Djaouida Sellah

Catherine Clark spoke to NDP MP Djaouida Sellah about her life Beyond Politics.
Djaouida Sellah grew up in Algeria, one of three girls born to a family that lost their father in the carnage of the Algerian War of Independence. Djaouida's mother, a midwife, looked after the three girls and all three excelled in their studies. Djaouida became a doctor, one sister a veterinarian and the other a pharmacist. Djaouida's medical practice involved doing some pro bono work and during the First Gulf War of 1990-91, she volunteered to work for the Red Crescent in the Shiite communities of Baghdad. Djaouida met her husband in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur where he worked as a translator. After 4 years in Southeast Asia, the couple with one child in tow emigrated to Canada. It took six years and two more children before Djaouida Sellah was able to complete her qualifying courses that allowed her to practice as a medical doctor in Canada. In 2011 as a newly recruited candidate for the NDP she defeated the Bloc Québécois candidate In the Montreal south shore riding of St. Bruno-St. Hubert. a riding held by the Bloc Québécois since 1993.