Canadian Salad

He's called Canada the "nastiest country to deal with" and the "51st state". Trump's rhetoric is alarming - threats of annexation and assimilation by force. But if we are really honest, these threats are as old as Canada itself. In this episode of Canadian Salad, we unpack Trump's rhetoric and how it echos of historical colonization - where threats led to actions...

The government is extremely efficient . . . that is, when it wants to be.  Recently, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted legal status to thousands of undocumented construction workers due to a labor shortage. While we applaud the decision, we also critically dissect this move, pointing out the hypocrisy of the government's fluctuating immigration polici...

Black Canadian farmers are doing more than just growing food - they're creating culturally relevant foods that are local and sustainable for Afro-Caribbean communities. Innovation is the spirit of immigrants and we're excited to highlight the inspiring work of a Nigerian-born farmer Toyin Ajayi of British Columbia and explore the positive impact Black Canadian farmers are making. Hear ho...

The insults keep coming - cheap shots to make us feel small. But does it work?  Of course not!! In our latest Dishes Out, we'll tackle an absurd social media insult related to the glasses we wear. Online bullying is no joke and when you stand for people and good things, bullies today will not hold back. We take an honest look at these insults and how they reflect more on the bullies’ lack of...

“DEI is woke.” “It silences free speech.” “It’s Marxism in disguise.”  We’ve all heard the backlash, but how much of it is based on facts? The debate around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been clouded by misinformation and fear-mongering. In this episode of Canadian Salad, we cut through the noise with Matt Tsang , co-founder and brand director at AndHumanity Marketing .   Matt joins A...

We be ending our week by taking on a naysayer named Tony who thinks immigrants are a burden on taxpayers. Spoiler alert: He's terribly wrong! We'll dish out facts, chuckle at Tony's outdated views, and dream up a 'mandatory fact school' for misinformed people. We'll highlight how immigrants pay significant amounts of money to live in Canada and actually contribute mor...

Refugees are forced to pay for Canada's decisions. The recent immigration cuts have brought forward heavy-handed cuts to refugee applications and visitor visas. We won't deny that there are organizations within Canada committing fraud. But punishing vulnerable people for other's terrible decisions isn't working - it's present day human collateral. In this episode, we will...

In this zesty episode of 'Dishes Out,' we serve up a hearty clapback to a listener's monocultural tantrum claiming that diversity is like 'watering down wine.' With lots of eye rolls and face palms, we'll unravel the irony of the metaphor, spotlighting how diversity, much like a range of fine wines, enhances and enriches our lives. It's comments like these that w...

Black History Month. If we are honest, this month only exists because Black history has been all but untold in Canada. In this compelling episode of Canadian Salad, Andrea and Hostion are joined by two remarkable women, Cleia and Asiyah, to dive deep into their personal experiences as Black women in Canada. Cleia, with Jamaican roots, shares her journey from Montreal to Victoria and gives insight...

True: Colonial ideologies have distorted perceptions of truth and of what is right. False: Colonial ideologies are the only reality. It's Friday and we will dish out and clap back against a comment which criticized Andrea's talk with her son about the real history of Indigenous land in Canada. We unpack the accusation of 'feeding children a false reality,' emphasizing the impor...

What is it to be host? To welcome someone? Someone with a different background, culture, tradition, language and perspective? What would hospitality look like with a complete stranger? In this thought provoking episode, Andrea hosts Jennifer Wilson, former CEO of the Canada Homestay Network - Canada's largest international student homestay program. Born and raised in Canada, Jennifer talks ab...

Recently we were told "Diversity isn't working" . . . and we're clapping back and we are saying it is. Hostion is back, making a triumphant return, bringing much-needed diversity, humour and wit back to the show. Along with Andrea, they'll dive into a humorous and thought-provoking discussion, addressing the misconceptions around diversity in society. They'll debunk a...

I don't know about you, but the news in the world is overwhelming, scary and uncertain. With Trump's inhumane deportations in the south to the anti-immigrant rhetoric in Canada, there's only so much negative news that we can listen to.  That's why it's time for some good news! In this engaging and uplifting and solo episode, Andrea will explore the remarkable journeys of i...

Join Andrea and her son Lincoln tackle a not-so-well-thought-out social media comment about Canadians needing to take back their country. With Hostion celebrating Lunar New Year, Lincoln steps in, bringing his seven-year old charm and his big, big heart. They explore the concept of control, the importance of Indigenous lands and sovereignty, and even ponder if the comment was really all about want...

From grey hairs to raisins, join us as we explore the culture of aging! We'll share personal anecdotes—like Hostion's eternal youthfulness and Andrea's grey hair pride —while we explore the complex layers behind ageism and respect for elders around the globe. From cultural expectations in China to the wisdom revered in Indigenous communities, we'll debunk some cultural myths ab...

"Immigrants need to assimilate". What does that even mean? Assimilate into what? What ideal are people thinking of when they proclaim this? The very question ignores the diverse landscape of Canada, from west to east coast. If people would be really honest, they'd realize not everyone is the same and not everyone needs to fit into a mysterious, intangible mold! Is Canada a factory n...

Universities are losing money. Some are closing. With IRCC rolling the dice in their cuts to international students, the impact has only just begun. Because Hostion and I came to Canada as international students, we feel the weight of this topic deeply  and that's why we have to talk about it. Join us as we discuss how these 'knee-jerk' reactions to international students are causin...

We couldn't help but tackle Trump’s bonkers claim about making Canada the 51st state. We'll speculate why Trump is so obsessed with the Great White North—maybe he’s just thirsty for some maple syrup? Maybe poutine? We'll see if CBSA lets a felon . . . er, we mean a president cross the border. Ahem . . . We do dish out on Baby Trump, aka Pierre Pollievre, and his bid for Prime Minist...

"I'm rich and I can speak two languages" can often get the resounding "Wow!" Or the flattering "Impressive!" But when it comes to people from lower classes or those from the global majority, bilingualism is often looked down on - especially in our Western world. What is it about elevating the languages of the rich and judging the languages of the poor? Grab a sea...

Sorry 80s. Back down 21st century! The anti-immigrant trolls think the 90s were the best for Canada. And why is that? Best for who? We can tell you it wasn't because of the side ponytails and thigh masters. We will give you a hint . . . in the context of immigration, it was a great time for a very specific group of people. And it's that same group of people making the loudest noise today...

Trudeau's resignation as Prime Minister has the political world buzzing with hot takes on the economy, election forecasts, and who’s next to wear Canada’s crown of responsibility. But let’s cut through the noise: mainstream media won’t touch the real cost of this transition—what it means for those locked out of power, privilege, and prestige. For many Canadians, government promises are like m...

Embrace the weekend as we embrace a whirlwind discussion of mopping dishes and spilling all the tea on immigrant misconceptions. We will passionately debunk the myths that immigrants get handouts, pointing out that paying steep fees, with no freebies, and equal tax payments as Canadian-born people contribute vastly to the economy. We'll expose the irony of corporate 'handouts' to bi...

You love their hotdogs, love their prices and you'll love them even more because of what we're about to tell you! Costco! The big warehouse chain that we all know is under scrutiny for resisting and combating conservative think tanks who think DEI policies will lose them money. We applaud Costco's response so far and here's why.  The founder of Costco, a descendent of Jewish im...

Some naysayer referred to immigrants giving Canada a bad reputation. While there is zero substance, we unpack and dish out on this very ridiculous comment. Canada's reputation on the global stage, particularly regarding immigration and multiculturalism, is something that European countries, Asian countries and even the United States have admired from afar and others have adopted. With an over...

It's the last episode of 2024 and we cannot end the year without a look back at the laughs, the tears, the funny moments and the inspirational stories that graced Canadian Salad! From stories of being in love, to parenting, to the impact of fried chicken and racism, our podcast saw immense growth and immense impact to both us and to those who listened. Sure, we had some haters, but we sure ha...