In this episode hosts Nandini Sahay and Jana Abbara interview Bishop Joseph Hackett, who left a thriving life in Jamaica as a school principal and pastor to begin again in Canada.
He talks about all the difficulties associated with being an immigrant, from losing his employment status when he landed in Canada to having to work in a 12-hour factory shift to provide for his family, to the racism he faced while trying to integrate into Canadian society.
Bishop Hackett discusses the cultural and spiritual rites of Christians, and the ways in which those rites still keep the Jamaican community connected to its roots, especially through the traditions of food, music, and church life, and the importance of staying connected to others in moments of loneliness. His story is one of resilience, identity, and the power of community to rebuild a sense of home.
This series was produced by journalism students at Mount Royal University in Calgary, as part of the Community Podcast Initiative.
Find out more about the Jamaican Community Association of Alberta here.
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