List of Lebanese people (Canada)
Encyclopedia
This is a list of notable Lebanese Canadians; individuals born in Canada
of Lebanese ancestry, or people of Lebanese and Canadian dual nationality who live in Canada.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
of Lebanese ancestry, or people of Lebanese and Canadian dual nationality who live in Canada.
Actors
- Garen Boyajian - actor of Lebanese-Armenian origin
- Arsinée KhanjianArsinée KhanjianArsinée Khanjian is an Armenian-Canadian actress and producer. In addition to her independent work and stage roles, she is regularly cast by her husband, Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, in his films...
- actress of Lebanese-Armenian origin. Wife of Atom EgoyanAtom EgoyanAtom Egoyan, OC is a critically acclaimed Armenian-Canadian stage director and film director. Egoyan made his career breakthrough with Exotica...
and appears in many of his films - Sandra ShamasSandra ShamasSandra Shamas is a Canadian comedic actress and writer.The oldest of three children born to Lebanese immigrants, Shamas left home at age 17 and moved to Toronto, where she held a variety of jobs before a workshop at The Second City inspired her to pursue a career in performing arts...
- comedic actress and writer - Keanu ReevesKeanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
- Canadian-British actor born in BeirutBeirutBeirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. (films The MatrixThe MatrixThe Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
, Speed, The Devils AdvocateThe Devil's Advocate (film)The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American horror film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman....
)
Musicians
- René AngélilRené AngélilRené Angélil, OQ is a Canadian singer and manager. He is the husband and manager of singer Celine Dion.-Early life:Angélil was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada of a father of Syrian descent and a Canadian mother of Lebanese origin...
- manager and husband of singer Céline DionCeline DionCéline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
. - Paul AnkaPaul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
- singer and composer - Norman Brooks - singer
- Patrick Gemayel (stage name "P-Thugg") - member of musical act ChromeoChromeoChromeo is an electrofunk duo formed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 2004.-History:Chromeo is composed of P-Thugg on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, and Dave 1 on guitar and lead vocals...
) - Andy KimAndy KimAndrew Youakim, performing as Andy Kim, is a Lebanese Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec in Canada. Kim is known for a number of hit singles that he released in the late 1960s and early 1970s such as "Rock Me Gently", which topped the US singles charts. In 1968,...
- singer and songwriter - Kristina MariaKristina MariaKristina Maria is a Lebanese Canadian pop singer-songwriter.-Early life:Maria comes from a family of musical artists...
- singer - K.Maro - rapper
- Mark MasriMark MasriMark Masri is a Canadian singer, songwriter and producer of pop, classical and inspirational songs. He also plays the piano. He is signed to EMI record label. He has released four albums: Mark Masri, La Voce, Christmas Is..., and A Christmas Time with You, as well as a special US release: See My...
- pop and religious singer - MassariMassariSari Abboud better known by his stage name Massari is a Lebanese Canadian R&B, pop, and hip hop singer who grew up in Canada. Massari means "money" in Arabic....
- pop and hip-hop singer - Omar Mouallem - also known as A.O.K. (Assault Of Knowledge) - rapper
- Julie NesrallahJulie NesrallahJulie Nesrallah is a Canadian mezzo-soprano and radio host.Nesrallah studied music performance at McGill and Carleton Universities and has worked in Vienna with David Aronson....
- opera singer - Karl WolfKarl WolfCarl Abou Samah is a Lebanese-born Canadian musician based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is better known by his stage name Karl Wolf. He has been a singer, songwriter and producer since 2001, releasing his first solo album Face Behind the Face on MapleNationwide/Universal in January 2006,...
- singer, songwriter and producer - ShakiraShakiraShakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
- singer
Politicians
- Mark Assad - politician
- Walter AssefWalter AssefWalter Assef was a Canadian politician, and former Vaudevillian, who served as mayor of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was the first, and so far the only mayor, to have been elected for two discontinuous terms. He was first elected in 1973 and served until 1978...
- politician and former mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario - Michael BashaMichael BashaMichael G. Basha was a Canadian businessman, manufacturer, and Senator.Born in Baalbeck, Lebanon, he was summoned to the Canadian Senate in 1951 and represented the senatorial division of West Coast, Newfoundland and Labrador. A Liberal, he resigned in November 1976 shortly before his...
- former member of the Senate of Canada - Pierre de BanéPierre de BanéPierre de Bané, PC, QC is a Canadian Senator. He was the first person of Arab descent to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons in Matane and next Matapédia—Matane, and is a former member of the Canadian Cabinet....
- federal senator - Eddie FrancisEddie FrancisEddie Francis is a Canadian politician, currently serving as mayor of Windsor, Ontario. He was 29 years old when he was elected mayor in 2003, the youngest mayor in Windsor's history and one of the youngest mayors ever elected in Canada...
- mayor of Windsor, OntarioWindsor, OntarioWindsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor... - Joe GhizJoe GhizJoseph Atallah "Joe" Ghiz was the 27th Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1986 to 1993, an educator of law and a justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. He was the father of Robert Ghiz, the current Premier of Prince Edward Island...
- former premier of Prince Edward Island - Robert GhizRobert GhizRobert Watson Joseph Ghiz, MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island since 2007...
- present premier of Prince Edward Island - Mac HarbMac HarbMac Harb is a Canadian Senator and former Member of the House of Commons.-Life and career:Harb was born in Chaat, Lebanon and immigrated to Canada to study at the University of Ottawa. He subsequently worked as an engineer at Northern Telecom and a professor at Algonquin College in Ottawa...
- politician - Lorraine MichaelLorraine MichaelLorraine Michael, MHA is a social democratic Canadian politician from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 2006 Michael has been the leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party . She is a former nun, teacher, and social activist...
- politician - Maria MouraniMaria MouraniMaria Mourani , of Lebanese origin, is the Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament in the federal riding of Ahuntsic in Canada. She was elected in the 2006 Canadian federal election and reelected in 2008 and 2011...
- member of the Canadian Parliament - Khalil RamalKhalil RamalKhalil Ramal is a Canadian politician.Khalil Ramal was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of London—Fanshawe for the Ontario Liberal Party...
- politician - Larry ShabenLarry ShabenLawrence "Larry" Ralph Shaben was a Canadian politician of Lebanese descent and the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Canada. He was also one of the first Muslims to be elected to higher office in North America. He held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1975 to 1989 sitting with...
- politician - Paul ZedPaul ZedPaul Zed is a Canadian lawyer, professor, and politician.Paul Zed was born in Toronto on December 31, 1956 and received his early education from local Saint John, NB schools, graduating from St...
- politician
Sportsmen
- David AzziDavid AzziDavid Azzi was formerly a wide receiver and slotback in the Canadian Football League .-Football:In 1999 Azzi was named 1st Team All-Canadian, 1st Team All-Academic and earned a full scholarship to attend Div. 1A Bowling Green State University in the NCAA. Azzi played quarterback for under Coach...
- professional player in Canadian Football League - Omar El TurkOmar El TurkOmar El Turk is a Lebanese Canadian basketball player and member of the Lebanon national basketball team.Immigrating to Canada, he played with Montreal, Canada's Dawson College Blues...
- basketball player and member of Lebanon's national basketball teamLebanon national basketball teamThe Lebanon national basketball team is the basketball team representing Lebanon in international competitions.-History:The first time basketball was ever played in Lebanon was in the mid-1920s in the American University of Beirut... - Joey HaddadJoey HaddadJoey Haddad is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Gwinnett Gladiators in the ECHL.-Playing career:...
- professional hockey player - John Hanna - professional hockey player
- Ed HatoumEd HatoumEdward Hatoum is a retired ice hockey forward.Hatoum was reunited with his family in Ottawa, Ontario in 1957 and began playing hockey after a few years living in the nation's capital....
- former professional hockey player (Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
) - Fabian JosephFabian JosephFabian Joseph is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He is most prominent for his role with the Canadian Men's national ice hockey team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is a winner of two Winter Olympic Silver medals. He was Captain of Team Canada at the Lillehammer Olympic games in 1994...
- former professional hockey player (Canada men's national ice hockey team) - Nazem KadriNazem KadriNazem Kadri is a Canadian ice hockey player currently playing for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He has also played with the Kitchener Rangers. He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs seventh overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He won the J...
- professional hockey player (Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
) - Ali KanaanAli KanaanAli Kanaan is a Lebanese Canadian basketball player currently playing for Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut and Lebanon national basketball team....
- basketball player and member of Lebanon's national basketball team - Ali MahmoudAli MahmoudAli Mahmoud is a Lebanese-Canadian basketball player. He currently plays for Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut.-Career:Mahmoud was born on May 29, 1983 in Ottawa, Canada to Toufic and Gina Mahmoud, who had immigrated to Canada....
- basketball player and member of Lebanon's national basketball team - John MakdessiJohn MakdessiJohn Makdessi is an Canadian professional mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the lightweight division. Makdessi has been a professional MMA competitor since 2008, competing mostly in Canada before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early Life:John was born in Halifax, Nova...
- professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter - Alain NasreddineAlain NasreddineAlain Nasreddine is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Defenseman who played in the National Hockey League...
- former professional ice hockey player - Jean SayeghJean SayeghJean Sayegh is a male water polo player from Canada. He was a member of the Canada men's national water polo team, that claimed the bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
- water polo player
Writers
- John AsfourJohn AsfourJohn Asfour is a Lebanese-Canadian poet, writer, and teacher. At the age of 13, a grenade exploded in his face injuring his eyes during the Lebanese crisis of 1958.He moved to Canada in 1968....
- poet and writer - Shaunt BasmajianShaunt BasmajianShaunt Basmajian was a Canadian poet and author.Born in Beirut, Lebanon to Armenian parents, Basmajian emigrated to Canada when he was seven years old. He was a founder of the Canadian Poetry Association, co-founder of Old Nun Publications , and was a member of the Parliament Street Library poetry...
- poet - Nadine DajaniNadine DajaniNadine Dajani is a Canadian author. She is the eldest of three children of Bassam Dajani, a mathematics major turned entrepreneur, and Haifa Naffa. She penned short stories throughout elementary and high school but did not pursue any formal journalistic or creative writing training...
- author of short stories - Rawi HageRawi Hage-Early life and education:Born in Beirut, Hage grew up in Lebanon and Cyprus. He moved to New York City in 1984. In 1991, he relocated to Montreal, where he studied Photography at Dawson College and Fine Arts at Concordia University. He subsequently began exhibiting as a photographer, and has had...
- writer - Wajdi MouawadWajdi MouawadWajdi Mouawad, OC is a Canadian writer, actor and director born in Lebanon in 1968. After living in France for a short time, he moved to Quebec in 1983.- Biography :He obtained his diploma from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1991....
- poet and writer - Trish SalahTrish SalahTrish Salah is a Canadian feminist writer and educator. Her first volume of poetry, Wanting in Arabic, was published in 2002 by TSAR Publications....
- poet and sociologist
Others
- Adel ArnaoutAdel ArnaoutAdel Mohamed Arnaout is an alleged criminal landed Lebanese immigrant living in Toronto, Ontario, who is accused of sending three letter bombs out to residents of the Greater Toronto area in August 2007....
, alleged criminal and sender of various letter bombs - Kassem DaherKassem DaherKassem Daher, born in Bekaa, Lebanon, is a Lebanese-Canadian accused of membership in a number of Islamic militant groups.-Life:At the age of 14, Daher left Lebanon and moved to Columbia - before settling in Leduc, Alberta...
, accused of membership in a number of Islamic militant groups - Mohammed Hassan DboukMohammed Hassan DboukMohammed Hassan Dbouk was a Lebanese-Canadian accredited journalist with al-Manar television in Lebanon. He is alleged to have received intelligence training at Iranian camps alongside the Revolutionary Guard, and to have used his credentials to film Hezbollah targets prior to, and during,...
, alleged Hezbollah operative
See also
- Lebanese Canadians
- Canada–Lebanon relations
- List of Lebanese people
- List of Lebanese people (Diaspora)