The 2018 NSLA/LBANS “Be Bold” Conference Keynote Speaker

Peace by Chocolate’s Tareq Hadhad will be the Keynote at the 2018 NSLA/LBANS “Be Bold” Conference in Yarmouth, N.S. from Sept. 28 to 30.

In 2012, the Hadhads’ home and factory that housed the family chocolate-making business were destroyed which forced them to seek safety in other countries.

“Mr. Hadhad will share his inspiring story of a family escaping the war in Syria, coming to Canada, and re-establishing a successful family business in Antigonish, Nova Scotia,” says co-chair Erin Comeau. “Tareq’s participation is a welcome addition to the program and his story is sure to motivate audience members to accept new challenges, be creative, and embrace change.”

Hadhad was a Syrian refugee, longtime peacekeeping advocate and is now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family in Canada. He is the founder of Peace by Chocolate and a medical researcher and is passionate about peace and entrepreneurship.

Peace by Chocolate started with a humble beginning, turning out chocolates from the family’s new kitchen. Today they are making about 250,000 pieces of chocolate a month with plans to triple the production in their new factory in Antigonish.

This is Tareq Hadhad’s message: “If you offer the newcomers a welcoming arm, kindness and support, they can succeed faster.”

In addition to the keynote speech, One Book Nova Scotia 2018 author Kathleen Winter will discuss and read from the 2018 selection Annabel.

The 2018 NSLA/LBANS annual conference runs from Sept. 28-30 at the Rodd Grand Hotel and Conference Centre in Yarmouth. Conference registration is open to both association members and non-members. For all the details, visit the conference website.