Sask. cardiologist, Indigenous academic joining Order of Canada
CBC
Two people from Saskatchewan are among the new appointees to the Order of Canada, which is considered one of the country's highest civilian honours.
The Order of Canada honours people "across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to our nation," according to the Governor General of Canada's website.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon announced the new appointees last week, recognizing Haissam Haddad for his contributions to medicine and Savage Bear for her contributions to Indigenous studies and community engagement.
Haddad, a Saskatoon cardiologist, said he was shocked when he got the call asking him if he would accept the honour.
He came to Canada from Syria nearly four decades ago with a suitcase full of dreams, but his medical qualifications weren't recognized when he first arrived to the country.
"When I came to Canada 37 years ago, I couldn't speak any English. Zero.I studied medicine in Arabic which is totally different from English or French, so really the likelihood for me to be successful in medicine in Canada was almost close to zero per cent."
He worked at a laundromat to pay the bills while he learned English and did unpaid research work.
Haddad eventually landed an internship at Dalhousie University. He completed his cardiology training and helped develop national guidelines for heart transplants. Later, he also became a professor and the provincial head of department of medicine at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
"My story is very unique. I have many friends who came to Canada who were doctors in their country at the same time, and they ended up working in Tim Hortons or Starbucks or Pizza Hut or [as a] taxi driver," Haddad said.
He still remembers how one physician put him down, saying "dream on, just open a grocery store or go back to your country."
Haddad is proud of himself for not giving up on his dreams. Looking forward, Haddad said there's still a lot more he wants to contribute to medicine and to Canada.
Joining Haddad as a new appointee to the Order of Canada is Savage Bear, who is a member of Montreal Lake Cree Nation in northern Saskatchewan.
"It's a little bit unreal. I've had to keep this secret for about two months and I couldn't believe it," Bear said.
"The best is yet to come from me, creator willing."
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