WHERE WARM ROOTS MEET COOL SKIES
The story behind Island to Igloo
Island to Igloo was born from a belief that our identities, cultures, and stories aren't things we have to leave behind in order to belong.
Why I Created Island to Igloo
I created Island to Igloo because I know what it feels like to live between worlds.
I migrated to Canada from Trinidad as an adult, carrying with me the places, people, traditions, stories, and values that shaped who I am. Building a life in a new country meant learning to navigate a different environment while figuring out how to hold on to the parts of myself that still felt deeply connected to home.
Over time, I became increasingly interested in what happens when children and young people are growing up with more than one cultural influence—and what happens when they don't always see their identities, cultures, or experiences reflected around them.
I believe belonging isn't about choosing one part of ourselves over another. It's about having the space, confidence, and freedom to understand and embrace all the pieces that make us who we are.
Island to Igloo grew from that belief.
While my own story is rooted in the immigrant and Caribbean experience, Island to Igloo has grown into something broader: a space for people from diverse immigrant, diaspora, racialized, cultural, and marginalized communities to explore identity, belonging, connection, and storytelling.
What I believe
At the heart of Island to Igloo is a simple belief: when people have the opportunity to understand who they are, share their stories, and feel genuinely seen and valued, they are better able to connect with themselves and with others.
IDENTITY MATTERS
Our identities shape how we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Creating space to explore identity can strengthen confidence, self-understanding, and connection.
BELONGING IS BUILT
Belonging doesn't happen by accident. It grows when people feel seen, heard, valued, and able to participate fully in the communities around them.
STORIES CONNECT US
Storytelling gives us a way to understand ourselves and one another. Our stories can preserve culture, challenge assumptions, build empathy, and create connection across differences.
CULTURE IS A STRENGTH
Culture is not something that needs to be left at the door. It can be a source of identity, resilience, creativity, knowledge, and connection.
From Learning to Belonging
Island to Igloo creates meaningful learning experiences that invite people to explore identity, culture, belonging, and connection.
Through conversation, reflection, and creativity, participants have space to explore who they are, understand where they come from, and connect with others.
EXPLORE
Identity
& Culture
CONNECT
Community
& Belonging
CREATE
Stories
& Shared Experiences
Meet Nabeela
Nabeela Hydal-Khan
Founder & Identity and Belonging Educator
Nabeela Hydal-Khan is the founder of Island to Igloo, a learning and creative platform focused on identity, belonging, storytelling, and community connection.
Drawing from her experiences as an immigrant and her passion for culture, storytelling, and meaningful learning, Nabeela creates experiences that invite people to explore who they are, where they come from, and how they connect with the communities around them.
Through Island to Igloo, she works with children, youth, families, educators, organizations, and diverse communities to create meaningful learning experiences that foster connection, reflection, and belonging.
“I believe everyone should have the space to explore their story, understand their identity, and feel that they belong.”
Let's Stay Connected
Have a question, an idea, or a community you'd like to connect with? I'd love to hear from you.
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