Meet the Board of Directors

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ܡܠܣܐ ܦܪܗܕ, Melissa Farhad, President

Melissa Farhad holds a Bachelors Degree in International Business and a Masters Degree in Management, and has been involved with CCAR since its inception. She started out as a dedicated volunteer and was elected to the executive board in 2018, becoming the Vice - President in 2020.

Melissa is once again honored to be voted into the role of the president of CCAR in 2022.

Being a proud Assyrian, Melissa has always made a point of seeking out, and passionately supporting, any local Assyrian organizations. While growing up in Germany, she was an active member of the ABDG Verein (Assyrian community group) in Wiesbaden. After relocating to Canada, Hamilton in 2009 she continued her volunteerism by fundraising for and supporting a number of local Assyrian run events and programs. Seeing a need for an organization that would preserve and promote Assyrian heritage and culture in Hamilton, she helped found the Bet Nahrain Assyrian Heritage Centre in 2015, and is still an active board member.

Melissa takes great pride in being Assyrian, and holds dear our traditions, both ancient and modern, and the collective stories that tie us together as a nation, and tell of our resilience and hope. She feels blessed and honored that she gets to work alongside equally devoted and passionate individuals in helping Assyrians take their place and find their voice in Canada.

Feel free to contact Melissa at president@ccarofficial.ca

ܐܘܡܬܐ ܫܙܢܘ,

Umta Shino,

Vice -

President

Umta Shino joined the Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations (CCAR) when she was elected as a Board of Director and Secretary in October 2015. She was elected President in April 2018 and served as President until July 2022. During her time on the CCAR Board, she helped to plan three Christmas in Assyria Concerts, a Christmas Recital, two Kha B’Nissan Galas and contributed to other events, such as dinner lectures and online lectures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Umta was elected Vice-President in July 2022.

Umta graduated from the Bachelor of Applied Arts Degree Program in Paralegal Studies from Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in June 2010 achieving honours standing during her studies. She is a paralegal licensee who has been in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario since 2010.

Umta is very passionate about giving back to the Assyrian community. She dedicates countless hours to CCAR. She is approachable and enjoys speaking with members of the Assyrian community to discuss what it is that they would like to see come to life for our community here in Canada. She has an open-door policy and welcomes your input.

Feel free to contact Umta at vice-president@ccarofficial.ca

ܢܪܓܠ ܐܒܪܗܝܡ, Nergal Ebraham, Secretary

Nergal Ebraham joined the Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations in hopes of being able to reconnect with his heritage and be able to do his part in the Assyrian community. Nergal currently holds the role of a secretary in the CCAR.

Nergal graduated from Mohawk College in 2018 and currently holds his RIBO license as an insurance broker. His responsibilities include servicing policies. making new business sales and underwriting risk. 

In his spare time Nergal volunteers for CityKidz and the Legion. After doing so for about 2 years, the next best thing would be volunteering in the Assyrian community and do the best job when it comes to spreading knowledge about Assyrian heritage and improve the relationship between Canadans and Assyrians. 


ܪܒܢ ܫܒܘܐ, Robin Shabo, Treasurer

Robin was born in Baghdad, Iraq but has called Canada home for the past 30 years. Like many other Assyrians, he and his family were forced to flee their homeland during the Iraq-Iran war in 1990, and spent the next three years in Greece as refugees. He immigrated to Canada in 1993, and has been in Hamilton, Ontario ever since.

Robin is fluent in both Assyrian and English, and is able to understand a little bit of spoken Arabic. He has earned a diploma in Desktop and Mobile support from Trios College, and is currently working for Rogers Communications as a technical support agent.

He started out as a dedicated volunteer and was elected to the executive board in 2020 and is honored to fulfill his new role of treasurer in 2022.

Robin loves Assyrian culture and history, and he has always looked for ways to help our people back home and in the diaspora. He hopes that in his lifetime we will be able to see Assyria exist as a country - as it already does in all of our hearts.

ܠܝܕܐ ܫܡܘܢ, Lida Shemun, Public Relations Officer

Lida is our new Public Relations Officer with a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer the Center for Canadian Assyrian Relations. Her impressive credentials include a Bachelor of Political Science Honours degree from Brock University, providing her with a deep understanding of the political landscape and the importance of effective communication.

Lida's career as a Mortgage Agent at Synergy Mortgage group has further honed her interpersonal and communication skills, making her a natural fit for public relations work. It has provided her with extensive experience in building relationships, managing client expectations, and negotiating complex deals. This experience has allowed her to develop strong interpersonal and communication skills that are essential for effective public relations work.

As a passionate advocate for Assyrian-Canadian issues, Lida is committed to using her skills and experience to raise awareness of the important work being done by the Center for Canadian Assyrian Relations. She is dedicated to building positive relationships with stakeholders, developing effective communication strategies, and ensuring that the organization's message is heard loud and clear.


ܪܡܢ ܬܡܘ, Ramin Tamou, Membership Chair

Ramin Tamou was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Ramin Tamou holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Political Science. Throughout the years. Ramin has volunteered in a few Assyrian organizations such as Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Student Union, the Shlama Foundation, and the Centre for Canadian-Assyrian relations.

Ramin has more than 4 years of experience working for the federal public service in Canada in various roles, from helping Canadians receive employment insurance benefits to determining eligibility for permanent residency and helping bring in new Canadians. Ramin is also fluent in English and Assyrian. His parents were born in Iraq and emigrated in the late 1980s, part of the early wave of Assyrians in Toronto.

Dedicated to serving Canadians, Ramin loves the opportunity to give a helping hand to the Canadian-Assyrian community and to continue his career in serving the public.

ܐܢܟܝ ܢܝܣܢ, Aneki Nissan, Community Outreach

Aneki Nissan was the first President of the Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations (CCAR) and is a founding member of the organization. Aneki has been a strong advocate for promoting the Assyrian culture and raising awareness about issues affecting the Assyrian community in Canada and abroad. Aneki has volunteered with the Assyrian community in Canada for nearly 25 years and has taken on various roles and responsibilities during this time.

In addition to his community work, Aneki also has a successful career in emergency services. He currently works as a Superintendent with Toronto Paramedic Services in the 911 Central Ambulance Communications Centre in Toronto.

Aneki has rejoined our leadership team and is now the Community Outreach Chair for CCAR, where he continues to work towards building bridges between the Assyrian community and other communities in Canada. He is a well-respected member of the Assyrian community and is known for his dedication, passion, and commitment to his work.