The film, My Grandmother, which I wrote, directed and co-produced is a celebration of immigrant women by their Canadian-born grandchildren. The 48-minute film showcases the cultural contributions four women from very different countries have made to Canadian society.

Presented as an intimate and loving portrait of four matriarchs who settled here in the late 1960s and early ’70s, the film introduces us to Angela, an Egyptian-born woman of Greek origins whose youthful energy can only inspire; Maria, a courageous Chilean grandmother; Mara, the talented Italian-born ‘nonna’ and finally, Haitian-born Antoinette, who thinks Canada is “the land of milk and honey”.


Tetchena Beland with her grandmother, Antoinette

Woven into the film is a brief encapsulation of the geographical and historical points of reference in order to gain a better understanding of the circumstances that made these women give up their countries of origin. The linguistic and cultural traditions they brought with them helped these women keep their families united at a time when they were experiencing economic struggles, personal heartaches and philosophical differences.

These strong women are but four of many and they have inadvertently helped to redefine our society, often without benefit of higher education or multiple language skills. They have given us, the next generation, a strong desire to know them better and through that process, obtain a better understanding of our diverse Canadian heritage.

Shot entirely in and around Montreal this film is not only a testament to the women profiled but also to the multi-cultural city in which they live.

My Grandmother, filmed in English but also translated into Italian, Mandarin and Portuguese, can be viewed in all these languages on OMNI TV as part of their Signature Series.