Picture Lebanon’s ancient cedars whispering to Nova Scotia’s salty shores, carrying a legacy of healing that stretches back to Sidon, where Aschmoun, the Phoenician god of medicine, first coiled his serpent⚕️. As the famous Lebanese poet Said Akl spilled in “Lobnan in Haka or If Lebanon Were to Speak” that serpent vibe hopped to Greece, becoming Aesculapius, the symbol of healing.

On June 25, 2025, that serpent spirals anew, tracing a radiant path from Lebanon’s enduring heart to Nova Scotia’s welcoming shores—a partnership that transcends policy to become a poem of heritage, sacrifice, and shared humanity.

Nova Scotia’s teamed up with two Lebanese powerhouses— the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese American University (LAU) —to bring ten top-tier family doctors to the province over five years, two each year, backed by a hefty $5 million. This isn’t just a plan; it’s a promise.

According to the Honorable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, this initiative is a key part of the province’s Action for Health plan — a bold vision to make Nova Scotia a beacon for healthcare professionals, answering a global need for family doctors. But for the Lebanese Canadian community, it resonates far deeper: it is a moment of profound pride, a heartfelt tribute to a homeland that once received aid and now gives healing in return.

This five-year pilot program, sealed by a memorandum, funds residency positions, licensing exams, and relocation costs, with each doctor pledging three years of service to Nova Scotia’s communities. Already, the impact is tangible: some physicians are practicing in the province, with others soon to follow — their expertise offering much-needed relief to a primary healthcare system long under strain. As Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, declared, “These partnerships strengthen ties between our province and Lebanon, creating a unique opportunity to bring highly skilled family physicians to Nova Scotia… we are bringing Lebanon’s best to our home, strengthening ties that feel like family.”

For the Lebanese Consul Wadih Fares, a lifelong steward of Lebanon’s name, it all began with a single conversation — one with D. Gus Grant, whose encouragement, together with the steadfast support of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, helped transform a hopeful idea into a living, breathing vision. In an emotional speech, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to “those who made this possible — the policymakers, our academic partners in Lebanon and Nova Scotia, immigration officials, and the community leaders — especially the dedicated team that travelled to Lebanon.” He paid special tribute to “the consulate’s executive assistant, Aida, for her tireless support throughout this journey,” and closed on a tender, self-aware note: “To my wife — thank you for your patience and understanding.” Judging by the tone, it’s fair to guess that Lebanon may have tested that patience — and he knew it. A wise man, indeed 😉

This ain’t just doctors crossing borders— it is a symphony of mutual rescue, Lebanese style! As Khalil Gibran wrote, “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Lebanon’s been through it, leaning on the world’s kindness —UNIFIL’s peacekeeping, economic lifelines, and refuge for its people in times of strife—now rises to give back. Canada has offered sanctuary, opportunity, and quiet support to Lebanon’s institutions, including a small military detachment to support its Armed Forces.

Lebanon’s flipping the script, sending its physicians not as refugees but as healers and citizens of a world without borders, ready to pay it forward. These doctors, imbued with the warmth, resilience, and excellence of the Lebanese spirit, fulfil what Dr. Sola Bahous of LAU called a truth: “When collaboration is driven by purpose, medicine knows no borders.”

This is a dance of complementarity, a sacred dialogue between homeland and diaspora. The Lebanese Canadian community, their hearts woven with devotion to their ancestral roots, now beholds Lebanon’s physicians crossing oceans to serve. These doctors are bridges threading resilience into Nova Scotia’s clinics and homes a form of paying back for a generous country and a welcoming population. They’re not just filling clinic slots; they’re weaving resilience into every heartbeat they check.

Thinking outside the box is how we secure a society’s future. As Albert Einstein dropped, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” In a world of division—yep, we’re talking Trump-era wake-up calls—churches, clubs, and every community need to step up or step out. This partnership is a clarion call. This deal is a vibe check — a tribute to the philanthropists. It honours those who dare to dream beyond convention and dedicate their lives to uplifting. To all such pioneers—those who feel the ache of the “not done,” who go the extra mile—this initiative owes its light. A proof that big moves make bigger waves. Their legacy whispers that survival belongs to those who innovate, adapt, and act with purpose.

Canada, with its vast landscapes, vibrant workforce, and economic strength, is a thriving tapestry where aspirations bloom, woven by the enduring spirit of its communities. Nova Scotia, with its rolling hills and tight-knit communities, echoes the open-heartedness of the Lebanese spirit. But growth doesn’t come from governments alone. It comes when people initiate. When communities say, “This isn’t enough,” and begin to build. That’s when you feel the “not done.” That itch to do more, be more, give more.

As the torch moved from Aschmoun to Esculapius, so too does this partnership spiral forward—a legacy of love, unity, and healing that binds nations, peoples, and generations in a timeless embrace.

Let this be a call to action.

Let us go the extra mile, as we always have — whether for Canada or for Lebanon.