Haitian-Canadian - Haiti Observer Blog

It's like Haitians did not have enough problem dealing with corruption from their own government. Systematic fabrication of documents, fraudulent currencies, forged signatures, misdirected checks, undeclared commissions, use of Canada's diplomatic license plates for personal use. These are some of the issues a recent investigation conducted by Canada has revealed at Canada's Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Thirteen Haitian nationals hired in Haiti were involved in the scheme. One Canadian employee was fired. They were implicated in obtaining money or property from the population by fraud or deceit. These people used numerous schemes and frauds to steal over $1.7 million.

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Haitian-born professional boxer for Canada, Jean-Thenistor Pascal, walked away from the biggest fight billed between two Canadian boxers as the clear winner. His opponent, 33-year-old Lucian Bute conceded to the victory and stated that Pascal had simply been, "...the better fighter."

Having slightly similar histories, the two being imports to Canada with Bute Romanian-born, both ascended to the top of their shared sport without having to face-off. The match between the former IBF super-middleweight champion, Bute, and the former light heavyweight champion, Pascal was therefore, highly anticipated, with Pascal himself describing it as seven years' worth of anticipation.

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Haiti has grown in national pride with the election of Haitian-Canadian author, Dany Laferriere, to the Academie Francaise. President Martelly made the announcement of Laferriere's selection to the Academie public on December 12, 2013. It is a great honor for Haiti, Martelly said, that Laferriere who rose from Petit-Goâve to national prominence has now become part of an international community of renowned writers.

Prime Minster Lamothe also commented on Laferriere's selection as a reflection of the importance and immensity of his work, international reputation and contribution to literature

Laferriere, a sexagenarian, lives in Montreal and has written more than a dozen novels and as many essays. His 2009 autobiographical novel, L'enigme du retour, which recounted his return to Haiti after his father passed away, nabbed the distinguished Prix Medicis award. His first novel, Comment faire l'amour avec un negre sans se fatiguer, was published in 1985. He later wrote the screenplay adaptation for the film.

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The Haitian-born Canadian heavyweight boxer Adonis Stevenson is interested in fighting in Haiti in 2014. During a successful visit on his native land, the World boxing champion hinted that he would be in favor of something lake this.

This idea came up during his meeting on December 13, 2013 at the National palace in Haiti with president Michel Martelly. As the president suggested the possibility for Adonis Stevenson to have one of his fights in Haiti. "We can certainly organize something together" replied his manager. As the president imagines, this can help create more interest about boxing within the general public.

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The coming Bourassa by-election has shown that Haitian people are becoming more politically active. The soulful voice of Bran Van 3000 Stéphane Moraille, a mother, music lover and an experienced lawyer with expertise in copyright law has confirmed that she will seek nomination of New Democratic and use her voice for the exclusive use of the people of Bourassa. She further added that an MP should be in tune with the aspirations of all the citizens. The concern of a common family should be considered indifferently as the concern for the country as a whole. Her candidacy will be confirmed if she clears the highly competitive NDP nomination.

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Not all writers begin their stories at the same place. Since 'Once upon a time' isn't half so important as the 'Happily ever after', it is no strike against her that Marie-Célie Agnant didn't begin her personal narrative at the same start as others in the field of literature, as an aspiring writer.

Born in the Haitian capital city, Port-au-Princ, in 1953, Agnant worked as an interpreter and as a translator for many years. After moving to Quebec, Canada at the start of the 70's she also worked as a French teacher before reentering the world as a storyteller. With many shorts, full blown novels, children's books and poems under her belt, Agnant has truly transitioned into a storyteller of more than simple worth to the Haitian literary heritage.

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In synchronization, two Haitian college friends lives' have run on parallel tracks. Michel Adrien and Ulrick Cherubin are both mayors of their adopted towns in Quebec, Canada. Adrien runs the town of Mont-Laurier and Cherubin, Amos. Each has experienced popularity with their constituents, with multiple terms of office.

Cherubin, almost 70, and Adrien, in his mid-60s, first got acquainted at Port-au-Prince University during the 1960s. They had each decided on a teaching career, and it was Adrien, with better math skills, who helped Cherubin meet his general education requirements.

During Cherubin and Adrien's early life, Haiti suffered under the tyrannous reigns of François Duvalier and son, Jean-Claude. Adrien left Haiti after graduation, immigrating to Montreal. Within a year, he found a teaching position in Mont-Laurier. Although a town with little racial diversity, he felt accepted at once. Cherubin, who left Haiti in 1971, also found acceptance in Amos. He arrived there on the offer of a teaching position in 1973.

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We just learned that the International Co-operation Minister in Canada, Julian Fantino, made a shocking announcement regarding Haiti. During an interview in Motreal, he said that he was disappointed at what he considered the lack of progress in Haiti during his November visit.

"Canada will stop funding new aid projects in Haiti until Ottawa finds a better way for Haiti to help itself", said Julian Fantino

There goes the majority of our annual budget

According to the Canadian official, Canada has been one of the biggest donors to Haiti, delivering $1 billion in development cash to the island nation since 2006. He promised to continue to fund programs in Haiti that are in progress, but no new ones.

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Haitian-born literary artist Alix Renaud has received the Prize Personality Literary award for his contribution to the field. The Canadian Institute of Quebec awarded the prize to Renaud as part of its Award of Excellence for Arts and Culture in a bid to recognize his exemplary work in the fields of writing, poetry, linguistic and journalism. For more than 40 years, Renaud has been active in the world of literature and this did not go unnoticed.

During his career in Canada, Renaud, who is also the 2007 Prix Charles Biddle winner, has worked in almost every aspect of literature. From writing to linguistics, Renaud contributed greatly to the advancement of literature. The institute, upon giving out the award, praised Renaud's dynamic presence and the significant role he played in Quebec's literary world.

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Maxime Fortunus, a Canadian professional ice hockey Defense player, was born on July 28, 1983, in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada. A son of Haitian parents, who immigrated to Canada before Fortunus was born, he is one of only a handful of Haitian-American professional hockey players in North America. He currently plays for both the Dallas and Texas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Maxime Fortunus, at five-feet eleven and two-hundred and two pounds, began his ice hockey career in early 1999, with the Midget AAA hockey team in the Charles Lemoyne Riverains League. Later in 1999, he began playing junior ice hockey as a second-round draftee choice, for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar team, under the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League banner (QMJHL). He became a professional player in 2003, playing for the Louisiana Ice Gators team.

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