Old Stock Canadians: Arab Settlers in the Prairies

Wonderful story! Love the solidarity shown by Jews and Christians with the Mosque. There were Arab immigrants to Montréal quite a while earlier, but most of these "Syrio-Lebanese" were Orthodox Christians. Many were peddlers. Dr Nora Salem, one of my professors, wrote a pioneering article on this subject. Alas, she died far too young.

My neighbourhood has had a Syrian-Lebanese component as long as the better-known Italian one. There are at least three Arab Orthodox churches within walking distance of my house, one on my street, and an old Syrian-Lebanese cultural centre (which became a theatre - arts centre but alas with cuts to arts funding was sold off to some kind of private business - a shame, for such an iconic neighbourhood building). 30 years ago there were many Levantine shops but most have now become Maghrebi.

I think immigration from both East and South Asia to the West Coast goes back a very long time (our BC babblers will be much more specific). In Central and Eastern regions, there was significant immigration - including students - from the British West Indies. While Haitian and French Antilles immigration is largely more recent, it began well over half a century ago, and there are several generations of Montréalais antillais.