Farah Kalbouneh
A dedicated political activist, Farah Kalbouneh is running to become the representative for Mississauga South in the upcoming federal election. Known for bringing forth new ideas, Farah wants to lead the city of Mississauga towards progressive development. “I want to address many issues that are overlooked,” she says. “ I also want to help nurture emerging technological industries, provide opportunities for small businesses to grow, advance our transit system and reform the health care system. The environment is also a priority, I want to turn people’s attention to how installing and using renewable energy – such as solar panels – can save them money and is environmentally friendly.” Advancing our market does not have to come at the expense of the average consumer. While maintaining low interest rates and stable inflation, the government has the capacity to allocate resources to industries that will help employment. Unfortunately taxpayer’s money is wastefully used on events such as G20 and corruption schemes such as the Office of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner PSIC.
When Farah was twelve-years-old, her family migrated to Canada from Jordan. In 2000, Farah and her three siblings arrived to Canada along with their parents Mazen Kalbouneh and Fairouz Adi. The Kalbouneh family settled in Mississauga, where Farah attended Erin Mills Middle School, Erindale Secondary School, Rick Hansen High School and the University of Toronto, Mississauga.
As a recent graduate from the University of Toronto Mississauga, Farah holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree, specializing in political science with a minor in philosophy. Throughout her years as a full-time university student, Farah worked for the Royal Bank of Canada as a Cards Credit Customer Service Representative. Since her graduation, she has successfully completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and Conduct and Practices Handbook (CPH). Currently, Farah works for RBC Direct Investing as an Investment Service Representative.
As an activist, Farah has assisted many organizations in reaching their goals. Recently at work, she took part in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) ride. As a team captain, she was in charge of raising money to help find a cure for diabetes. Farah has also worked with UTM/TV, a student-run television station at the UTM campus, where she was an Associate Producer. Her role required her to videotape and edit Public Service Announcements for various clubs on campus. To learn more about UTM/TV, please visit www.utmtv.ca
Despite Farah’s hectic schedule, she still felt the need to pursue a task that appealed to her interest in politics—one that she developed at a very young age. Farah traces this back to her grandfather, Mustafa Dawrish Adi. “My grandfather inspired me to become an outspoken individual,” Farah explains. Mustafa Darwish Adi is a Palestinian scholar and a professor. For decades, he worked as a current affair columnist at the Jordanian newspaper Al-Ra’e. “In many ways, I feel that I take after my grandfather’s passion and plea to make the world a better place.”
Farah’s passion for politics combined with her interest in Middle Eastern affairs lead her to take part in a collaborative publication called Yalla. The journal was created in an effort to provide Palestinian and Jewish youth with a safe space to engage in dialogue. For more information about Yalla, please visit www.yallajournal.com
In addition to her role in Yalla, Farah has worked with several organizations and groups including United Way, Canadian Arab Federation and Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament movements.
Today, at the age of twenty-two Farah’s experiences has provided her with valuable skills and knowledge that will help her guide Mississauga South on the path to success.
If elected, Farah promises to support legislation that will make it easier for individuals to open and maintain their own business. “My vision is for Canada to be a leading nation in numerous industries including manufacturing and innovative new technologies. More importantly, I will fight to keep good jobs at home and ensure that Canada’s middle class is protected.” She adds, “my banking experience in credit and my knowledge in securities will guide my decisions on the market and consumer protection.” Farah is dedicated to change the face of politics, so help her make the government work for you.
