Speech– January 1, 2026 | Haitian Community of Manitoba

Dear members of the Haitian community,
Dear friends, dear brothers and sisters, dear guests,

Today, January 1st, is not an ordinary date for us Haitians.
It is a day filled with history, memory, and pride.

On January 1st, 1804, our ancestors accomplished the unthinkable.

A people reduced to slavery rose up, resisted, and proclaimed their freedom.
Haiti became the first free Black Republic in the world.
On that day, they had neither wealth nor comfort, but they possessed something stronger than anything else: courage, determination, and hope.

More than two centuries later, that spirit still lives within us.
It lives in every Haitian who refuses to give up, no matter where life takes them.

My name is Dimitri Moïse, and like many of you here, I carried Haiti in my heart when I left the country.

In February, I made a difficult decision: to leave my homeland and come settle in Canada, specifically here in Manitoba.

It was not an easy choice.
Leaving one’s family, familiar surroundings, language, and culture is never simple.

The beginning was marked by doubt, adjustment, and at times, loneliness.
But like our ancestors in 1804, I understood one thing: moving forward despite hardship is also a form of freedom.

From the moment I arrived, I found my way.
I chose to learn a practical and useful trade: industrial welding.
My studies required discipline, patience, and many sacrifices.
The transition was not easy, but each day was one step closer to a better future.

Today, I can say with humility that I am on the right path.
I have found a job, I am building stability, and above all, I hold my head high while remaining true to my values and my roots.

If I share my journey with you today, it is not to glorify myself,
but to remind us of a simple truth:
we are the heirs of a people who never gave up.

Whether we are in Haiti, in Canada, in Manitoba, or elsewhere,
we carry within us the strength of January 1st, 1804.
That strength reminds us that every challenge can be transformed into an opportunity,
every trial into a lesson,
and every new beginning into a quiet victory.

On this January 1st, 2026, I wish you all
courage,
solidarity,
and faith in our abilities.

Let us continue to move forward together,
to support one another,
and to honor Haiti not only with our words,
but through our actions.

Happy Independence Day,
and may the year 2026 be a year of progress, dignity, and hope for us all.