Mansoor Ladha, an author and veteran journalist who has held various senior editorial positions in many prominent newspapers in Alberta and across the world, was in Airdrie on September 22 to discuss his newest book: Memoirs of a Muhindi: Fleeing East Africa for the West.
Ladha, who was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania, came to Canada in 1972. He said one of the greatest challenges of his journey as an immigrant to Canada was finding work in his field of expertise. Although he held a degree from the prestigious Cardiff university in Wales and had been the features editor of the leading Tanzanian English daily, The Standard, as well as a copy editor with the Daily Nation in Nairobi, Kenya, employers in Canada rejected him because they claimed he had no Canadian market experience. He underlined that this can be one of many circular barriers immigrants face as employers want Canadian-specific experience, though they are not always willing to employ immigrants to give them that experience.
However, Ladha said that his advice to newly arrived immigrants to Canada is to continue to try and persevere. as he did. Eventually, Ladha was employed in Alberta by the Edmonton Sun and was awarded the Silver Quill Award by the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association for his 25 years of distinguished service to newspapers. He was also given the Caring Canadian Award by the Governor General of Canada.
During his presentation at the Airdrie Public Library, Ladha said he had a stimulating and enlightening discussion with all those present and said he was humbled by all those who came to listen to him speak.
Ladha also published a book in 2008, titled: A Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims. His most recent book which is currently available at the Airdrie Public Library details his memories of what happened when then Ugandan president Idi Amin expelled Africans of Indian descent from the country in 1972.
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