About
Join us for a unique Sunday afternoon of personal, one-on-one conversations with these newcomers to Canada. Giving a human face to the process of immigration, their powerful stories cover strength, identity, and starting over, but also include surviving hard times like trauma, war, and being forced to leave their homes.
Sharing knowledge and experiences, these storytellers will talk about how circumstances forced them to live apart from their families, or how they found refuge and support in their new communities. Some were imprisoned, kidnapped, or taken advantage of. Others worked hard to ensure their families’ survival. All of the stories are compelling and reflect courage, love, hardship, separation, determination, joy, and ultimately, a deep longing for a better future here in Canada.
The Living Library is a safe space to engage in intimate and insightful 20-minute conversations with the visitors – to ask and learn – as long as the questions come from a respectful curiosity.
Information
This free program will take place from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, July 27 at ROM.
Access is through the Weston School Entrance on the south side of the building (near the old Planetarium on Queen’s Park).
Registration is required to obtain free tickets. Please register at the top of the page.
Please note that this free program ticket does not include general museum access. ROM Members and visitors with tickets for Museum admission on that day enjoy free access to the Living Library.
The Stories
Through David’s journey from India to Canada via Australia, explore how he forged his identity and belonging by embracing unconventional paths, found the courage to make hard decisions, and created meaning by enduring the difficulties that life threw his way.
A survivor of torture, prison, and repeated persecution in Iran, Ezat came to Canada as a political refugee in 1985. He has since dedicated his life to supporting other survivors by founding a cultural organization and mentoring young human rights workers. Now well into his 80s, he embraces life fully through biking, gardening, traveling, and spreading love and hope.
After arriving in Canada in late 2023 from Nigeria, Gbemi faced significant challenges—including a period in a women’s shelter and overcoming mental health struggles. She found purpose by engaging in seniors’ programs and pursuing training in culinary arts and healthcare so she can give back to her community.
Lucero lived a stable personal and professional life in Peru until she was kidnapped in 2023. After escaping to North America, she and her husband faced the challenges of navigating a new society without fully knowing their rights, but a supportive community in Toronto helped them rebuild and find stability again.
An Eritrean woman fleeing religious persecution and government oppression with her family, Luwam embarked on a perilous journey across borders while pregnant and without her husband and son. She arrived in Canada safely and gave birth five days after landing, but her family remains divided.
Marcela left a stable life in Colombia to support her partner’s cancer treatment in Canada. She rebuilt her identity and career while navigating love, loss, and uncertainty.
Mehedi left a safe career path in Bangladesh to pursue filmmaking in Canada. He now uses storytelling through film to reclaim his voice, uplift others, and challenge the world to speak up.
Sibonile’s deep values helped shape her strength to deal with early exposure to harsh truths. Although her dreams were detoured when she was uprooted from Zimbabwe and brought to Canada, she rediscovered her purpose through motivational speaking and teaching financial literacy.
A Ukrainian newcomer who bravely relocated across the world with her son, sacrificing a thriving career to build a new life and family, Vlada now seeks to inspire people by sharing the important lesson that the best way to heal and grow is by helping others.
