Close X
Saturday, January 11, 2025
ADVT 
National

Trudeau Tastes Refugee Family's Chocolate After Meet-and-greet In Cape Breton

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Nov, 2016 12:57 PM
    SYDNEY, N.S. — A Syrian refugee family who built a chocolate business in Nova Scotia had their product sampled by a special sweet-toothed Canadian — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
     
    Tareq Hadhad and his father, Issam, had an unexpected meet-and-greet with Trudeau during his trip to Sydney, N.S., last week.
     
    A video of Thursday's encounter shows Trudeau embracing both men and calling the Hadhad family "an extraordinary example of the kind of strength and leadership and engagement that comes with bringing new people to Canada."
     
    "He had been following the story for a while," Tareq Hadhad said Sunday in an interview. "He was so excited. When he came, he knew our names, he hugged us ... It was a very, very special thing for us."  
     
    Tareq Hadhad said Peace by Chocolate is struggling to keep up with orders since Trudeau put a spotlight on the Hadhads during a recent address to the United Nations.
     
    Issam Hadhad ran a chocolate factory in Damascus with around 30 employees, according to his son, and shipped sweets to countries all over the Middle East. Tareq Hadhad says several family members fled to Lebanon after a 2012 bombing destroyed the business his father had built over the course of more than two decades.
     
    After three years in a refugee camp, the Hadhads settled in Antigonish in January, where they were greeted by what Trudeau described to foreign leaders as "a bunch of big-hearted Canadians."
     
    Tareq Hadhad agrees with the prime minister's assessment. "We came here with nothing," he said. "We are now in a very welcoming, warm-hearted country and we're so proud to be inspiring others."
     
    With support from residents and various sponspors, the Hadhads opened Peace by Chocolate two months ago and business has been booming ever since, Tareq said.
     
    The aspiring physician said the family wants to give back to the community by hiring locals and the Hadhads have launched a crowdfunding campaign so Peace by Chocolate can expand operations in time for the holiday season.
     
    "The name itself has a very strong message," Tareq Hadhad said. "The world now needs peace, and the world now needs chocolate."
     
    Peace by Chocolate has satisfed at least one sugar craving. The Hadhads gave Trudeau five boxes of maple leaf-shaped chocolates blending Syrian and Canadian flavours for a rich, nutty taste.
     
    Trudeau said in a tweet Thursday that it was nice to meet the family behind the success story heard around the world — and try the Hadhad's specialty treats.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Naked Man Arrested After He Broke Into Vancouver Home And Began Cooking Eggs

    Naked Man Arrested After He Broke Into Vancouver Home And Began Cooking Eggs
    Police say the 35-year-old man also managed to damage the stove and microwave before a resident who was watching TV in another room walked into the kitchen to investigate.

    Naked Man Arrested After He Broke Into Vancouver Home And Began Cooking Eggs

    Man Who Shot Bike-Shop Owner In Downtown Vancouver Sentenced To 18 Years

    Man Who Shot Bike-Shop Owner In Downtown Vancouver Sentenced To 18 Years
    Gerald Battersby pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder last month in connection to two June 2014 shootings starting in the city's Yaletown area.

    Man Who Shot Bike-Shop Owner In Downtown Vancouver Sentenced To 18 Years

    Air Canada Inaugurates its First Flight from Vancouver to India: “Ab Delhi Door Nahin!”

    Air Canada’s inaugural flight AC72 departs tonight from Vancouver and arrives in Delhi Saturday morning, marking the only non-stop service linking Vancouver and the Indian subcontinent.

    Air Canada Inaugurates its First Flight from Vancouver to India: “Ab Delhi Door Nahin!”

    Vancouver Island Pet Food Bank Seeks To Shed Effects Of Recent Robbery

    Vancouver Island Pet Food Bank Seeks To Shed Effects Of Recent Robbery
    SOOKE, B.C. — More than a week after a specialized food bank was hit by thieves in Sooke, B.C., efforts are underway to rebuild the stores of dog and cat food and pet supplies.

    Vancouver Island Pet Food Bank Seeks To Shed Effects Of Recent Robbery

    Toronto-Area Duo Nabbed In Switch Of Diamond For Fake, Police Probe Wider Spree

    Toronto-Area Duo Nabbed In Switch Of Diamond For Fake, Police Probe Wider Spree
    Wayne Smith said he was told Thursday morning of the arrests of 70-year-old Grigori Zaharov and 44-year-old Natalia Feldman of Vaughan, Ont., on theft-related charges.

    Toronto-Area Duo Nabbed In Switch Of Diamond For Fake, Police Probe Wider Spree

    Windy, Stormy Weather Puts Clean Up Operations On Hold For Sunken B.C. Tug

    Windy, Stormy Weather Puts Clean Up Operations On Hold For Sunken B.C. Tug
    BELLA BELLA, B.C. — Stormy weather has paused the operation to remove thousands of litres of diesel from a sunken tug off British Columbia's central coast.

    Windy, Stormy Weather Puts Clean Up Operations On Hold For Sunken B.C. Tug