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There is a long-said phrase, about ‘the eyes being the window to the soul’, and another along the lines of, ‘you can tell a lot about someone from their eyes’. This is absolutely true of Wasim Jarrah, who has an incredible ability to make everyone around him feel deeply seen, heard and supported.
From a very young age, Wasim understood devastation and difficult times. Growing up in Lebanon, he recalled going with his mother to buy meat, and bringing home less than 200g for the week. His father had to leave them to find work, more than 5,000 km away, sending his entire paycheck home to the family while somehow surviving from his tips. His grandfather also had a very strong commitment to community and planted the seeds that shape his beliefs and actions today, “Giving isn’t about how much you have – it’s about how much you care”.
The Jarrah family came to Canada in 1988 and the first few years were spent in Calgary. It wasn’t easy. There were days without lunches. He recalled a neighbour from Calgary housing and fellow student in grade 4 that didn’t have anything to eat, so Wasim gave him the peanut butter rice cracker he had gotten from the school breakfast program and went on lunchless that day himself. He saw a need. He stepped up. He ate when he got home. It can be that easy sometimes, to make a difference. Small sacrifices. Small acts. Big Impact.
While he’s probably best known for his professional successes in the community and outstanding team at his Newmarket-based Concierge Realty Group, he did not once mention “work”. He did mention that he doesn’t believe in free time, probably because he didn’t get to experience it growing up. As a result, he’s incredibly driven in many areas of his life and unafraid to challenge or face any obstacle.
Greeting each day and each new person with an open heart, Wasim lives his life by example, staying focused on what’s most important, in the moment, and gives the best of himself to his family, his friends and his community. He recited a beautiful Arabic saying, that loosely translates in English to, “Don’t hate something in the event that it’s good for you”, which perfectly embraces Wasim’s resilient optimism and willingness to make a difference every single day.
“Give every day like it’s your last deed. If it’s not money, then a smile.”
