Canadian Salad

We all have accents, whether we realize it or not. And in Canada, those who come from outside the borders often are penalized and judged for the sound of their voice. Who we are can often get lost. But what if who we are saves us and keeps us pressing forward, empowering us to be proud and loud of a voice that is our own?
That’s what happened with our first guest of season two, Gurasis Singh - immigrant to Canada and founder of the 'My Thick Accent’ podcast. Gurasis shares his journey from Punjab, India, to Canada, where he faced constant discrimination related to his own accent. He’ll expose the emotional toll of assimilation, the struggles we face when people won’t accept us as we are, and the incredible need to embrace our own unique voice amidst societal pressures.

Accents shape our perception of self and are unique to all of us - even in Canada. While there is a tender balance between adaptation and maintaining one’s cultural identity, Canadians here need to create inclusive and respectful places for others. Period. Cause guess what, even Canadians have thick accents which are accepted without question.
We hope that our dialogue encourages listeners to celebrate their linguistic and cultural uniqueness, knowing that their voice is one of many in the beautiful symphony of sounds heard in this incredible world.
Quiz Sources
Ranked: British Accents Are the Sexiest Foreign Accent - PreplyDialects of Canadian English - University of CambridgePunjabi Now Third Language in Parliament of Canada - Canadian Citizenship & Immigration Resource Center (CCIRC) Inc.

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Go to Canadian Salad Website for more information. Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.
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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Religion and faith. Some immigrants come to Canada seeking freedom to express their faith without persecution. Some immigrants come with religious traditions but cannot find a community to express them. Other immigrants come with no religious affiliation or faith expression at all. How do we normalize talking about religious beliefs in a way that doesn’t alienate, proselytize or exclude anyone? If Canada is secular, why are certain religious groups often discriminated against?
Take a listen to the conversation between two people with different faith backgrounds. Andrea shares her journey of deconstruction out her religious Christian upbringing while Hostion generously holds space and curiosity for religion and faith - even if he doesn’t have one. Humanizing one another is what we need, especially for those who believe differently than we do.

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Go to Canadian Salad Website for more information. Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.
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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Immigration is not for the faint of heart, especially with kids. How do you navigate a new culture while trying to preserve pieces of your own? What do you let go of and what to you accept? How do you balance your ever evolving identity while your children grow up immersed in a culture, community, traditions, faith or background that is different than your own?
Meet Fayrouz from Libya, Kari from Jamaica and Tabitha from the United States. These three moms, along with Andrea, will have an honest conversation on the fears, the joys and the uncertainties that parents face when immigrating to a new country. Hear them laugh about potty training, hear their worries about Canadian sleep overs and hear the struggle it can be to allow children freedom to explore a new country while they yearn to keep their own culture at the heart of their home. Be encouraged to know that parenting as immigrants is a whole other experience and no one is alone in the nuance, the worry and the beauty that comes from it.

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Go to Canadian Salad Website for more information. Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.
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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

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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Go to Canadian Salad Website for more information. Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.
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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Why is a simple image of a woman in a hijab deemed controversial in a multicultural city like Montreal? That's easy - power and control. Join us as we confront this pressing question head-on, exploring the biases and discrimination that lurk beneath the surface of triviality of assimilation and the dehumanization of people with government decisions. We dissect the decision by Montreal's City Hall to remove a welcome sign featuring a hijab-wearing woman, challenging the hidden prejudices wrapped in the guise of public comfort and convenience. When people claim to be secular but control who is visible, that secularism is buried underneath the boot of colonization. Women, especially Muslim women, are constantly being punished for being themselves.
Well, we won't let it stand. Join us for our call to action, advocating against hateful and harmful actions from having the last say.

Let us know what you think of this episode! Text us!

Go to Canadian Salad Website for more information. Say hello to us too: [email protected]. And please refer us to your friends, family and that uncle that just doesn't get it.
Follow us on TikTok and Instagram
Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.