(PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND) — The Canadian-Lebanese community hosted an annual levee to celebrate their cultural history and emigration to the city of Charlottetown at Prince Edward Island on January 10.
More than 600 people packed the Delta Prince Edward for authentic Lebanese cuisine, belly dancing, and a video documentary detailing the Lebanese community’s journey to Prince Edward Island.
Nick Tweel, master of ceremonies, said the levee began in 1963 and became an opportunity to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments in the Lebanese community while also looking ahead.
“It’s been going on for many, many years,” Tweel told The Guardian. “And the reason why we put this event on is that so we can celebrate with each and every one of you a couple weeks later than New Years.”
The major accomplishment celebrated through the evening was the completion of the documentary “A New Place Called Home,” which was shot and produced by David Rashed with funds from last year’s levee.
The documentary explains the Lebanese community’s journey to the province.
“(The documentary shows) what they went through what their families went through to come here to give their children a chance for a better life,” said Fadi Rashed, president of the Canadian-Lebanese Association.
Rashed said the group purchased a Lebanese-Canadian clubhouse late in 2013 and part of the funds raised from the levee would go towards the clubhouse.
“It’s been a work in progress and with the support of everybody that comes here tonight we get a little closer to achieving our goal, which would be a place to teach our children Arabic, a community centre for us to get together, just something to call our own.”
WATCH belly dancer Carole Dahab perform at the levee: