Category: Sackville’s Memorial park

Bambi does not have words to describe her dad to you, dear readers.

Some of you have met him in person in Lebanon. Others in Canada or maybe elsewhere. Whether in Beirut, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Sackville, or elsewhere, Antoine (or Tony) has touched your/our lives in so many ways that can be summarize in the most beautiful word in the world: LOVE.

Antoine was filled with love. He was love. Our hearts ache and we will forever remember him with love. He loved life. He loved his late wife so much. Same for his children, grandchildren and great grandson. He loved his beloved nurses (Khoder and Samer). He loved his larger family, friends, clients, neighbours, parishioners, his two countries Lebanon as well as Canada, life, peace, and God. He inspired so many of us throughout his life journey.

Love, humanity, generosity, compassion, courage, honesty, resilience, intelligence, agency, entrepreneurial agency, critical thinking, open-mindedness, modesty, humour, and so MUCH more! These are some of the greatest values and skills of Antoine Azar. A beautiful soul. A loving soul. You might think that Bambi is a bit biased as he is her hero of a dad. Wait to hear Louis’ words about his father-in-law. He has always said the following to describe him: “Antoine is what makes our civilization continue“. Her cousins all say that he is a source of inspiration to them, a hero with all what he went through in life with dignity, courage, and a pure heart (like a child). Even if he is unique and surely only human (ie., imperfect like all of us), we need more of Antoine in all of us in our troubled world.

Love does not die, even if we are all going to do so. As written in your obituary, papy/baba habibi: “El Massih Kam, Hakan Kam” [Christ is risen, truly risen]. DEEP sorrow mixed with inner peace , hope (Espérance in French), and happiness for you to be with mom and to watch all of us from heaven while hanging out with your beloved Jesus. How meaningful it is to die on Palm Sunday, just ahead of Easter. Talking about Easter, may the Lebanon you now left for good see its graduation from wars and its own resurrection soon. May love prevail in all the hearts. Only then, peace can find its way among people and nations.

To come back to grief, it is hard to find words to express all the mixed emotions in Bambi’s mind. If peace is the strongest of all, despite her deep sadness, it is because of her dad’s big heart. During her last trip in Beirut a few months ago, he told her: “When I die, do not be sad your sisters and you and keep on loving each other“. Is there anything more beautiful than these words?

To conclude, if you wish to read more about Antoine Azar, you can consult an older post (shared at the end of this post). Bambi will end now by extending her heartfelt condolences to all her family in Lebanon, Dubai, Qatar, Australia, Germany, and Canada. Did she forget any other place? Please forgive her, if so. She sends hugs to each of her larger family members and family friends and relatives around the world. Last but not least, the biggest hug of both condolences and DEEP gratitude goes to Khoder and Samer. Blessings to you and much love. She wishes she could be with you Roula, Rania (sisters), Gladson and Rabih (brother-in-laws), Samer, Khoder, and all of you tomorrow, dear family and friends. Trust that she will be present in her heart while joining her prayers to yours. Be safe everyone, please. Take good care, today more than ever.

May your memory be eternal, papy habibi… Say hi to mom, please. THANK you for ALL!

—

Azar Electric: An inspiring story of a store in Beirut…

Bambi stands in full solidarity with ALL the journalists of Lebanon, including those who work for Hezbollah-related media.

Even if she strongly disagrees with Hezbollah for having dragged Lebanon into the current regional war, one must remember that Lebanon possesses dynamic, diverse media platforms. Bambi reads or listens to each one of them at all times and especially in critical moments like during war times.

Thanks to all the courageous journalists, Lebanese AND international, for the incredible risks they take to keep us informed during war times.

May the souls of Mr. Ali Choeib (Al Manar), Ms. Fatima Ftouni and her brother Mr. Mohammad Ftouni (Al Mayadeen) rest in peace.

As for the Israeli army’s targeted killing of these journalists, how both sad and unacceptable. Of note, a few days go, Russian journalists lost their lives. In the earlier war of 2024, Lebanese journalists were targeted. Today, those Lebanese journalists lost their lives. When will violence and impunity stop?

While listening to an internet radio streaming from out Beirut, Bambi learned today that Ms. Fatima Ftouni had lost her own uncle and his family. Tragically, she discovered their deaths live during one her news reporting a few days ago. Can you imagine the trauma and the professionalism? Little did she know that today would be her turn and her brother’s turn to lose their lives. May God know how to comfort their parents’ aching hearts.

In solidarity with all journalists of Lebanon and of the world, regardless of whom they are or for whom they work, Bambi will share the Editorial by ‘Orient Today’s staff with its statement on the red line they tried to draw once again by reminding us that “Nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify targeting journalists” (https://tinyurl.com/4na6jzew). Well said, thank you.

“Dear reader,

“It is precisely the heart of our collective mission – to report, understand, and, where necessary, expose these facts – that is being deliberately attacked, amid widespread helplessness,” we wrote in these columns on September 1, 2025. That day, L’Orient-Le Jour decided, along with more than a hundred international media outlets, to join the operation launched by RSF and Avaaz, dressing in black to defend press access to the Gaza Strip and denounce the deaths of 210 journalists killed by Israel in the line of duty.

Nearly six months later, as the Lebanese population is abandoned to the multiple tragic consequences of a war brought on by Hezbollah’s suicidal decisions, the Israeli state appears once again determined to respect no boundaries in its campaign to destroy the (civilian as well as military) infrastructure of the militant party. After already targeting journalists and affiliated media outlets, the Israeli army, on the night of March 17, targeted the home of Mohammad Cherri, director of political programs at al-Manar, killing him and his wife and injuring their children and grandchildren present.

On Thursday, March 19, two Russia Today journalists were wounded by an Israeli strike while reporting on the Qannayat bridge. The Israeli army defended itself by stating it had issued an evacuation order for the area. Still, the circumstances of this strike recall others carried out during the previous war in Lebanon. Between October 2023 and October 2025, 13 journalists or press collaborators were killed in Israeli army strikes. In some cases, including the one that claimed the life of Issam Abdallah in October 2023, several international investigations concluded there was deliberate targeting.

Israel seems intent on both destroying Hezbollah’s civilian environment, including its media network, and preventing any coverage of its actions in southern Lebanon as it prepares a large-scale ground offensive there. In both cases, this runs counter to all the values that L’Orient-Le Jour has defended for over a century.

No matter what one thinks of the editorial line or the role of media outlets linked to or close to Hezbollah, a journalist must never, regardless of their opinions or the circumstances, become a target. The survival of press freedom is at stake. Especially since Israel is not the only actor failing to respect this freedom. It is also no longer acceptable for Hezbollah, whose military activities have been declared illegal by the authorities, to continue to exert direct control over media coverage in several neighborhoods or towns in the country, forcing journalists to obtain “authorizations” to go there, often in the company of a minder.

Even more alarming is the cyberattack suffered by the MTV channel as well as the websites of the information and Foreign Affairs Ministries, claimed by a group called “the Fatimids.” This is part of a climate of intimidation against all those who have openly opposed Hezbollah since the beginning of the conflict. For years, we have denounced the countless death threats, pressures and harassment campaigns orchestrated by its opinion leaders and “electronic armies” against those bold enough to try to reveal its misdeeds. And we do not forget the guilty silence of the media operating within its orbit during the many political assassinations — of journalists and intellectuals alike — for which the militant party has been accused.

At a time when history is repeating itself before our eyes, and tensions have reached such a level that dialogue between Lebanese has become impossible, it seems more essential than ever to try once again to draw a red line. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify targeting journalists.

After Gaza, we must do everything we can — before it is too late — to ensure Lebanon does not become another graveyard for information”.

Bambi does not want her long day to end without sharing a song she came across today. It was composed by Mr. Kevork Artinian in August 2020, about three weeks following the surreal Beirut port explosion. It is called Lipanan and it was dedicated to Lebanon. Today, more than ever, this tiny Mediterranean country deserves loving songs like this one.

Taken hostage once again by the wars of others on it, Lebanon is maybe in its worse shape ever. Indeed, it is highly disturbing to witness the lack of Lebanese sovereignty and disrespect by all war actors: Iran has shamelessly and increasingly used tiny Lebanon as a battleground for years; today more than ever. For the first time ever, the Lebanese government gave the Iranian ambassador until Sunday to leave the country (https://tinyurl.com/mrx9cd3f). Hezbollah called this courageous move a “national sin” (https://tinyurl.com/2ffuznnp), asking the Lebanese authorities to “immediately reverse this diplomatic expulsion” (https://tinyurl.com/2ffuznnp).

In the meantime, Israel keeps bombing Lebanon heavily while invading it, emptying its South region, destroying its villages and towns there, in order to re-occupy it and create a buffer zone. The latter is supposed to protect its Northern border from the threat of Hezbollah.

For decades, Hezbollah has acted as flying monkeys of the Iranian regime (proxy). Today, those flying monkeys are totally suicidal. They are not only playing with the fire of war, they are putting their fellow Lebanese citizens in danger of death while giving Israel more reasons to attack Lebanon. The entire boat is sinking together.

Despite its good will and all its best efforts, the Lebanese army has sadly shown that it did not succeed in removing the threat of Hezbollah toward the innocent civilians of Northern Israel.

As for Hezbollah, it dragged Lebanon into this regional war by firing missiles toward Israel. Clearly, the latter is now unstoppable in its attack on Lebanon. Would Israel still have envisioned to invade Lebanon had Hezbollah not fired its missiles toward it?

Thank you L’Orient Le Jour for this moving short video featuring the beauty created by Mr. Ali Rida in the middle of the rubble in Beirut, Lebanon. Bambi’s heart goes to Mr. Rida after the loss of his flower shop. She thanks him for his inspiring words and gesture of both beauty (flowers) and compassion (cat).

For your convenience dear readers, and with the assistance of her online companion Mr. Google Translate, Bambi will now share a quick English translation of the content of the video at the end of the post:

A florist in Beirut returned to the site of his destroyed shop by Israeli strikes in the early days of the war.

This week, Ali Rida took to the road to the southern suburbs of Beirut to arrange bouquets amidst the ruins of her neighbourhood.

For him, “war destroys walls, but not the hand that creates bouquets and beauty”.

While crossing devastated neighbourhoods, he came across abandoned cats among the rubble.

He fed them, preserving a little life amidst the disaster.

On social media, Ali wrote: “the shop may be destroyed but the flower continues to live in the spirit of the city“.

According to a proverb of unknown origins, “No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow“.

The proverb cited above can have a double-meaning. First, it can literally mean that the spring is coming, even after a long winter. Second, this proverb can also mean the following: After hardship or persistent struggles, brighter days are sure to follow.

The spirit of such proverb is Bambi’s wish for our troubled world, especially her birth country. There and in some neighbouring countries, the start of spring coincides with Mothers’ Day; which always falls on March 21st. Happy Mothers’ Day to you, dear readers, if you happen to be highlighting this day ❤️.

Regardless, may everyone’s spring season be filled with pleasant moments, along with forthcoming hope for a dignified future filled with safety, peace, love, and prosperity.

Eid el Fitr is ahead. Wow, time flies.

May it be merrier, next year.

If you happen to be Muslim, and whether your are highlighting Eid spiritually (breaking your fast) or just culturally, have a good one dear readers, friends, and/or relatives.

Bambi wishes you safety, sanity, healing, hope for peace, and much love.

She wishes Lebanon, the Middle East, and the entire world freedom from violence, a return to reason, a renewal with love, and a commitment to peace—both inner and toward others.

First of all, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, dear readers. Since yesterday evening, Bambi wanted to highlight this great day on her blog. However, her heart was too heavy to write any post before sleep.

How could her heart not be heavy with the worrisome news from out of Lebanon and from the entire Middle East?

In the Land of the Cedars, we are now talking about 1 million displaced persons. Can you imagine? This is about 16% of this tiny country’s entire population. Imagine such humanitarian tragedy happening in Canada, how would we cope with it? Bravo to Lebanon for managing the tragic consequences of this unwanted war to the best of its capacity. Thanks to the international community for the support and generosity.

Sadly, innocent people always find themselves caught in the middle of fire during armed conflicts. In the current war, the fire is exchanged between the Hezbollah and Israel while one of the innocent Lebanese people is Mr. Mehdi el Sahili.

Mr. Sahili who is filled with talent and courage moved Bambi’s heart today, although some of you might perhaps consider his courage as being “craziness”. According to L’Orient Le Jour, the latter was meant to be a form of “resistance”.

Resistance to absurdity and cruelty of violence with the most beautiful gift in life, along with our capacity to love: Yes, this gift is the capacity of some of us to produce music. Thank you and bravo Mr. el Sahili for the precious artistic moments where you played pieces by Dvořák and Khachaturian in the middle of the rubble. May God protect you and may you keep making your country proud of your talent.

As for L’Orient Le Jour, thanks again for the great journalism and for your short video, which comes with the following description (translated from French): “In the southern suburbs of Beirut, still scarred by Israeli airstrikes, Lebanese cellist Mehdi el Sahili films himself playing his instrument. The footage, shot at dawn in an area still under threat, shows the musician briefly performing pieces by Dvořák and Khachaturian before leaving“.

To end this post on another meaningful musical note, Bambi will share a famous Lebanese song, as performed by Mr. Nicolas El Osta. It is “Mahma Yetjarrah Baladna”, which is “an iconic song by the legendary Zaki Nassif, performed by Nicolas El Osta. In 2015, the Lebanese Army Band played it at Unesco for the Lebanese Army anniversary, conducted by Maestro George Herro“. As per the lyrics of this BEAUTIFUL patriotic song (https://tinyurl.com/mwvscuvp):

“No matter how wounded our country is

We’ll heal it, even if we are few

Few we may be, but we’re not used

To cry and stand over ruins..”

Our country is a song of love

It became like a ballad

It becomes greater little by little

And grows up with its children”.

Bambi was happy to come across this lovely song, which is a call for peace with the voices of children. Its French lyrics are translated into English in this link: https://tinyurl.com/5dt4h2kk . Thank you Maurice Musvin. May inner peace prevail in the hearts of all the children’s of the world. This inner peace is always vital, especially in times of external chaos.

Bambi remains speechless about Lebanon and Beirut.

Speechless yet sadly not that surprised by the extent of the unfolding violence.

Before going to sleep, she pauses on her blog to send her love especially to the Lebanese people and to beloved Beirut, but also to ALL the other innocent people residing in the entire Middle East and, beyond it, in our troubled world.

May the memory of all those who have absurdly lost their lives be eternal. Lots of courage to their loved ones. Best wishes to all the injured, displaced, and scared innocent people.

Individually as well as collectively, may they and may we all keep protecting our sanity while cultivating our inner peace and humanity.