Globe and Mail, Inside City Hall, September, 2, 2006

Toronto Star, Bahar Aminvaziri, August, 19, 2006

Toronto Star, A Green New Year, March, 15, 2006

Toronto Star, Wed, March, 15, 2006 Persians Celebrate New Year

Metro, Wed, March, 15, 2006 Persians Celebrate New Year

National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, Maryam Agvami, April, 6, 2006

Emotional win at film festival,Feb, 22, 2006

National Post, JIAN GHOMESHI, Feb, 18, 2006

The Globe and Mail, Friday Jan 27, 2006

Toronto Sun, Mon, October 10, 2005

Toronto Star, Engineers from Iran get help finding work here, as engineers, Dec, 10, 2004

The Canadian Encyclopedia

Globe and Mail, Inside City Hall, September, 2, 2006

Inside City Hall
Print Edition - Section Front
Don't call him godfather
Susan Salek, a newcomer to local politics, is hoping to bump off veteran incumbent Denzil Minnan-Wong in Don Valley East. To do so, she has snagged some high-profile endorsements, including Ontario Infrastructure Minister David Caplan, the member for the riding of the same name.
Asked if he is playing political godfather, Mr. Caplan is aw-shucks. "I am just a resident," he says. "I always encourage people who have a passion for public service."
Nor does he think municipal politics should be a "partisan affair." Indeed, in 2000 and 1997, he endorsed a former school trustee colleague, Kim Scott, a Tory, in a failed bid against Mr. Minnan-Wong.
The Iranian-born Ms. Salek, a former businesswoman active in her community, says she has not joined the Liberal Party yet (though she volunteered for the first time in the past federal election) and has secured a key endorsement from the Toronto and York Region Labour Council.
Mr. Minnan-Wong, who won with 71 per cent of the votes in 2003, is content to take his chances.

Toronto Star, Bahar Aminvaziri, August, 19, 2006 by John Spears

How do you break out of the pack when nobody knows your name?
Aug. 19, 2006. 04:42 AM
JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU
One candidate was victorious in the City Idol contest.
Another has backing from the labour movement.
Others cite involvement in community or religious organizations, or past political activity.
Welcome to Ward 26 in Don Valley West, where 15 candidates are already crowding the field for the Nov. 13 city election.
All are seeking a way to stand out from the rest in a crowded race.
The only thing that seems sure is that Jane Pitfield, who has held the seat since 1998, won't be back: She's trying to unseat David Miller for mayor.
How do candidates try to break out of the pack?
The most novel approach goes to Bahar Aminvaziri, who won the North York section of the City Idol contest. Her prize: The sweat and loyalty of a core group of volunteers to help out with the organization and sheer drudgery of mounting a campaign.
Aminvaziri, a 27-year-old environmental engineer, wants to get 60 per cent of the electorate out to the polls in Ward 26 on election day. That would be a departure from the last elections, which saw a turnout of just 38 per cent.
She's reaching out to new voters through a website and a campaign blog — which includes a proposal to charge passenger cars up to $20 a day for the privilege of entering the downtown core during rush hour.
But a lot of her effort, she concedes, is less reliant on technology than "good old-fashioned knock and talk."
David Thomas is leveraging past experience as a New Democratic Party candidate in federal elections, though he's not running under the party banner. Now the owner of a paralegal firm, he spent 15 years with a major bank.
As an immigrant himself — he moved here about 20 years ago from Sri Lanka — he figures he can identify with the many immigrants who live in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park, where he lives.
"There are a lot of people who are voiceless," Thomas says; with his background and previous experience he thinks they'll choose him to be their voice.
He's not the only one with a political background. John Parker, for example, is a former Conservative MPP for the area. And other candidates have been active with political parties in the past.
Others are looking at the ward's demographics. The ward encompasses prosperous Leaside, but also Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. According to the city's website, 69 per cent of the ward's residents live in highrise apartments, compared with the city average of 38 per cent. A high proportion are immigrants — and a higher than average proportion have post-secondary education.
Natalie Maniates hopes her background will resonate with some of them. A 26-year-old communications planner, she has been active in Career Bridge, a group that helps foreign-trained professionals find their footing and gain Canadian credentials.
Deep community connections are a selling point with other candidates as well. Mohamed Dhanani's family settled in Flemingdon Park after leaving Tanzania in 1976, when he was 5. A volunteer with the Aga Khan Foundation who has also been active with youth camps, he says he has a network of connections to call on. He worries that the gap between rich and poor is growing and that communities like Flemingdon and Thorncliffe, once transitional neighbourhoods, are becoming dead-ends for immigrants, with substandard services.
"I've been able to move up and move out," he says, "we're seeing more and more people getting stuck in those communities."
Abdul Ingar makes similar claims of long service and deep understanding of the community, after living in the area for 25 years, serving the local food bank and getting to know federal and provincial officials.
Debbie Lechter, whose firm supplies security cameras, is wearing out shoe leather to make a name.
"I've been going out and meeting as many people as I can," she says. She hopes to persuade voters that city council must be more financially responsible.
"As a group they have failed in demonstrating their ability to budget."
Other candidates are Orhan Aybars, Razaul Jabbar, Geoff Kettel, Jessica Lambert, John Masterson, Bernard Tanz, Csaba Vegh and Stephen Watt.

Toronto Star, March, 15, 2006 by Kristin Rushowy

The preparations for Nowruz are underway.
Alireza Fakhrashrafi and Danielle Schrage are "shaking out the house" — cleaning it from top to bottom.
For the haft-sin, they're already growing sprouts, which must be soaked and watered for two weeks before the start of Persian new year. Nowruz coincides with the arrival of spring on March 20.The sprouts are one part of the traditional table for the Persian new year, set up with seven (haft) symbolic items beginning with the letter "s" in the Farsi language, including apples, pudding, garlic, coins, sumac and sweets.

The couple are also busy changing the menu not only at home but at their Persian restaurant, The Pomegranate, in honour of the most important holiday and celebration on the Iranian calendar.

While the new year doesn't officially arrive for almost a week, last night they jumped over a bonfire — a small one in their backyard — to mark chahar-shanbeh soori, a purification ritual held on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz.

Fakhrashrafi served family and friends who joined them a traditional noodle soup called Ash-E Reshteh. It's a thick soup with a vegetable or meat base and kidney beans, navy beans, chickpeas, lentils, chopped spinach and green herbs.

"It's always chilly out, and when you come back in, you want something warm and hearty," Fakhrashrafi explains.

Fakhrashrafi, who learned to cook in his mother's kitchen while growing up in Tehran, met Schrage when they were both undergraduates at the University of Toronto. They're married with two children, Mitra and Bijan.

For their children, Nowruz is like Christmas. They get most of their presents at this time of year, and Schrage makes her annual trip to their elementary school to do a presentation on Iranian new year — in English and French. She shows the children what items go on the haft-sin.

"Kids are amazed by the sprouts," Schrage says. "They ask about the smells. They taste the sumac."

Because she's been doing it for so many years now — her eldest is 12 years old — other students are offering to help out. "They know the drill," she jokes.

During the new year, which lasts two weeks, Fakhrashrafi plans to make Kookoo Sabzi. Basically a crustless quiche chock full of chopped green herbs, it is often served with fish and rice. Saffron rice pudding is a special treat.

At their College St. restaurant (pomegranaterestaurant.ca), where Fakhrashrafi does all the cooking, the plan is to add a fish stew (Qalye Mahi), as well as Reshteh Polo, a rice dish with noodles, lamb, dates and apricots.

He'll also do fish dipped in turmeric, fried in oil, then served with herbed rice (Sabzi Polo Mahi).

"We'll try to introduce all three," Fakhrashrafi says.

It's part of the couple's mandate to introduce their customers to the more unusual, sometimes forgotten and largely regional dishes of Iran. Even for their Iranian customers, who comprise about one-third of their business, it's a learning experience.

Unlike other Persian eateries, The Pomegranate does not have any kebab on the menu.

"Persian cuisine is dominated by kebab, but it's a monopoly taking away from the diverse side of the cuisine," says Fakhrashrafi.

Noodle dishes are always served for Nowruz celebrations because the pasta is thought to be symbolic of the journey of life, with its tangles and twists, which you unravel as you eat, bringing success.

Using herbs such as parsley, dill, coriander and chives is another way to celebrate the arrival of spring, says Schrage, who is not Iranian but speaks Farsi and studied Near and Eastern Civilizations at U of T.

It was Fakhrashrafi who cooked her first Persian meal.

"When we first met, I was vegetarian. He made me dinner, Fesenjan, with mushroom instead of meat," she says of the stew made with chicken, walnuts and pomegranate juice. "The first time you have Persian food, it blows you away."

At Nowruz in particular, food is a central part of celebrations. On the 13th day of Nowruz, Iranians heads outdoors to eat, at which time they throw their fully grown sprouts — which now look like long blades of grass — into a stream or river.

"We always have a picnic outside" on that day, Schrage says. "We cook Sabzi Polo Mahi and go outside, rain or shine."

Nowruz is an ancient tradition, celebrated not just in Iran but also Iraq, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Each year, Schrage and Fakhrashrafi open up their restaurant to a storyteller who does shadow puppetry, telling Persian tales for children. It's set for March 25. (Email susan.allen@utoronto.ca for details or go to http://www.meandmyshadows.ca.)

They also have two nights of storytelling planned for adults, on Thursday, March 23, and Sunday, March 26. Dinner reservations are recommended.

"It's a tradition with Iranian teahouses — storytelling is a part of their character," Fakhrashrafi says.

Toronto Star, Wed, March, 15, 2006 by Nicholas Keung

Under the azure dome, before Islam's arrival in the 7th Century, the Persians, in what is today's Iran, began battling evil with fire.

Despite Islamic traditionalists' dislike of "superstitious" ritual, the practice of purifying one's body and soul has survived in Iran and thrived into the present-day Festival of Fire.

The annual celebration is the one secular event — probably beside national soccer victories — that is celebrated by every Iranian regardless of religious affiliations.

Last night, instead of leaping over bonfires, Toronto's 100,000-strong Iranian Canadian community ushered in the festival with fireworks at Sunnybrook Park and Mel Lastman Square, heralding the arrival of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, next Monday.

"This is the festival that no one would forget," said event co-organizer Mohammad Sheikholeslami. "None of us believes we can drive away the evil and bad luck by jumping over a fire. What's important for us is to get the whole community out and keep our traditions alive."

When Richmond Hill realtor Hamid Gharajeh first arrived in Toronto in 1987, only 80 people attended Canada's inaugural Festival of Fire. Last year, that number grew to 14,000.

"The community is getting bigger over the years. It's just not possible to set up fire in a park any more," he explained. He said the festival is a national event that everyone takes part in.

In addition to housecleaning and stocking up on new clothes and goodies, all families follow the festival with the setting up of Haft Seen, a table displayed with seven prosperous items from a longer list. The items can include wheat or barley growing in a dish (for rebirth), sweet pudding (affluence), dried fruit of the jujube tree (love), garlic (medicine), apples (beauty and health), sumac berries (the colour of the sunrise), vinegar (age and patience), hyacinth (the coming of spring) and coins (prosperity).

The festivities end on the 13th day with a big picnic when people throw the wheat from Haft Seen into running water, symbolizing a new cycle of life.

This year, the community is spicing up Nowruz with the three-day Festival of Under the Azure Dome, the archetypal beginning of all Persian stories, equivalent to the "once upon a time" in English literature.

Touted as the largest Persian New Year's festival outside Iran, where businesses are closed for five days and schools are on holiday for two weeks, the free festival (except for the concerts) begins Friday showcasing Persian music, dances, theatre productions, traditional puppets, poetry, arts and movies at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre.

The New Year festival, also celebrated in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and India, features a symphony orchestra, led by renowned conductor Mehdi Javanfar.

"Under the blue sky, we are all human beings no matter to what race and religion we belong," noted event organizer Mehrdad Ariannejad of the Iranian Association at the University of Toronto. "We all live under one roof and embrace one another."

Most Iranian Canadians fled to Canada after the 1979 revolution, when religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew King Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's pro-west regime and declared Iran an Islamic republic.

Like other groups, they have their divides, which have been gradually thawing since the December 2003 Bam earthquake that brought the community together to raise funds and help the victims. The tragedy killed 43,000 people and injured another 30,000.

For information about the Under the Azure Dome festival, visit http://www.azuredome.ca.

Metro, Wed, March, 15, 2006 by Michael Stuparyk/Torstar News Service

GTA Persians prepare for new year

Nowruz festivities ancient tradition

Under the azure dome, before Islam’s arrival in the 7th Century, the Persians, in what is today’s Iran, began battling evil with fire.

Despite Islamic traditionalists’ dislike of “superstitious” ritual, the practice of purifying one’s body and soul has survived in Iran and thrived into the present-day Festival of Fire.

The annual celebration is the one secular event — besides national soccer victories — that is celebrated by every Iranian regardless of religious affiliations.

Last night, instead of leaping over bonfires, Toronto’s 100,000-strong Iranian Canadian community ushered in the festival with fireworks at Sunnybrook Park and Mel Lastman Square, heralding the arrival of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, next Monday.

“This is the festival that no one would forget,” said event co-organizer Mohammad Sheikholeslami. “None of us believes we can drive away the evil and bad luck by jumping over a fire. What’s important for us is to get the whole community out and keep our traditions alive.”

When Richmond Hill realtor Hamid Gharajeh arrived in Toronto in 1987, 80 people attended Canada’s inaugural Festival of Fire. Last year, that number grew to 14,000.

“The community is getting bigger over the years. It’s just not possible to set up fire in a park any more,” he explained.

He said the festival is a national event that everyone takes part in.

TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE

National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada

Senior Vice President: Maryam Aghvami- Education (Radio CBC)

Emotional win at film festival

By LAUREN BRESLIN -- Special to the Toronto Sun

Hilda Hashempour accepts her award for best documentary at the 2006 Toronto Film School Festival of Film award ceremony on Feb. 10. Hilda Hashempour became teary-eyed when she stood before the audience and accepted the award for best documentary at the 2006 Toronto Film School Festival of Film. Her 15-minute doc, titled Mine is the Sky, was a poignant account of her mother's fight with breast cancer, and earned the young filmmaker one of her school's top honours.

"It was a great experience for me as a new filmmaker," Hashempour says. "But it was also hard to enjoy something you suffered from so much."

Personal journey

Hashempour, who has one more term to go before graduating from the school's Film and TV Production program, decided to embark on a very personal, and indeed, emotional journey for her final project. "For me it was an effort to illustrate my deep, invisible sufferings," she said. "After the screening I met lots of people who liked the movie because they found it very close to themselves. So I am happy for winning the award and making this impression on people."

And she did leave quite the impression. The director of the Toronto Film School, John Foote, called her film "one of the best documentaries I've seen the students produce. It was very, very moving."

The Festival of Film, now in its fourth and largest year to date, took place Feb. 10 at the Glenn Gould Studio. It was a day-long presentation of the students' best work, and wrapped up with an awards ceremony in the evening. "I think the quality of the filmmaking has improved dramatically since the festival began," Foote says. "They're just pushing the envelope more than they ever have before."

The film submissions are usually less than 18 minutes in length, and are sent to a panel of faculty members who pre-screen them for quality and eligibility. This year there were 105 entries, but only 35 films were named official selections. "We make a decision on which films are better than others," Foote explains. "Meaning which films have superior production values, story structure, writing and directing -- and which films actually deserve to be there."

Most entries come from the school's Film Production program, but the festival also accepts animated films from the Computer Animation students. "Some of the other programs within the Toronto Film School work on the films, too," Foote says. "The Digital Editing students work with the Film Production kids on their projects, as do the Sound Technology students. Everybody eventually is involved."

Indeed, students have total reign over all aspects of their production. And, like mainstream cinema, some of the films may include adult content -- if done in good taste. One of the films screened this year was called The First-Timers, a story about a middle-aged couple attending their first orgy. "There is certainly nudity and harsh language," Foote says. "We don't act as a censor board for the kids at all. If something is done with integrity and doesn't take away anybody's dignity, we will let it go."

While the school does offer an acting program, many of the students use professional actors in their films. "We have an agreement with ACTRA, and many of the actors in the films are unionized actors or ACTRA apprentices," Foote says. "That's exciting for the kids because they're working with actors who really care about their craft."

Candid footage

Documentaries, obviously, are a different story. In Hashempour's film, the principal cast is herself, her mother and the nurses at the hospital. She shot more than 15 hours worth of candid footage over a 10-week period, and then spent roughly two months editing it down to 15 minutes.

"It was a very difficult process," Hashempour says. "It was all about manipulating different sides of my soul and feelings."

The Toronto Film School, part of the International Academy of Design and Technology, offers students a unique curriculum that balances classroom learning and hands-on filmmaking. Students have 24-hour access to the school's facilities, including film studios, cameras and equipment.

"I love the Toronto Film School," Hashempour says. "I believe it's is the best place for people who are really passionate about filmmaking. They really know how to teach you and also how to inspire you, which is very important."

The school also enjoys lots of industry support. In fact, one of their biggest supporters is Bill Marshall, co-founder of the Toronto International Film Festival and the Academy of Canadian Cinema, and former president of the Canadian Association of Motion Picture Producers.

"Bill's a good friend of ours," Foote says. "He's called us the best film school in the world. I certainly think we're the best in Canada, and I think we're headed towards being the best in North America."

The 2006 Toronto Film School Festival of Film was made possible by the support of its official media sponsor, the Toronto Sun. Check out the website at www.tfsf2006.com for a chance to view this year's winning films.

National Post, Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

The worthy 30: Toronto's most eligible bachelors By: Shinan Govani

JIAN GHOMESHI

Listen up, girls (OK, and some guys, too), have I got a crop of chaps for you! Here -- in no particular order -- are the lusty lotharios, meritorious mensches and intellectual linebackers that make the city spin and shrill. Some of these men have even been known to floss regularly!

Last Saturday we published my list of ladies in our second quasi- annual, totally unscientific edition of the Worthy 30. Since then, we've been inundated by all manner of loveable self-nominations and political convention-style jockeying. Fun! Today, we bring you the dudes.

The list is based on my social gallops around town, and recommendations from friends and frenemies alike. To be eligible, one needed a modicum of attractiveness, some discernment and accomplishment and that unpindownable thing we call It. Some of these fellas are more famous than others. Others are more available than some (to qualify, they couldn't be married, engaged or shacked up!). So, time to enjoy this Hummer-size variety of manly marvels. Deep breath, now.

ARI LANTOS Age 25. Sign Sagittarius. His beat Film producer. Drink of choice Vodka soda. In a Nutshell Aren't we glad that Robert Lantos green-lighted this hunk? Ari, the well-reviewed collaboration between the Canadian uber-producer and actress Jennifer Dale, is a six-foot Turk-in-trainers. He's also a merman of note, having played water polo for the Junior National Team for years. Committed to bowling -- he bowls once a week -- he's also not opposed to the occasional night of red wine and poker.

His dream date: "I'm a big fan of warm weather, first of all, so let's start on a beach somewhere tropical, with very few other people around. Something very casual, in shorts and T-shirt, eating fresh fish caught by a local fisherman."

BENJAMIN BRIGGS Age 29. Sign Gemini. His beat National account manager, Toro. Drink of choice Boddington's. In a nutshell Born and bred in England, this devilish dandy -- he describes his background as "Chinglish" -- begins the day with a ritual cuppa with Marmite on toast. Often the best-dressed guy in the room, he never fails to carry a handkerchief and also never leaves the ladies taking The Better Way. That's because he's got a BMW -- navy blue, if you must know -- and a Vespa that nicely packs two. His dream date "Touring Northern California's scenic wine country, a la Sideways."

RICHARD LAMBERT Age 27. Sign Leo. His beat Owner of clothing emporium 69 Vintage and The Social club. Drink of choice Jack Daniels. In a nutshell: So-called "the Alfie of Queen Street," he's a lascivious, if lovable, leprechaun just looking to be tamed. He knows how to dress. He knows how to undress. And he's about to do both in Small Potatoes, a movie that marks his first acting gig. His dream date: "A mirror ..."

GILES GHERSON Age 48. Sign Pisces. His beat Editor-in-chief, Toronto Star. Drink of choice Red wine, "preferably Italian." In a nutshell This squash-playing, blues-listening, French-and-German-speaking gent likes to lay-out, we hear. Keeping alive Joe Atkinson's principles can, however, be a drag on one's dating life. This ink slinger says he works seven days a week. "My guilty pleasure is driving. I have an old Porsche, so I drive that around. It's a coppery-maroon -- someone described it once as sugarplum."

DR. ALI ADIBFAR Age 39. Sign Virgo. His beat Cosmetic plastic surgeon (weekdays), oral surgeon (weekends). Drink of choice Kir Royale. In a nutshell Kabab-eating star physician! But that's not all. This suave and sturdy doc is also a bit of a closet architect and has plans to open Toronto's first "plastic surgery boutique-hotel." (Now that's what we call room service!) His dream date "Going to the south of France, to the Grand Prix in Monaco."

ADAM VAN KOEVERDEN Age 24. Sign Aquarius. His beat Olympic kayaker. Drink of choice Creemore Springs. In a nutshell A pretty-boy paddler who's got serious hardware (a gold and bronze in Athens) and would make a most excellent cast edition to The O.C.! The exceptional Oakville-raised Adam also happens to be mad about chocolate and basketball. His dream date "Cliff jumping in the Caribbean."

OLIVIER DUBOS Age 34. Sign Cancer. His beat General manager, Givenchy parfum Canada. Drink of choice Champagne. In a nutshell This Euro-hunk -- a relatively new kid on the rue -- is as French as brie and likes to boogie. Last summer he achieved renown when he was one of the first two passengers to escape the Air France flight that crashed at Pearson. Since the crash, he has mysteriously started painting -- big canvases, very abstract, with reds and golds on black. His dream date "I would go to the south of Morocco, a little village called Skouri."

SEAMUS O'REGAN Age 34. Sign Capricorn. His beat Co-host, Canada AM. Drink of choice Guinness, with a side of Red Breast Irish Whiskey. In a nutshell He looks good in corduroy. Part George Stephanopoulos, part George Clooney, part Curious George, our Seamus has only one guilty pleasure he'll own up to: sleep. Boulevardier. Braniac. Babe. His dream date "Sea kayaking off the shores of Halong Bay [Vietnam], with a catered eight-course lunch and private island."

PHIL DOWNE Age 50. Sign Pisces. His beat President, Relations Management Group. Drink of choice Pinots, Cabs or Zins. In a nutshell He Thai boxes, he flies planes, he rides horses, he's got "killer abs" (if he does say so himself). This Yorkvillian bachelor has the toothy good looks of one of those deposed royal half-cousins, and also counts himself as one of the biggest Marilyn Monroe fans. Ever. (He has a decent collection of rare photos, memorabilia and two first editions that belonged to MM.) Marilyn Monroe fans. Ever. (He has a decent collection of rare photos, memorabilia and two first editions that belonged to MM.) His dream date "Scuba diving, palm trees, white sand beaches, hammocks under palm trees..."

JEFFREY FISHER Age 40. Sign Cancer. His beat Runs high-end bedding company Jeffrey Fisher Home (and is host of W Network show Arresting Design). Drink of choice Americano -- or Keith's on tap. In a nutshell Get between the sheets with this baron of the boudoir (whose bedding line was featured on Sex and the City!). A slave to the Stillwater spa and hot fudge sundaes, this dreamboat has a love of the good life and definitely knows how to get rid of the creases. Minor warning "I sing as if I can. I love to sing around the office, but I take a lot of teasing for it -- I often know one line to each song."

MARK MULRONEY Age 26. Sign Taurus. His beat Equity sales trader, RBC. Drink of choice Beer. In a nutshell The other Mulroney brother. Not only does he watch the markets, he's on one too! A knight in shining Armani, he apprenticed early at the School of Sussex Drive. Dream date Omi sushi (on Church), and then to a concert.

CAMARA ALFORD Age 32. Sign Gemini. His beat Runs record company Uomo (Sony/BMG). Drink of choice Vodka on the rocks. In a nutshell This street-smart virtuoso and dude-about-town works his dreads the way a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader works her pom poms. The guy behind such acts as Shawn Desman and Keisha Chante, he also digs his Prada sneakers and his 24 (he worries a lot about Jack Bauer). And who can resist those solid gold freckles of his? His dream date "Safari in Kenya."

GUILLAUME COTE Age 24. Sign Virgo. His beat Principal dancer, National Ballet. Drink of choice Whiskey. In a nutshell Listen to him listening to his body! Perennial single gal Candace Bushnell finally met her marital match some years ago in a tight-toned ballet dancer, so why not take a page from her book? This five-alarm hottie, currently starring in Swan Lake, moved to Toronto at age 10 to attend the National Ballet School, and he's been dying for his art ever since. Woo him with a foot massage. Notable self-observation "I wear tights for a living."

OLIVER GEDDES Age 29. Sign Taurus. His beat Owner of The Fifth (Toronto and Miami). Drink of choice Jack Daniels. In a nutshell Like an Abercrombie & Fitch model-next-door. With exemplary table manners! The appetizing son of Richard and Libell Geddes of The Fifth resto fame, he currently burns the midnight oil at his own similarly named clubs in both Toronto and South Beach. (The Floridian outpost opens this month.) But what's this we hear about Days of Our Lives? Word has it Oliver is addicted to the soap!

Dream date "Dinner at The Fifth Toronto ... in-flight dessert ... drinks and dancing at The Fifth South Beach!"

LUKE MCCANN Age 33. Sign Pisces. His beat Journalist-turned-entrepreneur (latest venture is Urban Supper Club). Drink of choice Gin and tonic.

In a nutshell Matt Damon on the outside; Ben Affleck on the inside! One bright, blithe bloke, who used to write for Reuters in London, England, and is now the man behind new word-of-mouth, members-only group called Urban Supper Club. Word has it Luke's got a major weakness for Donald Trump.

His dream date "Gambling in Vegas."

PAUL ALEXANDER Age 40. Sign Sagittarius. His beat Photographer. Drink of choice Tequila and ginger ale.

In a nutshell Randy lensman likes to mix pleasure with pleasure. On the town and at the top of his game, he's behind a lot of big-coin ads and has also shot everyone from Avril Lavigne to Tina Turner. This one doesn't walk; he swaggers."I think you should never take your outside shoes or outside clothes into your bedroom. Because your bedroom is a place of refuge, right? And you have to honour each room for what it's for."

ROBERT DEGASPERIS Age 41. Sign Capricorn. His Beat President, Metrus Properties. Drink of choice Vodka soda or wine. In a nutshell He moves, he shakes. In addition, he runs, he boxes and he makes a point of circling the planet to play on the world's best golf courses. An object of many a damsel's affection, this corporate Indiana Jones is part of the storied land-developing DeGasperis clan that ranked No. 54 on Canadian Business's most recent list of the Rich 100, weighing in at an estimated $756-million. You might say he's as sleek as anything Alessi ever made. His dream date "A romantic dinner, great wine, good conversation and a lot of laughs, I would say. I love Paris. That's my favourite city in the world."

STEPHEN LOBO Age 32. Sign "I'm on the cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius." His beat: Actor. Drink of choice Rye on the rocks. In a nutshell We'll have what he's cookin'! Stephen, who plays chef Ramir -- a ladle-carrying ladies' man on the Bravo/CityTV dramedy Godiva's -- is very crush-worthy. Maybe it's the puppy-dog eyes or the Joliesque sting or just the quiet confidence, but he's got the sort of presence that makes even the most determined channel-surfer pause. Back and forth between Toronto and Vancouver (where the series is shot), this thespian claims to know the Grease script by heart. Word for word. His dream date "There has to be chocolate gelato."

ALAN SPIEGEL Age 33. Sign Sagittarius. His beat Crown prosecutor. Drink of choice Single malt scotch In a nutshell Hunky habeaus corpus! This public defender with the Clark Kent specs and the Osmondesque dimples is serious about his job and serious about play. Often can be found advocating at such spots as Lobby and Ultra Supper Club. His dream date Perhaps climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa (which he did last year)?

MATTE BABEL Age 25. Sign Libra. His beat MuchMusic VJ. Drink of choice Vodka water. In a nutshell Every few years, the town swoons over a new boy VJ with the whole world still in his hands -- and at this dot in history Matte is that guy. Could it be that he just looks so available? That he seems like he's having the time of his life? That he looks like the very epitome of downtown hi-jinx in those never-ending array of cool sneakers (he says he's got 60 pairs)? Word has it that he's a basketball nut and a mama's boy. His dream date Somewhere "naturesque." Maybe a rain forest.

JOHNSON CHOU Age 42. Sign Pisces. His beat Designer, Johnson Chou Inc. Drink of choice A lychee martini if he's celebrating. Dirty martini when he's serious. In a nutshell The fashion police aren't going to be coming after him any time soon. The boyish Chou, who manages both quirky and classic -- artisto-eccentric, you might say -- runs a design and architecture firm that's put the finishing touches on some of the very coolest spots in town. A self-confessed cinephile, his fave flicks include Blade Runner and In the Mood for Love. "My guilty pleasure is a little sultry love in the afternoon; a tryst during the business day."

ASHTON WESTWOOD Age 35. Sign Sagittarius. His beat Literary agent. Drink of choice A "good pint of Boddington's or Stoli rocks twist." In a nutshell He's carrying on the proud literary tradition passed on to him by his super-agent dad, Bruce Westwood -- who you might say is the Kevin Bacon of CanLit. Ashton's cuffs are always tremendous; his knots, sublime. And did you know that he's starred in local productions of The Great Gatsby and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? His dream date "BA First Class to London. The Berkeley Hotel. Drinks at the American Bar at The Savoy. Dinner at Le Gavroche. Nightcaps at Boujis. Oysters and Black Velvets at Bibendum. Visits to men's shop Hackett's for me and Selfridges for her. Dinner at Mark Birley's George Club, followed by Annabel's, needless to say. Finally, of course, a full-on English breakie in bed. Do not disturb!"

CAM HEAPS Age 31. Sign Libra. His beat President, Steam Whistle Brewery. Drink of choice "Beer and I get along really well." In a nutshell Haute hoser who loves a good time. His pop, Frank, founded the Upper Canada Brewing Co., so you might say suds are in his bloodstream. A surfing enthusiast, he's hit the waves in Panama, Nicaragua, Bahamas and more. "I've got a 20-foot climbing rope mounted on the ceiling of my living room."

KEIR WILMUT Age 26. Sign Gemini. His beat U. of T. law student. Drink of choice Kir Royale. In a nutshell This self-assured collegiate fox, who claims to make the "best scrambled eggs in the entire world," was a finalist recently on that Magna/CTV competition, Next Great Prime Minister. When he's not trying to win contests to become the fake leader of Canada, he amuses himself by watching infomercials and tackling torts. A Victoria, B.C., native, he moved to T.O. to dabble in corporate banking before heeding the call of law school. His dream date "I like going to the museum on dates. I think the museum's a really good date. Yeah, go to the ROM for free Friday nights."

ELIO IANNACCI Age 29. Sign Aries. His beat Features editor, Flare. Drink of choice "Stella, no lemon." In a nutshell Soft-spoken and sonata-light, this man-about-the-masthead knows both his fashion and his art. Dolce and Carvaggio, let's just say. We dig his style. "My guilty pleasures are Nutella and The Sopranos, sometimes in that order -- The Sopranos because it's just an overblown cliche of what Italians are, and I think that's very funny. But I do have a lot of Nutella. My parents keep a lot and I always have some in my pantry. I don't even have a pantry, so it would be a cupboard."

J.D. FORTUNE Age 32. Sign Virgo. His beat Rock star. In a nutshell A stud is born! This Mississaugan Dorian Gray and Lotto winner took his made-for-TV looks, those sinking low-rise jeans he seems to like and some good, old-fashioned talent, and accomplished the near-impossible: made INXS in again. Fame and fortune have drawn Canadian Estella Warren to him of late -- a model, yes -- but it is a show-biz romance, after all. It could be over any minute now -- and then he could be yours forever and ever. (As told to the L.A. Times) "It's pretty crazy, right? I mean I was homeless, like living out of my car at one point, and now this."

ZARK FATAH Age 31. Sign Leo. His beat. Lifestyle entrepreneur. Drink of choice Mojito. In a nutshell Recently made the Post's list of People to Watch in 2006 -- and we're doing so with pleasure. The mere word "Zark" in Toronto these days is a synonym for "nightlife," "cool" and "happenin'. " It doesn't hurt that he looks the part. His latest ventures include the Hamman spa on King, as well as Doku 15 restaurant inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel. All of which he gets to, presumably, in his new black C4S Porsche. "I'm really into socks. Paul Smith, primarily. They come in different colours, stripes, patterns. They're pretty quirky. I've probably got about 20 pairs.

ROBERT COLLISON Age "That's a state secret." Sign Taurus. His beat Writer. Drink of choice White wine. In a nutshell Owlish man of mystery who says he's a proud patriot, a "techno-peasant," and a sine qua non shirt buff. Seems to contribute much of his hard-earned scribbling-dollars to Yorkville den of pleasure, Amber, where he's an oft visitor. His dream date It would end up at Chateau Marmont in L.A.

JIAN GHOMESHI Age 30. Sign Gemini. His beat CBC personality/musician. Drink of choice Grey Goose on the rocks, little twist of lime. In a nutshell Another prized Persian. His newish radio show, National Countdown, is about as addictive as a BlackBerry, his outfits are always interesting and his hair, well, we do like it more than George Strombolopoulous's. "I'm actually a Swedish blonde. I dye my hair black and make regular pilgrimages to the tanning salon so that I can tell people I'm Persian. Being Middle Eastern is all the rage, after all."

GUI CARVALHO Age 23. Sign Virgo. His beat Mixologist with the Martini Club. Drink of choice Vodka on the rocks. In a nutshell We love Brazilian imports! Gui, who has been in Toronto for a year and a half, studied philosophy, likes his soccer and is what they call rock-hard. Did we mention that his "last call" is often around the time most folks are waking up to Breakfast Television? "I'm used to the cold by now, you know? That's what everybody asks."

The Globe and Mail, Friday Jan 27, 2006

The view from the peanut gallery Broadcaster and musician Jian Ghomeshi hangs out in a converted factory in Cabbagetown

By LEANNE DELAP Friday, January 27, 2006 Page G1

Jian Ghomeshi admits to the one big boo boo he made renovating his Cabbagetown townhouse. "I love colour, and I thought I'd go big with it. But the green wall wasn't the best idea."

After all, Mr. Ghomeshi can sing and play (he spent 10 years in the folk-rock band, Moxy Früvous), write and switch-hit as both radio and television broadcaster on CBC.

He directed most of the two-month reno himself. But it's kind of comforting to know he can't do everything. The massive space, three floors plus a roof garden, is in a converted peanut factory. It boasts one wall along the industrial-style stairs that runs 50 feet high.

"That was the one I chose to paint the colour of one of my plants," he says.
"So after the three guys have spent two days painting it this deep green, I walk in with my girlfriend at the time. The place is flooded with light during the day. She turns around and she just looks sick, bathed in this eerie green light."

So Mr. Ghomeshi gave in and brought in a set-designer friend, who told him to choose one colour and then play with accents. He went with a deep burgundy, on a less flashy wall.

"The place needed warmth. It was an eighties conversion. And I like eighties in my music, but in small, nostalgic doses. I'm also not a huge fan of the industrial look. I appreciate it, but I needed this place to be something different."

The result is: a massive space (some 3,300 square feet) where he's replaced the floors throughout (a deep cherry oak on the bedroom floor and a lighter tone for the kitchen/living room/dining room space, because "a dark colour would show everything in the kitchen."

He does admit to #OOPS#ing out a bit when women in heels walk through, "but I'm working on calming out on that."

The kitchen cabinets were there, but Mr. Ghomeshi painted them purple. He took out a bright yellow plastic Kohler sink that was "so eighties," not because he didn't recognize the cool value, but "because it was just too over the top."

He added an island and covered the counters in flooring tiles, with an overhang for his laptop.

Lately, Mr. Ghomeshi seems to be everywhere. He does The National Playlist on CBC Radio one in the mornings, then does television at night, with his CBC arts and culture show, >play.

"Yeah, it's funny to be one of those CBC young guys, when you're in your mid-30s," he says. But this young guy hasn't left himself much time for fun.

"I don't have much of a social life right now. But I'm getting to pursue a lot of things that interest me. And one day, when I have a family, I won't want to work 14-hour days. So right now, it's carpe diem." He's just finished an election series, looking at how various interest groups affect the outcomes, and is doing a series of documentaries for the CBC Newsworld program, The Hour. Called "The End," they deal with the end of television, radio and books.

Next Monday, he's hosting a CBC Big Ticket on the genesis of pop and rock. But this overachiever is finding it difficult to get any writing or music done. "One of the reasons I bought this place is that it has great acoustics for singing and guitar." He does have some designated reading areas, however, including a pile of throw pillows at the entrance to his outdoor space. "I did have a designer . . . come in and do the roof. It's a series of outdoor rooms," he says, pointing to the divide on the deck delineated by paint. "There is a great brown seventies-style carpet here in the summer," he points out. And the dining area is raised on a stage.

"I'm a dinner party entertainer," he says, "here and in the dining space downstairs. My friends are always saying, 'Dude, you could have an after-hours here; you could fit like a thousand people.' But I'm just not a massive party guy."

Mr. Ghomeshi is a very neat guy, with just a few souvenirs on display -- a painting by his late friend, a hairdresser from Brazil, some gargoyles he picked up on tour in Denmark, and some martini glasses with Dinky toys on them from his sister.

"I've banished clutter here," he says. "It's the only way I can function, do so many different things and keep my head together."

Of course, he admits, he does have a place to throw stuff.

"There's one room downstairs, and I have a triplex in Riverdale, and I've kept one unit for myself, and for my entertainment production company. Two staff work there," amid all my boxes of CDs and books and stuff." He has added a few Persian rugs (born in London, Mr. Ghomeshi's family is Iranian), which again add warmth, and help work out the contradiction of a loft space made into what he playful calls "a cocoon." And you can't get more eighties than that.

ldelap@globeandmail.com

Toronto Sun, Mon, October 10, 2005 by Nicholas Davis

Living in a democratic country meant a lot to freelance journalist Maryam Aghvami. "I was born and grew up in Iran," says Aghvami.

"Working as a professional journalist in an Islamic country where women do not have equal rights with men is a difficult combination to live with. Although I had travelled to many democratic countries, living in a democracy was a deep conscious choice and desire I wanted to experience."

To fulfill her desire, in 2001, Aghvami packed her life into four suitcases and said goodbye to the country she loved to look for social and personal freedom in Canada. "I had travelled to Canada before," Aghvami said. "I remembered how I appreciated this vast country as a land of opportunities and the fact that I can grow to be a better person and a dedicated, passionate journalist who can make a difference." What she found in Canada was that making a difference isn't that easy. First you have to find someone willing to take a chance on you.

"The very first months of living in Canada were challenging," says Aghvami. "I was quite motivated to find my way in this society. I was confident I could be a successful journalist here. But the reality of life and the process of job finding hit me hard when I knocked on almost all the (media) doors and got no answer."

This surprised Aghvami. She lived in Iran while it was going through a revolution -- a devastating war that left almost two million people dead. During that time, she was able to work as a journalist. She was sure her work experience would be valuable to any Canadian media service, considering the current turmoil in the Middle East.

"I expected that by travelling to so many countries in the Middle East and Europe and the fact that many Canadian journalists had never had a chance to experience journalism the way a foreign-trained journalist has witnessed, I would be very welcomed in the Canadian media and find a voice to tell stories from the world events that I had witnessed."

But the first job Aghvami was offered here came a few months after her arrival. An American insurance company hired her as a claims examiner. "I couldn't stand being there," Aghvami recalls . "I still considered myself a professional journalist."

Aghvami eventually left the insurance company to pursue a job as a journalist. After three months of free labour, another three months of minimum wage and months of networking, she was able to land a job as a translator and later as an #OOPS#ociate producer with The Fifth Estate on CBC. When her contract at the CBC ended, Aghvami found freelance work at the History Channel. She now works as a reporter and journalist for Voice of America's Canadian office and she does freelance work with Canadian and American television and radio stations. And her work has been recognized. This past May, Aghvami won the Newcomer's Achievement Award handed out by JVS Toronto (Jobs/Vision/Success), an organization that helps newcomers find work. And last month she was voted president of JEX (Journalists in Exile), an organization she is proud to be accommodated with.

"JEX is like a box of jewels," says Aghvami. "Our members are foreign-trained journalists and many are in exile in Canada. They are from many different countries, from Africa to the Middle East and South America. They have been tortured, imprisoned or their lives have been under serious danger. Now they safely live in Canada and the main challenge they face is finding work."

Like herself, Aghvami feels many journalists in JEX would be a benefit to any newsroom across the country.

"We are living in a 'New Canada' now. We cannot reflect the realities of Canada's mosaic unless we bring diversity to our newsrooms. Diversity is not hiring TV and radio hosts from ethnic groups or people of colour. We need to transform the way we cover our stories, the way communities are living their lives in Canada."

For more information about JEX call 416-515-9622 ext. 226.

The Canadian Encyclopedia

Iran, formerly known as Persia, is one of the oldest civilizations of the world. Iranians/Persians were of the Zoroastrian faith, converted to Islam following the 7th century Arab-Islamic conquest. A southwestern Asian country with a population of over 60 million, Iran is home to different national and ethnic groups, including the Fars (majority), Azaris, Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians, Lors, Turkmens and Baluchis. The official language is Farsi or Persian. Iranians are predominantly Shi'i MUSLIMS but there are different religious minorities including Sunni Moslems, Christians of various denominations, JEWS, Zoroastrians and BAHA'IS. Like other nations, Iran has a considerable secular laity.

Origin
Iranians are a relatively new community in Canada. As late as WWII there were only about a dozen Iranians in the country. IMMIGRATION remained very low through the 1950s and 60s, ranging from less than ten to over a hundred annually. In the 1970s the rate increased, from about a hundred a year to close to 600 in 1978. During this period, a growing number of visa students came to Canada. After the 1979 Iranian revolution that overthrew the monarchy and brought the Islamic government to power, immigration figures rose to over a thousand per year. In the 1980s and during most of the 1990s several thousand Iranians came to Canada each year.

Before the 1970s Iranians migrated to Canada mostly for educational and economic or investment opportunities. However, the majority who came later, particularly in the 1980s, were escaping political and religious persecution, and cultural and social repression imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Iran-Iraq war. In the 1990s, in addition to political refugees, a growing number of Iranians came to Canada as entrepreneurs and investors. The latest published immigration data shows that over 12% of Iranian immigrants in 1994 were entrepreneurs and investors.

Demography
According to the 1996 census, there were 62 385 Persian-speaking Iranians in Canada (60 280 single response and 2105 multiple response). This represents a 28% increase over the 1991 census figure of 43 210. The majority are male and the proportion of women slightly increased from the 1985 figure of 41%.

Iranians in Canada are a young population. The 1996 census revealed that about 12% were under the age of 10 and 22% were between the ages of 10 and 24. The largest age group was between 25 and 39, representing about 35% of Iranians in Canada. Only 6.5% of Iranians were over the age of 60.

Settlement Patterns
The vast majority of Iranian immigrants come from urban areas, particularly large and mid-size cities, and continue to live in major urban centres in Canada. Ontario, particularly Toronto, has the largest concentration of Iranians. According to the 1996 census 56% of Iranians lived in Ontario, 15% in Quebec and 23% in British Columbia.

Economic Life
With their relatively high level of education, Iranians are involved in a wide variety of economic activities, ranging from self-employed small and medium-size businesses, to large businesses. There are also several Iranian business tycoons in BC, Alberta and Ontario. Many are involved in the import/export business, particularly in trade with Iran, and in items such as Persian carpets, which in recent years have become more popular in Canada. In terms of occupational groups, Iranians fall into diverse categories including workers, shopkeepers, civil servants, cab drivers, managers, academics, lawyers, physicians, real estate agents, scientists, artists, engineers, computer specialists, journalists, teachers and social workers. Consistent with the young average age of the community, a significant number of Iranians are students at primary, secondary and post-secondary education institutions.

Community and Cultural Life
As a relatively new immigrant community, and compared with older immigrant communities, the Iranian community does not yet have a high level of cohesion. Iranians are spread throughout the cities in which they reside and there is no "little Iran" in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. Diverse backgrounds in terms of class, ethnicity, religion, politics and ideology, along with Iranians' enormous capacity for assimilation, contribute to the community's relative incohesiveness. Yet Iranians share a great pride in their culture and history; instead of a single group, they form a vibrant mix of sub-communities sharing a common language and history.

The Iranian passion for poetry and literature forms the basis of regular gatherings in different cities, sometimes several times a month, where Iranian poets and writers, both visiting and local, recite their works. There is also a wide variety of other cultural activities, including concerts, plays, film screenings, sports and art exhibitions. The Iranian Writers' Association of Canada, the Iranian Artists' Association of Ontario and the Centre Culturelle et Communautaire des Iranians in Montréal are among many volunteer organizations established by the community to enhance literacy and artistic activities. There are several Farsi/Persian weekly and monthly newspapers, radio and TV programs, video and music stores, and Persian bookstores in major Canadian cities. As the Iranian community grows larger, and other Canadians acquire the taste for Persian cuisine, an increasing number of Persian cafes, restaurants and the popular "chelo-kebabis" are also being opened in large cities.

Practising Muslim Iranians, in addition to familial institutions, use the already existing mosques and Islamic institutions established by the larger Muslim community in Canada.

Political Life
Iranians' participation in the electoral process is still limited. Yet there are indications that the level of participation is on the rise. In the 1997 provincial elections in Ontario, there were two Iranian candidates on the NDP list and several Iranian candidates ran for the Board of Education. However, many Iranians, the majority of whom came to Canada as political refugees, are preoccupied with the politics of Iran. In addition to political opposition groups and organizations, there exists a multitude of human rights organizations dealing with the situation of political prisoners and political refugees, such as the Organization for the Defence of Political Prisoners in Iran, the Society for the Defence of Refugees and the Council of Refugees.

Group Maintenance
Though familial ties are strong in Iranian households, the realities of immigration and exile have taken a toll on family relations. As in other communities, Iranian families experience conflicts, both between couples and between parents and their children. Having gained economic independence and access to supportive social institutions, many Iranian women are questioning patriarchal relations and increasingly demand change in traditional familial relations. The new realities lead to improved family relations in some cases and divorce in others. Tension is also felt between the first- and second-generation Iranians who are mostly younger and are being brought up with different values and norms.

There are many support organizations for the Iranian community. The Iranian Associations in each of the provinces are notable examples. Among their numerous activities and initiatives, they provide services to new immigrants, organize classes and run Persian libraries. As well there are several family counselling organizations, women's associations and women's magazines dealing with family and women's issues. To preserve the Persian heritage language, which is cherished by all Iranian households, there are Persian schools and classes throughout Canada's major urban centres. Many Canadian agencies and organizations have sections that specifically provide services to Iranian-Canadians.

Toronto Star, Friday Dec 10, 2004

Engineers from Iran get help finding work here, as engineers!

JOE FIORITO

Saeed Ziaee is a mechanical engineer. He came here from Iran a dozen years ago. You might say he felt the need for change. He opposed the Shah; he adds, with a rueful laugh, that he was also the first man thrown in jail after the revolution. He now runs a successful business in Toronto, making medical breathing devices to deliver oxygen or other gases, and also a mask to aid the breathing of those with sleep apnea. He uses 3D imaging to custom-fit the masks to the face of the wearer.

You know how, when people with professional degrees move here from other countries, they can't find work because they don't have Canadian experience? The thing about engineers is that they know how to solve problems.

Saeed decided to get involved in a mentoring program as a way of helping newly arrived Iranian engineers to find work, not as cabbies or cleaners but as — get this — engineers.

The program helps newcomers learn the Canadian job marketplace, teaches them how to adapt their resumىs, gets them involved in networking and so on.

He met with three of his proteges on a recent evening in his office, near Don Mills Rd. and the 401. On the table in the boardroom was a plate of cookies, a box of doughnuts, a pot of coffee; two boxes of pizza on the credenza; engineering food.

This was to be the last meeting of the first group of proteges, and they talked deep into the night.

Alex Afkhani: "I have experience in designing extruders, saws, vacuum sizers, all kinds of machines. How long did it take me to find a job? Since the very beginning? Nine months and nine days. Since the start of the mentoring program? Less than two months.

"What are the challenges to finding work? I am 30 years old. I have 12 years of experience. I started working as an engineer when I was 18. In Iranian culture, we give opportunity to young people to prove themselves, we give them time. Here, they don't believe your experience."

Saeed agreed and he explained, "The business model here is different. In Iran, salary is not such a big expense for an employer. Here, salary is a very big expense. That's why companies hire carefully." I think he is being generous in his assessment of why some companies are careful about hiring foreign-trained professionals, but let it pass; generosity is a good thing.

Alex: "I had 14 or 15 interviews. In one interview — I still can't believe this — a man told me he didn't know Iran had enough electricity to make aluminum." It seems some of us here are not aware, or perhaps we don't want to believe, that Iran is a modern, well-educated, highly sophisticated society; Alex was patient with his interviewer; patience, like generosity, is a good thing.

Alex likes his new job.

Mehrnaz Tabibi is 40. She has been in Canada for two years. She said, "I haven't worked yet. I'm a mechanical engineer. In Iran, I was a supervisor of quality assurance in the auto industry. The last company I worked for, I was designing robots. I'm wondering — some people say it's better here to study first, but others say there should not be such a big gap between jobs. I'm not sure.

"In my work, I like to change every few years. I want to learn new things. In Iran, you can manoeuvre between fields. Here, it's more of a straight line. In Iran, I was working in three positions simultaneously."

Saeed put a positive spin on her work history. "You now have three different resumىs from three different experiences." The ability to adapt; another good thing, yes?

Behzad Sichani came to Canada four years ago. He is tall and slim, with a thin moustache and an observant manner. "Why did I come here? The reality? My wife would like to give our child a better life. She pushed me." He smiled at the thought of his wife, pushing.

"I have a contract job for two months. I just started. I'm a mechanical designer in the automotive industry. We design grippers for robot arms. It's very similar to the last job I had in Turkey, very similar. But it is a two-month contract. I don't know if it will continue."

Saeed offered some useful advice. "If you show you are helping, your supervisor will keep you. You have to figure out what his problems are and how you can provide a solution, so that he feels he can rely on you." That's good advice, not just for engineers.

Behzad said he found work as a computer technician when he first arrived in Canada. It was a survival job and not the best use of his skills, but it kept him afloat.

"Then, when we had our first child, I found I couldn't leave my job. But they made the decision for me. They laid me off." He found his current job with the help of an agency. He feels like an engineer again.

Because Saeed and all the proteges are Iranian, they share a built-in understanding of the problems they face. They trust each other, and they support each other, and it seems to be working; five of the original six proteges have found jobs here as engineers. Saeed will take on a new set of proteges in January.