✍️ Why I Wrote My Ismaili Adventure

✍️ Why I Wrote My Ismaili Adventure Introducing the My Ismaili Series I didn’t set out to write a children’s book. I set out to answer a question — one that came in many forms:How do I explain this to my child?What do I say to my student, my partner, my friend?What does it mean […]

✍️ Shared Threads – National Indigenous Peoples Day

When my son stood in a jersey designed by Tanner Timothy — a Coast Salish artist — he wasn’t just wearing something beautiful. He was carrying a story.

The Ismaili Youth Soccer Academy partnered with Tanner to create jerseys that honoured Indigenous visual language and Ismaili identity. That blending — that shared respect — was more than symbolism. It was connection. It was presence.

Keeping the Crunch: Caregiving, Culture, and the Courage to Stay Whole

There’s a phrase I’ve been using a lot lately: don’t be the soggy lettuce. Too many women—especially those of us in the sandwich generation—lose our crispness under the weight of caregiving, expectation, and cultural obligation. We become wilted, invisible, overextended. We forget what it feels like to taste our own joy, to hold our shape. […]

Of Spice and Story: Tracing Identity Through Ismaili Memory

May is Asian Heritage Month. And yet, every time the calendar reminds me, I pause—not from pride, but from complexity. I wasn’t born in India, not even East Africa. I was born in Calgary, after my parents had already made their way here—and before my grandparents joined us. And yet, when I speak of Nairobi […]

Navigating Childhood Grief: A Personal Reflection on Supporting Young Hearts

Grief is a journey we may start at any age, but for children, it often feels confusing and overwhelming. Reflecting on my own experiences, I remember losing my brother and grandfather as a young child, and other loved ones as I grew older. With each, I learned something new about grief’s impact and the ways […]

Beyond Medical Care: What to Consider When Selecting a Care Home

Choosing a care home for your loved one can feel overwhelming, especially when so many factors go beyond medical care. From personal experience navigating this complex system, I’ve come to realize that the environment and culture of a care home can significantly impact a resident’s quality of life. Environment and Aesthetics The layout and paint […]