People meeting people

Through friendly exchanges, the CLIC was looking to find out how residents of Bordeaux-Cartierville live together in such a culturally varied setting. CLIC head of citizen mobilization, Jean-Pierre Kavégé, was the event’s moderator, and Maysoun Faouri, the director of the Concertation-Femme organization, kicked off the talk with recounting her own personal experience: she lives with this diversity on a daily basis and in her work environment.

Maysoun, who is originally from Syria, gave this suggestion to new arrivals: cut ties with your home country. According to her, once you make the decision to come to a new country, you have to forget where you are coming from in order to integrate better into the new society -- without completely renouncing your past, however. Faouri admitted that it can be hard when you arrive, but said she believes immigrants should not always question their presence in Quebec. Those who reacted to this statement said they were ready to better integrate into their new community.

He noted that he was pleased with citizen participation during the debate. “In getting them to exchange opinions among themselves, they learn about each other and build ties. It’s good for the dynamic of the neighbourhood,” he said. Kavégé invited residents to suggest themes for the CLIC’s fourth monthly ‘coffee talk,’ which will take place Sunday, May 25 at the Cartierville library.