July 2024

I am not well-travelled, which might seem surprising for an immigration lawyer. I spent a month in Russia with a group from McMaster University, where I was an undergraduate student. We had lectures in the morning and then toured the city in the afternoons with students from the University of Moscow. It was the longest time I’ve ever spent outside Canada and the furthest I’ve ever gone from home. Outside of trips to the USA, I’ve only otherwise been to countries in the Caribbean.

 However, living in the capital of Canada, one of the world's most multicultural countries, has allowed me to experience the food and culture of many different nations. Ottawa, which likes to bill itself as the Shawarma Capital of Canada, boosts restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world. I subscribe to the Ottawa Citizen. Its local food reviews provide me with the background of popular dishes on the menu, tantalizing my tastebuds.

My favourite Ethiopian place, Habesha Restaurant, is within the same block as a Mexican and Salvadorian restaurant. I’ve been to the new Yemeni restaurant in my neighbourhood, but west of downtown is a new Filipino restaurant I’m dying to try. Another new place on my bucket list is a new Nepalese restaurant, a cuisine I’ve yet to experience.

 Ottawa also hosts many festivals, including the Ottawa Greek Festival, which is coming up in August. This festival has been running since 1975. September will boast the Latin Sparks Festival, and then in November, the Day of the Dead Festival.

 It’s not just Canada’s capital that celebrates the multicultural makeup of our population. In 2023, Brampton, Ontario, celebrated its first annual city-run Diwali event, which included a fireworks display.

 As to my travel bucket list, it remains small, and most places are within Canada. Recently added is Kitoki Inn, a Japanese-inspired retreat in the rainforest of British Columbia. Perhaps I’ll get there via the Rocky Mountaineer train, where many of my fellow passengers will likely be tourists from far-flung places. I am grateful to live in a country that allows me to experience so much of the world without leaving home.