Stand Up to Support Refugee Relief Efforts

Author

Enterprise Canada

Release Date

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

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TORONTO, Ont. — Sometimes, when a situation gets so bad, all you have left to do is laugh.

With some 6.7 million Syrian refugees living in limbo in the Middle East and in dire need of support, and an estimated 25 million refugees around the world, the situation is getting to that point. To help them, and raise awareness about the plight faced by refugees in general, the UNHCR Canada will be hosting Stand Up With Refugees August 16th, a special comedy event with Netflix star Mo Amer — himself a refugee from Kuwait to the United States at the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1990 — headlining.

It is a cause near and dear to the heart of Mohamed Fakih, CEO of Paramount Fine Foods, who will be giving a speech at the event.

“The experience of a refugee is a difficult one, landing in a strange place with no friends and little money,” says Mr. Fakih, who was himself a refugee when he first arrived in Canada. “It is a challenge for anyone to start over. Any help we can provide them is most welcome. For those willing to help, doing so while sitting through a full roster of excellent comics is a great way to do it.”

Being held at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Stand Up With Refugees event includes:

  • Mo Amer — Kuwaiti born to Palestinian parents, he fled with his family to the U.S. in 1990. He currently has his own comedy special on Netflix, The Vagabond.

  • Ali Hassan — Best known as the host of CBC Radio One’s Laugh Out Loud program and star of the one-man show Muslim Interrupted that toured across Canada earlier this year.

  • Nour Hadidi — A Canadian comic and writer who can include This Hour has 22 Minutes and The Beaverton on her credits.

  • Hoodo Hersi — A teacher by day, this Toronto-based Somali Canadian has been featured on The Comedy Network’s Homegrown Comics and in the TVO documentary Stand Up Toronto.

    Stand Up With Refugees happens August 16 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Tickets cost $40.35 each and are available at Ticketmaster.

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