Tariq Gordon
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News & Events

Visit to Camp Canada, ASAB, Kuwait

2/4/2022

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Great visit with Ambassador of Canada to Kuwait Aliya Mawani, to Camp Canada, at Ali Al Salem Air Base, in Kuwait, on February 03, 2022.
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The Honour Guard proceeds to a General Salutes for the Ambassador. Photo Credit: Sailor First Class Anne-Marie Brisson, OPERATION IMPACT
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Group picture with the JTF-I Commander. Photo Credit: Sailor First Class Anne-Marie Brisson, OPERATION IMPACT
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Kitcherner-Waterloo Art Gallery features recent gift of art: "The Oblivion Seekers"

2/1/2022

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I am pleased to share that the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) is exhibiting a gift of art that I made in 2020 of my mother Jamelie Hassan's art work: The Oblivion Seekers. This mixed media work is on exhibit from January 28, 2022 until May 29, 2022.  There will be a curator’s tour Saturday February 26, 2022 at 1:00 PM in an exhibition titled "At the Far Edge of Worlds", curated by Žana Kozomora.  Please see the KWAG post here.
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Here is the background on the work from the KWAG site: "Working across a variety of media and often addressing history’s marginalized chapters, Jamelie Hassan’s career since the early 1970s can be characterized by its close examination of cultural customs. The Oblivion Seekers assembles found and created components that situate identity somewhere between the often-simplified binaries of ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern.’ Within this shifting space, Hassan interrogates colonial archives to highlight joy and perseverance in activist gestures.

The Oblivion Seekers illustrates both lived and imposed interpretations of Islamic identity. The ten components include a dominant ink drawing that reflects both genuine and Orientalist imagery; rearticulated archival images; a small lacquered wood souvenir spoon; a child’s jacket (gifted to Hassan’s younger brother by their Uncle Hanny); and a vinyl recording of Prof. Elie Younes and his Orchestra. Central among these is a short video loop that combines black and white local news footage documenting the first Muslim convention in Canada, organized and hosted by members of London, Ontario’s Muslim community in 1955, with colour 8mm film from the Hassan family’s home videos. Members of the Hassan family, including the artist herself at the age of 7, appear in the archival news footage – a discovery that resonated in Hassan’s work for years to come."
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Honoured to receive a NATO Mission to Iraq coin from the Commander

11/7/2020

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Honoured to have received a NATO Mission to Iraq coin by Commander Major-général Jennie Carignan.
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Team Kuwait participates in Wounded Warriors Canada's Virtual Ride For Mental Health

8/22/2020

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I am pleased to have participated in the Wounded Warriors Canada Virtual Ride For Mental Health along with colleagues from the Embassy of Canada to Kuwait. This national event was an opportunity to raise funds to support the mental health of our Veterans, First Responders and their families. Please consider making a pledge to the ride here.
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Remembering Hisham Al Hashimi

8/15/2020

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Portrait of Hisham Al Hashimi, Dave Gordon
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Hisham Al Hashimi speaking on TV
Today friends and family of renown Iraqi academic and government adviser Hisham Al Hashimi commemorate the 40th day (Arba'een) since his death on July 6, 2020. Hisham was a good friend to the diplomatic community and generous with his time. He shared his knowledge and was a prolific writer and researcher. 

Hisham was assassinated in front of his home, his death was felt personally by everyone who knew him. Following his death, I commissioned my father Dave Gordon to paint a portrait of Hisham to remember him. Below is a statement from his colleagues at the Iraq Advisory Council.  

​Statement by the Iraq Advisory Council:
 
Husham, your life’s work will not be forgotten.
 
The Iraq Advisory Council (IAC), together with the academic and research community and honourable people who seek peace and freedom, remember today our friend Dr. Husham Alhashimi, God bless his soul. 
 
Husham’s assassination left deep wounds and sorrow in the hearts of the people who loved and admired him for the noble beliefs he held in building a sovereign state that is at peace with its people and free from tyranny and oppression. A state where human rights are embraced and where the freedom of its people are protected under the rule of law. 
 
On the Arba’een of his assassination, we renew our condemnation of this heinous crime – the murder of one of IAC’s key members – and remind the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi of its national, legal and moral responsibility to protect authentic national voices, and to work towards providing a safe environment for activists while ensuring their freedom from harassment and intimidation of all kinds. We enquire again as to the result of the pledge that was made by the Prime Minister to the Iraqi people, and to the family of Husham, to find and prosecute the perpetrators of this terrible crime.
 
The Iraq Advisory Council is determined to memorialise this national tragedy in a manner that honours his legacy and consolidates his scholarly contributions by holding an international forum next July on the 1st anniversary of his assassination, entitled the IAC Husham Alhashimi Forum, with the participation and partnership of renowned research centres and think tanks from all around the globe. 
 
IAC reiterates its call on the Iraqi authorities to track down the perpetrators of his murder and to bring them to justice to ensure that the blood of Husham was not spilt in vain.
 
Our heartfelt condolences to all friends and family of Husham and we pray to God to have mercy on his soul and may he rest in peace.
 
Board of Directors of Iraq Advisory Council
15th August 2020
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Woodstock Art Gallery's Dance Me to the End of Love: A Virtual Exhibition ​now online

7/6/2020

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Close up of watercolour, Light Upon Light, 1997
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Watercolour, Light Upon light, on display at the Woodstock Art Gallery
The watercolour, Light Upon Light (in memory of Emina Hadzic Hassan), May 20, 1997, is currently on exhibit until January 23, 2021, at the Woodstock Art Gallery's Dance Me to the End of Love: A Virtual Exhibition ​

In 2016, I donated the watercolour, painted by my mother, Jamelie Hassan, to the Woodstock Art Gallery. 

This watercolour was painted in memory of my cousin Ali's wife Emina who passed away in May of 1997. The title of the work comes from the 35th verse of the 24th Sura of the Koran, known as the "Verse of Light." Plants, oriental tiles, ceramics and lanterns are common motifs in my mother's work.
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Honouring Michael Kovrig

6/21/2020

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The recent news that the Government of China has formally charged Michael Kovrig with espionage is a sad and alarming development in this tragic case of unlawful detention. Michael was on leave from Global Affairs Canada and working for the International Crisis Group when he was arrested on December 10, 2018. 

My dad, Dave Gordon, painted this portrait of Michael for me to honour my friend and colleague. I have a deep sense of grief when I think about his situation and I hope for his release. Read more about Michael's case and my friendship with him here. 

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Canadian diplomats launch #CanadaUNSC video in Arabic

6/10/2020

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It was a milestone for Arabic speaking Canadian diplomats when they collaborated on a video to promote Canada's UNSC campaign on social media. I was happy to make small cameo appearance!
Click here for the video
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Is this a Sakr or Peregrine falcon?

6/4/2020

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Not sure what kind of falcon this is, but friends have suggested it is a Sakr or Oqab falcon, which is common in the Gulf. It stopped by for a visit last week.
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Kuwait City under lockdown.

6/3/2020

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Kuwait city under lockdown. View from Salmiya of Marina Crescent. 
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    Tariq Gordon

    Canadian diplomat.

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Canada is situated on the traditional territory of First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples from coast to coast to coast. 

​I was born in London, Ontario, which is on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples, at the forks of Deshkan Ziibi (Antler River), an area subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and other treaties.

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