12th Cedar & Maple Gala

The 12th Cedar & Maple Gala sold out weeks before the scheduled event was held at the Cunard Centre, downtown Halifax on May 16th with over 800 attendees.  Keeping close to where our Lebanese ancestors first entered Canada, the annual Gala has almost tripled its size since moving from Pier 21 to Cunard Centre three years ago.

The highlight of the night was the winners, their stories of perseverance, success and pride in their communities was inspiring to all.  It was with great joy to honour the following 2019 award winners:

Lebanese Business Person of the Year – Robert Zed
Lebanese Business of the Year – Mansour’s Menswear
Lebanese Professional of the Year – Elias Metlej
Canadian Business of the Year – Bertossi Restaurant Group

The Cedar & Maple Gala is a much anticipated business award dinner, each year it shares the experience of the taste, music, dancing and stories with all that attend.  This year there were also many special announcements to note:  Saint Mary’s University has continued to partner with the LCC and match the scholarship and new bursary program; Dalhousie University has partnered to match the next six Dalhousie attending recipients; and Robert Zed has pledged $20,000 in an entrepreneurship grant which will encourage and support emerging leaders and entrepreneurs.

“Previous generations arrived in Canada with very little, so the option to be dependant and complacent did not exist, so armed only with ingenuity, hope and a bit of hustle, our people had to find a way to survive and then prosper.  Many of the early Lebanese that came to Halifax couldn’t speak English, but walked throughout the province, literally selling items off their backs in order to provide for their families.  The return on those sacrifices and long nights are on full display tonight– and I don’t think our ancestors could have even dreamed of the success that they enabled in business and as a community,” President Norman Nahas addressing attendees at the 12th Cedar & Maple Gala.

For further readings from a few publications click below:
The Chronicle Herald, May 9th
The Chronicle Herald, May 21st
Parkview News, June 2019

Congratulations to the 2019 Cedar & Maple Gala award winners!

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