our own uniqueness – 1917’s Battle of Vimy Ridge has been noted as a defining moment weaving Canadians together as a nation. The Statute of Westminster allowed Canada to become a truly independent Dominion within the British Empire.

•POLITICS AS CANADIANS, WE NEED TO DO BETTER AT TEACHING BOTH CANADIAN-BORN CITIZENS AND NEW IMMIGRANTS ABOUT CANADA’S PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY – THE CONTRIBUTIONS GENERATIONS HAVE MADE, INCLUDING MANY SACRIFICES, TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS IN BATTLE AND TO ENSURE OUR WAY OF LIFE. Canada’s cherished Canadian Maple Leaf Flag was unveiled in 1965, with O Canada becoming our Official Anthem in 1982. Evolution - not revolution - has been our mantra.

he pillars of our society include the rule of law, respect for the individual and welcoming of people from around the world to share in this beautiful land. As Canadians, we need to do better at teaching both Canadian-born citizens and new immigrants about Canada’s philosophy and history – the contributions generations have made, including many sacrifices, to protect our freedoms in battle and to ensure our way of life.

he reasons people come to Canada from around the world center around making a better life

for themselves and their families. It is essential however, that old feuds, and prejudices are “left at the door,” when building a new life here. We need to celebrate Canadian history, Canadian culture and Canadian democratic values.

othing can be more special, and nothing more fulfilling, than being a Canadian.

People chose Canada for what it is. Intrinsic to that decision is a commitment to embracing this country and to work to contribute to enhancing the society within it. Talent, respect and loyalty continue making this the very best place in the world to live. 

The Honourable Bryon Wilfert, P.C.,ICD.D is a former MP who was Liberal Party Critic for Foreign Affairs/Defence. Currently Senior Strategic Advisor at Tactix Government Relations/Public Affairs in Ottawa

PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 35

•JEWELLERY

FIRE A ND WATER IN PERFECT BA LA NCE… CARRERA Y CARRERA’S NEW TWIST ON ITS ICONIC COLLECTIONS.

egend has it that there once lived a fire dragon, who could turn any stone into precious metal. The Chinese Emperor sent his daughter to speak with the dragon and ask him for his fire so that the Emperor could possess the greatest treasure in all the land. The dragon and the princess fell in love at first sight and of course the dragon gave the princess his fire in exchange for her kiss and love.

What no one knew was that to give up his fire meant his death. The grieving princess decided to never marry and to always guard the dragon’s fire with her own life. This tragic, but beautiful legend comes to life in the CIRCULOS DE FUEGO collection.

Photographer: Sergey Dobrine

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

Carrera y Carrera presents spectacular pieces in white gold with colored diamonds as well as pieces crafted in yellow gold with yellow sapphires and white diamonds. Rounded shapes bring balance, harmony, and perfection to each piece, and the sculptural forms create an effect full of fantasy, emotions, and strength that characterizes this collection.

he AQUA collection is reborn from the brand’s most remarkable design – water. The goldsmiths of Carrera y Carrera create reversible amulet jewels full of positive energy where two-jewels-in-one are inspired by the force of water - the most enveloping and life-giving element. The shimmer and light of the water is reflected in

•JEWELLERY the dazzling jewels with unique engravings that gift each jewel the magic power to bestow a potent symbolic charge and a great flow of energy to its owner.

he Aqua collection features pieces in yellow gold with onyx and mother of pearl along with diamonds, as well as many variations with precious stones and diamonds.

The boutique looks more like a jewellery box than a retail location. Its glass showcases display stunning jewellery pieces that do not bear price tags, making the guests feel as if they have wandered into a museum with exquisite pieces of art that they can, nevertheless, make a part of their own jewellery collection.  The Carrera y Carrera boutique is located at 138 Cumberland Street on Old York Lane, in Toronto and it is open 7 days a week. For more information or online shopping please visit Canadian e-commerce website www.carreraycarrera.ca and enjoy free shipping.

Spanish luxury jewellery brand established over 130 years ago and renowned as one of the 30 most prestigious jewellery firms in the world, Carrera y Carrera enjoys the attention of celebrities worldwide. The brand’s exquisite pieces are all handmade and pass through several artisans in Madrid’s workshop. Each bearing a one-of-a-kind code to ensure the jewel’s authenticity, Carrera y Carrera pieces are never identical but are always exceptionally well-crafted. The unique combination of sculpture and jewellery creates extremely

detailed, mesmerizing pieces. Carrera y Carrera craftsmen work with 18kt gold, various precious and semi-precious stones and use sand-blasting technique on some parts of the jewels to create the iconic combination of matte and polished finishes – style that is extremely hard to replicate.

dding to more than 140 points of sales across the world, the first North American Carrera y Carrera boutique was opened one of Toronto’s most prestigious shopping areas - Yorkville. Its mission is to bring unique handcrafted pieces to North American jewellery lovers. PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 37

•COMMUNITY

160 REASONS TO CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS

By: Stepahanie Mann

rovidence Healthcare has been trailblazing care since 1857 and a leader in providing rehabilitation, palliative care, long-term care and community programs in Toronto. Last year, 2,758 patients came through our doors for rehabilitation following strokes, orthopaedic surgery, lower limb amputations and other complex medical conditions generally associated with aging. We offer robust community programs and outpatient care that promotes ongoing recovery, healthy living and sustained well-being to people in the GTA and beyond. Our Palliative Care program fosters a unique “celebration of life” in a dignified and supportive environment for patients and their loved ones. We also have a long-term care home for 288 residents. Whether a patient resides here or not, Providence is considered home to many and is welcoming of everyone, regardless of race, religion or creed. 2017 marks our 160th anniversary, a milestone achievement that celebrates a long history of delivering compassion, hope and healing to all who come through our doors. With a long standing track record as a leader in the sensitive delivery of care for seniors (with 76 being the average age of our patients), we are committed to helping our patients return home as soon as possible to flourish and thrive by providing them with the resources and attention they so richly deserve. 38

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

BECAUSE WE LOVE GRANDPARENTS… In staying true to our innovative and nurturing spirit, we are adopting a new tradition in honour of the elderly patients we serve. It seems most fitting that we embark on an awareness initiative reflecting on the most treasured demographic in every culture around the world – grandparents!

n September 10 and then on the second Sunday in September each year thereafter, we pay tribute to grandparents everywhere. We hosted an Open House at Providence on that Sunday, complete with family activities, an opportunity to liaise with some NHL legends and share refreshments and fun in a community that simply loves grandparents. Many attended this public event. As part of this momentous occasion, Providence Healthcare Foundation has partnered with Rexall, a brand in alignment with our Mission and supportive

•COMMUNITY

of this day of celebrations. Our goal – to raise $75,000 to create greater awareness about the importance of a grandparent in sharing their legacy and passing the torch of knowledge and wisdom to those who surround him or her. Rexall is generously matching every fundraised dollar up to $25,000 each year for the next four years.

celebrating the most cherished and largest demographic in our country! It is our vision to grow this celebration and expand partnerships with those who also have a soft spot for grandparents.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE PART

To learn more about how Providence Healthcare is celebrating Grandparents Day, to get involved in the festivities or to simply share a story about how your grandparent inspires you, visit www.welovegrandparents.com

e are asking people all over to share what their grandparent means to them by sending us videos, uploading photos and sharing stories. This day is about

et’s come together and celebrate Grandparents! 

When students are genuinely known, their learning can be fully understood and beautifully supported. They can thrive.Our Montessori start and IB ﬁnish provide a unique framework within which your child can say I Am Known. We are worth the visit: 905.889.6882 Ext. 2254 www.tmsschool.ca PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 39

•INSURANCE MORTGAGE INSURANCE VS

LIFE INSURANCE By: Farah Jahed When you arrange a mortgage with a financial institution, they must ask you if you want to insure your mortgage through them. But mortgage insurance from your bank or mortgage lender may not be your best option. Mortgage insurance is used to secure the loan by making funds available to pay the balance of the mortgage in

the event of death. It always makes good sense to cover your debts with insurance. Life Insurance is a better alternative to Mortgage Insurance which is less costly, with incomparable benefits. Check out this comparison :

MORTGAGE INSURANCE

LIFE INSURANCE

Your insurance covers only your mortgage balance.

You can choose from different types of insurance (i.e. term or permanent) with a death benefit to cover more than just your mortgage.

Even though your mortgage debt reduces over time, your premiums remain level.

Your coverage amount does not decrease over time unless you choose to change it.

If you die, only the outstanding balance on your mortgage is paid off.

If you die, the death benefit is paid to your beneficiary who can use it as they see fit, not just to pay off your mortgage.

The mortgage lender is automatically the beneficiary.

You name the beneficiary.

If you take your mortgage to another company, you may lose your existing mortgage insurance and may be required to re-qualify for new mortgage insurance.

If you take your mortgage to another company you keep your existing insurance, so you don't have to re-qualify.

You lose all your coverage when your mortgage is repaid, assumed or in default.

As long as premiums are paid your coverage remains in place, even if your mortgage is repaid, assumed or in default.

You have no flexibility to change your coverage as your need change.

If you decided you need coverage only until your mortgage is repaid but later realize you require coverage for other needs, you can convert your insurance to a permanent plan.

Wouldn't it be better to own your policy and maintain control over this important type of protection? Homeowners, who are healthy and have a healthy family history, receive discounts on life insurance premiums. 

Farah Jahed is Senior Financial & Insurance Advisor at Farah Financial Services Inc. and she can be reached at info@farahfinancials.com PERSIAN TRIBUNE

• 41

•ENVIRONMENT

WHEN TIMES GET DARK, WE MUST SHINE BRIGHTER

By: David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Editor Ian Hanington.

re we entering a new Dark Age? Lately it seems so. News reports are enough to make anyone want to crawl into bed and hide under the covers. But it's time to rise and shine. To resolve the crises humanity faces, good people must come together. It's one lesson from Charlottesville, Virginia. It would be easy to dismiss the handful of heavily armed, poloshirted, tiki-torch terrorists who recently marched there if they weren't so dangerous and representative of a disturbing trend that the current U.S. president and his administration have emboldened.

But whether they're religious or political extremists or both, all have much in common. They're intolerant of other viewpoints and try to dehumanize those who are different; they believe in curtailing women's and minority rights even though they claim to oppose big government; they espouse violence; and they reject the need for environmental protection. Charlottesville was a tipping point, not so much because hatred and ignorance were on full display (that happens all too often), but because so many people stood up and spoke out against it, and against President Donald Trump's bizarre and misguided response.

he effects spilled into Canada, most notably with the implosion of the far-right (and misnamed) media outlet The Rebel. The online platform, born from the ashes of the failed Sun News network, is a good illustration of the intersection between racism,

• PERSIANTRIBUNE

Photo: Mark Dixon via Flickr

acism, hatred and ignorance aren't uniquely American. Fanatics acting out of fear — of anyone who holds different political or religious views, of losing their real or imagined privilege, of change itself — are everywhere.

intolerance and anti-environmentalism. Rather than learning from Sun News's failure that racism and extremism are unpopular and anti-Canadian, Rebel founder Ezra Levant ramped up the bigoted and anti-environmental messaging, with commentators ranting against feminists, LGBTQ people, Muslims and Jews (Levant is Jewish), along with rejecting climate science and solutions to environmental problems!

he Rebel's Faith Goldy was at Charlottesville, sympathetically "reporting" on the band of mostly male white extremists. When a racist drove his car into a crowd of anti-Nazi protesters, killing

•ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE U.S. HAVE CHECKERED RACIST AND COLONIALIST PASTS, BUT FOR ALL OUR FAULTS, WE'VE BEEN EVOLVING. THANKS TO MANY PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WHO HAVE DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO CIVIL RIGHTS, FEMINISM, INDIGENOUS CAUSES, LGBTQ RIGHTS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND MORE, WE'VE MADE MANY GAINS. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE MUST KEEP ON AND NOT LET FEAR, HATRED AND IGNORANCE BLOCK OUR WAY.

I 32-year-old Heather Heyer and seriously injuring others, it was too much for some of Levant's long-time supporters. Rebel staff and commentators — including a co-founder — cut their ties. Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled a scheduled Rebel fundraising cruise, hundreds of advertisers pulled out and principled conservatives dissociated themselves. Trying to salvage the site's ragged reputation, Levant fired Goldy.

eanwhile, the White House is in disarray and damage control around the president's unhinged tweets, the ongoing Russian-influence investigation, constant firings — including chief strategist Steve Bannon — and legislative paralysis, not to mention a stupid belligerence that brought us to the brink of nuclear war! At first it appeared that the tide of intolerance, emboldened racism and anti-environmentalism was rising, but now it's looking more like the last desperate efforts of a minority of small-minded people to hold onto ideas and perspectives that history has proven wrong many times.

anada and the U.S. have checkered racist and colonialist pasts, but for all our faults, we've been evolving. Thanks to many people with diverse backgrounds from across the political spectrum who have devoted themselves to civil rights, feminism, Indigenous causes, LGBTQ rights, the environment and more, we've made many gains. We have a long way to go, but we must keep on and not let fear, hatred and ignorance block our way.

f we and our children and their children are to survive and be healthy in the face of crises like climate change and terrorism, we must stand together — in unity and solidarity, without fear. Like the many who gathered in Barcelona the day after recent horrendous terrorist attacks, the people who stood up to racists in Charlottesville, those who reject the anti-human agendas of media outlets like The Rebel, and the many people worldwide who march and speak up for climate justice, we must come together to shine a light on the darkness. We must use our voices, actions and humour to confront these anti-human undercurrents. We must confront our own prejudices and privilege. Love conquers fear and hate. We must show those who want to bring us down or take us back to darker times that we outnumber them by far, everywhere. 

Dr. David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. He is Companion to the Order of Canada and a recipient of UNESCO's Kalinga Prize for science, the United Nations Environment Program medal, the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, and Global 500. Dr. Suzuki is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and holds 27 honorary degrees from universities around the world. He is familiar to television audiences as host of the long-running CBC television program The Nature of Things, and to radio audiences as the original host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks, as well as the acclaimed series It's a Matter of Survival and From Naked Ape to Superspecies. His written work includes more than 52 books, 19 of them for children. Dr. Suzuki lives with his wife, Dr. Tara Cullis, and family in Vancouver, B.C. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org PERSIAN TRIBUNE

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