Lebanese Emigrant Statue

تخليدًا لمسيرة أجدادنا المُشرِّفة، ولكي يبقى إسم لبنان مطبوعًا في ذاكرةِ التاريخ، ها هو تمثال المغترب اللبناني يقف بفخر ليُخبرُ قصّةَ شعبٍ تحدّى وجعَ الفراق وغصّةَ الرحيل، قصةَ شعبٍ زرعَ لبنانَهُ في كلّ بقعةٍ حلَّ فيها، حكاية شعبٍ أصبح رقمًا صعبًا ومثالًا يُحتذى به! (القنصل وديع فارس)

This monument will stand tall to honor our forefathers who emigrated from their home country to seek greater opportunities for themselves and their families. It represents the love, and respect we feel for this great province that welcomed our ancestors 130 years ago with open arms and provided them freedom and opportunity. This piece of public art is a gift from us to our city which we love and are blessed to call home. (Consul Wadih Fares)

The Lebanese Emigrant Statue, located on the water front, is not only a well-known piece of art around the world, but it is an iconic symbol of our forefathers who arrived by ships to the shores of Halifax over a 100 years ago. It will honour their contribution, legacy, pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial achievements that has helped shape Halifax and Nova Scotia our home today.

This statue will no doubt create an interesting topic of discussion in relation to the impact the Lebanese emigrants and the Lebanese community has had on Halifax - past, present and future.

Lebanese Emigrants Around the World

One thing that can be said about Lebanese emigrants throughout the world is that although they may have left Lebanon, they remain very proud of the country where they originally came from, regardless of how long ago they had left Lebanon, their connection to their homeland remains intact.

They remain strong and proud, much like their ancestors before them.

This connection runs worldwide and not just with the Lebanese emigrants in Halifax. Their history and culture, tie them together, whether they live in Halifax or any other city around the world.

The Lebanese In Halifax

Beginning in the 1880's, several waves of emigration from Lebanon occurred, often due to internal conflict and encouraged by trade. The majority of these emigrants settled in Latin America, North America and Australia. Locally, it is believed that there are over 7,000 direct emigrants and their descendants are currently calling Halifax home.

The Lebanese community in Halifax has made one of the largest impacts in the last three decades, and will continue to help mold and shape our city in the years to come. The Lebanese community represents the third largest immigrant group in Halifax and are only outnumbered by those from the United Kingdom and the United States.

The current Lebanese community in Halifax is young, well-educated and is full of entrepreneurial spirit that cannot be denied. The Lebanese of Halifax are more than twice as likely to become an entrepreneur than a Native Born Canadian. They have become a driving force in the fields of law, engineering, architecture, medicine and construction. Nearly all of the new real estate developments are done by Lebanese owned companies and over 11 0 food and grocery establishments in Halifax are run and owned by Lebanese emigrants. Almost every facet of day to day life in Halifax has been influenced by Lebanese emigrants - yet little has been done to honour and recognize their impact on it.