I remember meeting Fariha at a Strangers in the Night charity event in the West Island, and couldn’t help to congratulate her for being the first woman to wear a hijab on national television. I have followed her on social media since then, and noticed her championing for communities across Quebec. Her work in the Black Community struck me, as most Montreal Caucasian television newscasters ran far away from the issues plaguing People of Color in Montreal, and throughout North America.
I am immensely touched by this blog post, because like Fariha, I was bullied for the color of my skin in Quebec. And while wanting to be a journalist, I became one of the few Black Women Bloggers in Montreal to have a segment on now defunct Breakfast Television. I champion Fariha, support her, and remain constant in my encouragement of her.
Here’s Fariha’s story.
Petrona: What is your official title?
Fariha: Public speaker, Video Journalist – CityNews Montreal, Op-ed columnist – Montreal Gazette, Blogger/Founder – CanadianMomEh.com, PR/Marketing Specialist and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Petrona: What is your greatest passion? Did that fuel you to get started?
Fariha: My greatest passion is celebrating diversity. It stemmed from a place of being physically, verbally and emotionally bullied as a child. I was bullied first for the color of my skin, then for my faith and hijab. I hated the way it made me feel, and swore to do everything in my power to raise awareness of discrimination, in hopes that others may not experience the same behaviors.
Petrona: What is the message you wish to convey to the world? In other words, how do you want to be remembered?
Fariha: Be the change the world needed when you were young. Those are words I heard as a child and that resonated with me. They helped guide me into the woman that I am today. I dreamt of one day becoming a journalist and working in television despite there not being anyone else who looked like me on television in Quebec. I’m blessed to be the FIRST woman in Quebec history to wear the hijab on television.
Petrona: Describe your business, service, or mission.
Fariha: I champion diversity in all of its forms; whether I’m consulting with corporate clients on their diversity and inclusion initiatives/campaigns, whether I’m filming a ‘DiverseCity’ segment on CityNews Montreal, or whether I’m sharing my passion for diversity through my op-ed column every Friday in the Montreal Gazette, on my blog or social channels.
Petrona: What is your biggest quirk?
Fariha: What you see is what you get. I’m real. I’m authentic and I’m unapologetically proud to be a Quebec-born, Canadian Muslim woman.
Petrona: What has been your biggest challenge in business?
Fariha: My biggest challenge has always centered around standing out like a sore thumb. First as a woman of color working as a blogger, at a time when there was a complete lack of diversity to then becoming the number one diversity blogger in the country. Then it was with wanting to be a journalist in an industry that once again lacked diversity. I overcame that, and in doing so, it gave all the little boys and girls who look different, permission to dream big dreams irrespective of if there is no one who looks like them, doing what they dream of doing. I overcame these challenges. So while I still stand out like a sore thumb, the difference is, that I now own it.
Petrona: What’s next for your business or for you?
Fariha: I have a big new announcement coming out this month. I can’t wait to share it on my social channels so be sure to be following!
Petrona: What advice would give to someone reading this?
There is no one else on the planet like you. We all have gifts to share with the world, find yours and stand proud. By celebrating our differences, we help the world be a kinder, more beautiful place.
Petrona: What is your favorite quote?
“Be the change the world needed when you were young.”
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
INSTAGRAM: @canadianmomeh
FACEBOOK: @canadianmomeh
