A flag-raising ceremony lasts only a few minutes. What that flag represents has endured for generations.
On Sunday, November 22, 2026, the Lebanese community of Nova Scotia is invited to gather for a celebration of Lebanese Independence and Heritage at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax.
Hosted by the Honorary Consul of Lebanon, Mr. Wadih Fares, and Mrs. Cathy Fares, the event will feature a flag-raising ceremony at 4 p.m., followed by an official ceremony at 4:30 p.m. and a reception.
The invitation is open to everyone, with guests kindly requested to arrive by 3:30 p.m.
This celebration carries particular significance as November is officially recognized across Canada as Lebanese Heritage Month.
It is an opportunity not only to celebrate Lebanon’s independence but also to honour the generations of Lebanese Canadians who have helped build this country.
And what better occasion to reflect on the heritage that connects us to Lebanon, even as we build our lives thousands of kilometres away?
Independence Day: A Symbol That Unites Us
November 22 commemorates Lebanon’s independence in 1943, a defining moment in the country’s modern history.
For Lebanese living abroad, the anniversary carries particular emotional significance.
Many left Lebanon because of war, instability or economic hardship. Others were born in Canada and know their ancestral homeland primarily through family stories and occasional visits.
Yet distance has not diminished what the Lebanese flag represents.
It evokes memories of villages, mountains, family gatherings, childhood friendships and traditions that have endured across generations.
Despite Lebanon’s political divisions and repeated crises, Independence Day should remind us of what unites us rather than what separates us.
Whatever our political opinions, religious affiliations or regional backgrounds, we share a common heritage.
And while our lives may have taken us far from Lebanon, celebrating that heritage does not diminish our Canadian identity.
We can be proud Canadians while remaining equally proud of our Lebanese roots.
But that pride must extend beyond our own generation. It must also be passed on to those who will carry our heritage into the future.
Our Children Must Experience Their Heritage
Perhaps the most important reason to attend the November 22 celebration is the next generation.
Many young Lebanese Canadians grow up speaking English or French, attending Canadian schools and discovering Lebanon primarily through their parents and grandparents.
For them, Lebanese Heritage Month should be more than a date on the calendar. It should be an opportunity to connect with a heritage that is theirs, even if they have never lived in Lebanon.
They should see the Lebanese flag raised, understand what it represents and experience the pride of belonging to a community with a remarkable history.
Parents and grandparents have an important responsibility in making that connection meaningful.
Bring your children. Bring your grandchildren.
Introduce them to other Lebanese families and help them understand that their heritage extends beyond their own household.
Cultural identity cannot survive through memories alone. It requires participation, continuity and a commitment to sharing our traditions with those who will inherit them.
And that responsibility extends beyond individual families. It belongs to the community as a whole.
A Community That Knows How to Come Together
Cedar Whispers has repeatedly highlighted the importance of Lebanese cultural initiatives throughout Nova Scotia.
The Lebanese Film Festival in Canada‘s tenth-anniversary celebrations earlier this month offered another example of how Lebanese culture can bring together people from different backgrounds.
The November 22 celebration provides another opportunity to strengthen those bonds, this time around a symbol that belongs to every Lebanese, regardless of background or affiliation.
And what more meaningful setting than Pier 21, a historic gateway for generations of newcomers to Canada, to celebrate a community that has embraced its adopted country while remaining deeply attached to its roots?
It is equally fitting that Wadih Fares and his wife, Cathy, will welcome the Lebanese community to an institution whose development he helped advance.
Having served as chair of the Pier 21 Society, Fares worked alongside other community leaders to help secure the institution’s recognition as a national museum.
The setting, the occasion and the hosts thus bring together two stories: our pride in where we come from and our contributions to the country we now call home.
What remains is for the community to come together and make the celebration meaningful through its presence.
Invite your family, friends and neighbours.
Encourage young Lebanese Canadians to participate.
Welcome Canadian friends who would appreciate learning more about Lebanon and its heritage.
🇱🇧 OPEN INVITATION — EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
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