“Elections are never won on Election Day. I believe it’s what you do in between elections that counts,” says the former Pakistan Army soldier Vincent Samuel who has been nominated by the ruling Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) to represent the newly created constituency of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, which lies almost 70 km west of Canada’s largest city Toronto.

An imposing personality, Samuel has traversed a long and hard road to reach where he is at, just a step away from being elected Member of Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa.

As Election Day inches closer (Oct 19, 2015) I sat down with Samuel in the sunlit atrium of Sheridan College with the intent of sharing his story over a cup of chai/coffee, except that we didn’t find any, as the college cafeteria is closed on a Sunday.

A compelling story is what I found, as Samuel, it seems, has seen adventure, hardship, even a beating by those half his age, all in one lifetime. From Pakistan Army soldier to Dominos pizza maker to private security guard to personal health aid worker to nurse, until his retirement as director in a health care company.

Born to humble beginnings in Lahore, it has taken 20 years for a former soldier to finally contest elections in Canada. His journey is a testament to the power of education, faith and hard work

“Entering politics was more of a process. I cannot point to any A-Ha moment that triggered this decision,” recalls Samuel very matter-of-factly.

Born in Lahore, Punjab, to deeply religious Protestant Christian parents, Samuel and his three siblings grew up in meagre surroundings. “We didn’t have much by way of material possessions. Growing up in a single room tenement, my parents were of humble means. However, they made sure that we never lacked a good education.”

“Education, faith and hard work were three pillars to a good life which were instilled into us by our parents. These attributes have been constants in our lives and have stood by us through good times and bad. From my childhood in Lahore, to my days at Forman Christian College, as a youth in the Pakistan Army and as an adult here in Canada, I live by these teachings and have passed them on to my daughter,” he goes on to add.

Growing up Christian in Pakistan, Samuel soon realised that the opportunity to be a part of the politics of mainstream society was severely restricted for a member of a minority religion.

“It was only after coming to Canada in 1990 that I really found out what freedom meant, what liberty meant and what true citizenship is.”

“Once I became a Canadian citizen in 1994, I started taking my civic responsibilities very seriously. I soon realised that no matter what my status was, or background before I came to Canada was, I could be part of the decision making process. I started at the bottom rung of the ladder as a community volunteer and over the past 20 years have worked my way up to board-level positions in various not-for-profit organisations.”

Samuel came to Canada because his wife, who was then principal of the nursing school at Lahore’s Sheikh Zahid Hospital, was accepted as a student of health care at McMaster University in Hamilton. After getting an honourable discharge from the Pakistan Army, where he held the rank of Major, Samuel was ready to start from scratch.

“We came with our two-year-old daughter. As my wife was a full-time student, I had to quickly find a way of supporting our family.”

A friend offered him a job as a pizza maker at Dominos Pizza and Samuel gladly took it. “I was ready to work anywhere, as I always saw the big picture, and knew that whatever I did, it would be a stepping stone to my way up and not a goal in itself.”

However, after being beaten up one night while closing shop, he decided to quit and worked as a security guard to make sure there was food on the table.

In the meanwhile on suggestions from his family and friends Samuel applied as a mature student to the nursing programme at the same university his wife had graduated from. “Four years later, on obtaining my degree in nursing and 10 years after arriving in Canada, I can say I got my first ‘real’ job as manager in a large health care company in Hamilton.” He goes on to add that “All through this I never stopped volunteering as I saw it as a fantastic way of giving back to my community.”

While Samuel’s riding predominately comprises a white population, with just over 12 per cent from the various visible minorities, he constantly faces the challenge of always looking and sounding like the other.

“I think I face the same advantages and disadvantages like any other candidate would face. The riding is populated by an electorate which had in the 2011 federal election voted for Canada’s ruling CPC by an overwhelming 52pc. So if 52pc of my riding are in favour of our policies, then I don’t see them changing just because they see a face different from theirs. I am as confident as the next person is of representing my people in Ottawa.”

With a CV that goes over several screen grabs, Samuel has made a concerted effort at building relationships within his community. Although he has never stood for public office, he is confident of his seat in Ottawa.

“There is no Plan B for me. I am going to be in Ottawa come October.”

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, September 25th, 2015

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