The Lebanese Center for Migration and Diaspora Studies (LERC) and Faculty of Law and Political Science (FLPS) at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), hosted on November 29, 2021, Mr. Matthew Paradis, Counsellor-Migration Program Manager, Mrs. Japneet Bhandal, Deputy Migration Program Manager, and Mr. Joseph Paguio, Second Secretary (Migration) from the Embassy of Canada in Lebanon.
The visit began with a general discussion about the current state of affairs in Lebanon with NDU’s President, Father Bechara Khoury. The meeting was attended by Majed Bou Hadir, Director of the Protocol Office, and Liliane Haddad, LERC Chief Archivist and Indexer.
The dignitaries were then given a tour of the Lebanon and Migration Museum, where Haddad introduced them to the history of Lebanese migration through the various exhibited collections from the Lebanese diaspora communities.
Senior Research Associates, Georges Labaki, PhD and Suzanne Menhem, PhD then joined the guests for a roundtable dialogue to discuss the present-day migration, particularly that of the youth, the brain drain of qualified Lebanese, the Syrian refugee situation, and human smuggling, among others.
The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the center’s work and to discuss further partnerships and research opportunities in Canada. Both parties agreed to maintain a solid communication in the coming months.