Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour and a profound privilege to rise in the House as the member of Parliament for Windsor West, a community known for its generosity, its diversity and its deep sense of belonging. Representing the people of Windsor West is one of the greatest responsibilities of my lifetime, and I carry their stories, their hopes and their aspirations with me every time I stand here.
Today, I am proud to rise in support of the private member's bill, Bill S-227, sponsored in the other place by Senator Al Zaibak and here by my colleague from York South—Weston—Etobicoke, to designate April as Arab heritage month in Canada.
I would also like to thank the member for Edmonton Manning and the defence minister, who worked on similar legislation in the past.
The bill carries deep meaning. It recognizes a community that has shaped Canadian life for more than a century. It acknowledges contributions that continue to enrich our country every single day. As someone from the Sikh faith whose community also celebrates April, as Sikh Heritage Month, I understand the power of recognition. I know what it means for communities to feel they are seen and celebrated, so I welcome the opportunity to share this month with my friends from the Arab diaspora.
In Windsor, the Arab community has a long and storied history. Early Lebanese settlers arrived in the late 1800s and began laying the foundations of a community that grew, thrived and became an essential pillar of our region. In 1924, over 100 years ago, they built St. Peter’s church on Niagara Street, a place of faith, family and cultural identity. In 1960, the city welcomed its first mosque, built by Arab families who wanted a space where their children could learn, gather and pray. These institutions remain symbols of their courage, sacrifice and commitment to building a better life in their new homeland.
Over the generations, people of Arab heritage in Windsor have contributed to our region in extraordinary ways. We saw it in the leadership of former mayor Eddie Francis, the youngest mayor in Windsor's history, whose historic tenure helped modernize our city and position Windsor as a forward-looking community ready for growth and renewal. We see it in the dedicated service of health care professionals like Dr. Tayfour and Dr. Osman Tarabain, whose work and philanthropic efforts have benefited everyone in our region.
We especially honour the memory of the late Dr. Jasey, a remarkable man whose compassion and commitment to his patients touched countless families across Windsor-Essex. To his family, children and grandchildren, and to the many he cared for, his legacy will be a lasting source of pride and gratitude.
These are only a few names. Canadians of Arab heritage in Windsor include doctors who save lives, entrepreneurs like Tony Sleiman of Vengeance Power, Rabia Kirma of the WE CARE Association of Windsor, and many, many others who create jobs. There are educators who inspire and philanthropists who give generously without ever seeking recognition. There are police officers like Sergeant Oliver Jibrail of the LaSalle Police Service, who came here as a young lad from Iraq and is now serving the community.
These are families who built our neighbourhoods and local institutions and helped raise generations of engaged, compassionate citizens of a united country. Their values, devotion to faith, love of family, generosity, hard work and service to community are the very values that have built this country. They are values that resonate deeply with me personally and with many Conservative households across Windsor and, indeed, across Canada.
This is why Arab heritage month matters. It is not simply a symbolic gesture. It is an opportunity for Canadians to learn about and honour the diverse cultures, languages, traditions and histories that shape Arab communities from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Yemen, Morocco and so many others. It is a time to acknowledge that the Arab Canadian story is not a story of one group but of many, be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Druze or people of various backgrounds, all of whom have shared values and a deep commitment to a unified Canada.
In Windsor, we know first-hand how much the Arab community contributes to our shared life. Walk through our neighbourhoods, visit our restaurants and shops, speak to our local business owners or visit our hospitals, and one will find this community serving, healing, building, teaching and leading. Their fingerprints are everywhere, in the best possible way.
I want to thank those in the Arab community of Windsor West and across Canada. I thank them for their leadership, their generosity, their resilience and their commitment to building a stronger Canada for all of us. Their story is part of Windsor's story and a part of Canada's story. Our country is better because of them.
As someone who celebrates April as Sikh Heritage Month, it is truly meaningful to stand here to say that I look forward to celebrating Arab heritage month alongside my Canadian friends of Arabic heritage. April can be a month of shared pride where our communities celebrate together, honour each other and look ahead to a future built on friendship and mutual respect under one Canadian flag.
I am proud to support this bill. Let us make April a time to celebrate the Arab community, which is a community that has given Canada so much and continues to inspire us every day.