MONTREAL (OMNI) – With three-quarters of Quebec’s territory not covered by 911 services, air emergency pilots are a critical part of the province’s first response network.
Nadhem Belhaj is one of the emergency pilots who rescue people all across the province who cannot be reached by land.
As a young Black Tunisian, Belhaj sees himself as something of an example for people like him.
“If I did it, you can do it,” said Belhaj. “That’s the main message when I try to teach other people. There’s no difference between me and you. It’s all doable. So it’s only a matter of hard work and motivation.
“The fact that I’m saving and helping people that couldn’t be reached by conventional means, it’s a wonderful thing for me and this fulfills me.”
Before becoming an air medic pilot seven years ago, Belhaj was an airplane mechanic. But he saw himself flying higher and pursued his pilot’s licence.
Now he’s also an instructor and teaches others.
“Before repairing those things, I’d like to fly them,” he said. “I found the motivation there.”
Given his ethnic background, Belhaj says he’s experienced racism – both in Canada and back home in Tunisia. He says in his home country, being Black isn’t always fully accepted.
“When this type of incident happens, I tend to rationalize and take a step back and think, ‘these people they have their own beliefs, even if it’s wrong.’
“Now the work is to really educate people and … make their false reasoning emerge.”
Belhaj calls his Black Tunisian identity an asset.
“I’m really proud of what the Black community has brought to the world, but sometimes with a little hindsight I’d like to see myself more as a whole than different identities. It is through this identity that I will fulfill myself.”
The emergency pilot sees Black History Month as an opportunity to educate others, and for himself to grow as well.
“It’s an opportunity to underline the heritage and all the contribution that Black people and Black culture have brought to the world. And it’s also a good opportunity to educate ourselves.”