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# Qissa

The home of storytelling

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://qissa.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://qissa.org/blog/)

## Pages

- [Home](https://qissa.org/) - About us A non-profit organization founded by anthropologists, oral-historians and writers, Anam Zakaria and Haroon Khalid, Qissa is a storytelling platform that documents, archives, and exhibits oral histories of immigrants to Canada. Telling the stories of immigrants in their own voices, Qissa challenges the western gaze through which stories of immigrants are framed. Starting as an artistic collective
- [Driving Canada: A Digital Exhibition](https://qissa.org/driving-canada-a-digital-exhibition/) - Qissa, in partnership with the Toronto Ward Museum, is developing Driving Canada: A Digital Exhibition with support from the Digital Museums Canada investment program. Driving Canada is an interactive online exhibition that highlights the oral histories of immigrants and refugees in Canada who currently drive — or have driven — Uber. These narratives, collected by Qissa in collaboration with the Canadian Museum
- [Contact](https://qissa.org/contact/) - For general queries: info@qissa.org To reach out to Anam Zakaria: anam@qissa.org To reach out to Haroon Khalid: haroon@qissa.org Join our mailing list for updates on Qissa’s events, projects, and new stories. Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Organization Name /* real people should not fill this in and expect good
- [Qissa Festival: Celebrating Newcomer & Refugee Writers](https://qissa.org/qissa-festival-celebrating-newcomer-refugee-writers/) - Qissa Festival: Celebrating Newcomer & Refugee Writers is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival that celebrates the creative work of newcomer and refugee artists in Canada. Bringing together literature, storytelling, music, performance, film, exhibitions, and community experiences, the festival creates space for artists to share original work while engaging audiences in deeper conversations about migration, memory,
- [2026 Qissa Festival](https://qissa.org/2026qissafestival/) - The inaugural Qissa Festival took place on March 29, 2026, at Small World Music Centre in Toronto. Bringing together literature, performance, music, film, and conversation, the festival featured a full day of programming developed through a series of collaborative workshops with eight newcomer and refugee writers. The festival explored themes of migration, memory, identity, labour,
- [North Battleford Immigrant Oral History Project](https://qissa.org/north-battleford-immigrant-oral-history-project/) - The North Battleford Immigrant Oral History Project documents the lives, journeys, and contributions of immigrants living in North Battleford and the surrounding region.Through in-depth oral history interviews, the project explores what migration looks like beyond Canada’s largest urban centres. In May 2026, Qissa recorded 10 oral history interviews with immigrants from different parts of the
- [Donate](https://qissa.org/support/) - Donations are made via the provided form with our partner, The Veritas Foundation and will receive a charitable tax credit. Charity Number #732323126 RR0001
- [Services](https://qissa.org/services-2/) - At Qissa, we offer a range of tailored services—including qualitative research, workshops, and consultancies—designed to foster inclusivity, amplify underrepresented voices, and inspire meaningful change. Guided by over 17 years of expertise in research, storytelling, and community engagement, we believe in the transformative power of stories to build empathy, challenge biases, and strengthen communities.
- [Media](https://qissa.org/media-coverage/) - Coverage of Driving Canada: A Front Seat View of Immigration through Uber, a collaborative project between Qissa and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. OMNI News Punjabi, October 3, 2024.
- [Our Projects](https://qissa.org/our-work/) - At Qissa, we are dedicated to uncovering, documenting, and amplifying stories that reflect the richness and complexity of immigrant and diasporic experiences. Through innovative projects, such as Driving Canada: A Front Seat View of Immigration through Uber and Diasporic Communities, we explore the diverse narratives of individuals and communities, creating archives that preserve history, challenge
- [Diasporic Communities](https://qissa.org/diasporic-communities/) - Diasporic Communities is an ongoing Qissa initiative dedicated to documenting and archiving the oral histories of individuals from diverse diasporic communities in Canada who immigrated before 2000. Through these personal narratives, the project uncovers the unique and nuanced experiences of earlier immigrants, offering valuable insights into how Canada’s social, cultural, and economic landscape has transformed
- [What is Qissa?](https://qissa.org/156-2/) - Qissa is a story. It is the encapsulation of a community’s history, philosophy, sensibilities, culture, and politics expressed through stories, legends and fables. Qissa is also an escape from this reality. Sitting around a qissa khawan – a storyteller – a community emerged, brought together by the power of narrative, the power of qissa. The
- [Board](https://qissa.org/154-2/)
- [Vision & Mission](https://qissa.org/152-2/) - Vision To become Canada’s leading community archive of immigrant oral histories, creating a vibrant, interactive space that showcases the rich and diverse experiences of newcomers and weaves their stories into the larger narrative of Canada. Mission At Qissa, we amplify the voices of immigrants by preserving and sharing their oral histories through innovative and inclusive
- [Driving Canada](https://qissa.org/driving-canada-a-front-seat-view-of-immigration-through-uber/) - Gallery Top row (left to right): Yalgar Singh and Niharika Aggarwal, Rammah Mohammad, Mehakjot SinghG Botton row (left to right): Mohd Javed Khokar, Haroon Khalid, Anam Zakaria Photo Credit: Darryl LeBlanc from the project, Driving Canada: A Front Seat View of Immigration through Uber, in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- [About Us](https://qissa.org/about/) - A non-profit organization founded by anthropologists, oral-historians and writers, Anam Zakaria and Haroon Khalid, Qissa is a storytelling platform that documents, archives, and exhibits oral histories of immigrants to Canada. Telling the stories of immigrants in their own voices, Qissa challenges the western gaze through which stories of immigrants are framed. Starting as an artistic
- [Exhibitions](https://qissa.org/exhibitions/) - Qissa develops innovative digital and physical exhibitions grounded in the oral histories we collect. Each exhibition transforms immigrant stories into immersive experiences that deepen understanding and spark dialogue. If you’re interested in collaborating with us to create or host an exhibition, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at info@qissa.org.
- [Driving Canada at WES’ 25th Anniversary](https://qissa.org/driving-canada-at-wes-25th-anniversary/) - In May 2025, Qissa brought Driving Canada to life at World Education Services' (WES) 25th Anniversary celebrations in Toronto through a pop-up exhibition. Through multimedia storytelling, the exhibition brought forth stories of immigrant underemployment, and gave voice to personal experiences behind each ride - the aspirations, years of experience, and unrelenting sense of optimism. We
- [Creative Canada](https://qissa.org/creative-canada/) - Creative Canada is a video-based oral history project documenting the lives and creative journeys of immigrant and refugee artists in Canada. Through recorded interviews, the project explores how artists navigate shifting geographies, audiences, and expectations while continuing to create—in dance studios, living rooms, classrooms, and gig jobs. This project is part of Qissa’s oral history
- [Consultancies](https://qissa.org/consultancy/) - With a deep understanding of newcomer experiences and the challenges of integration, our consultancy services are designed to help organizations create more inclusive and welcoming spaces: 1. Newcomer Experiences: Understand the unique journeys and needs of immigrants.2. Cultural Consultancy: Develop actionable plans to foster belonging in diverse environments.3. Storytelling and Narrative Consultancy: Craft narratives that reflect diversity and
- [Workshops](https://qissa.org/workshops/) - Harness the power of storytelling to foster understanding, challenge biases, and build new narratives. With their years of experience as educators, writers, and researchers, Haroon and Anam deliver workshops that are insightful, practical, and impactful: 1. Hone your Craft: Individual mentorship on the literary craft (fiction and non-fiction). 2. Storytelling and Narrative Development: Learn to craft compelling and
- [Qualitative Research](https://qissa.org/qualitative-research/) - Our team specializes in capturing the richness of lived experiences through qualitative methods. Drawing on Haroon Khalid and Anam Zakaria’s background in anthropology, and expertise in oral histories and narrative-building, we offer: 1. Life Stories & Oral Histories: Capturing personal journeys and intergenerational memories.2. Qualitative Interviews: In-depth explorations to understand individual and community experiences.3. Organizational Histories: Documenting the