Episode 8: The Accent That Saved Me
We all have accents, whether we realize it or not. And in Canada, those who come from outside the borders often are penalized and judged for the sound of their voice. Who we are can often get lost. But what if who we are saves us and keeps us pressing forward, empowering us to be proud and loud of a voice that is our own?
That’s what happened with our first guest of season two, Gurasis Singh - immigrant to Canada and founder of the 'My Thick Accent’ podcast. Gurasis shares his journey from Punjab, India, to Canada, where he faced constant discrimination related to his own accent. He’ll expose the emotional toll of assimilation, the struggles we face when people won’t accept us as we are, and the incredible need to embrace our own unique voice amidst societal pressures.
Accents shape our perception of self and are unique to all of us - even in Canada. While there is a tender balance between adaptation and maintaining one’s cultural identity, Canadians here need to create inclusive and respectful places for others. Period. Cause guess what, even Canadians have thick accents which are accepted without question.
We hope that our dialogue encourages listeners to celebrate their linguistic and cultural uniqueness, knowing that their voice is one of many in the beautiful symphony of sounds heard in this incredible world.