Early Lebanese Immigrants

The Jabalee’s were just one the many Lebanese families that made North Sydney home. According to Canada’s Historic Places website, “During the first decades of the twentieth century many Lebanese and Syrian families immigrated to Nova Scotia. The largest population was located in North Sydney”. “Most Lebanese and Jews did not come to Cape Breton to work in industry; however, their interest lay instead in private enterprise such as selling dry goods and jewelry, or peddling their wares, often on foot in remote areas of the Island.”

The first Lebanese immigrants to North Sydney arrived in the early 1890’s and included Habib Ballah, his brother Joseph Ballah and their nephew Salim Kawaja. David J. Rahey and his brother-in-law Assaf Jabalee and nephew Richard Jabalee arrived soon after.

Over the next two decades, more families arrived, usually sponsored by relatives already here. By the time WW1 started, several neighborhood blocks in the downtown area had Lebanese families. Their surnames were: Andrea, Alteen, Astephen, Garbanzo, Goora, Hanna, Jabalee, Jamael, Joseph, Kasouf, Kawaja, Kelloff, Khattar, Naddaf, Nader, Shebib, Shwery, and Rahey. Most came from the capitol Beirut and the villages of Zahle, Hadath El Jebbeh and Batroun.

Many of the immigrants followed a similar pattern: peddling their wares in the countryside across Cape Breton until they saved enough to open a small business before going on to start a larger business venture. Grocery, furniture and clothing were the most popular choices. It is worth noting that many of the Lebanese women were involved in the running of businesses, too. Research has revealed that as many as 60 businesses were operated by entrepreneurs of Lebanese heritage, quite a large number for a small town like North Sydney.

Due to out-migration, many of the families have moved on, however, there are several 5th and 6th generation Lebanese Nova Scotians still living in the Northside community today. In 2018, the North Sydney & Area Lebanese Heritage Society was established to help preserve their culture and heritage.

Source: Description provided by the North Sydney & Area Lebanese Heritage Society and edited by Dan Bunbury.