In this episode of Journeys to Growing the Good on Markets Plus, Issam Majeed, Managing Director of Diversified Industries, BMO Corporate Finance, explores what it truly means to pursue the Canadian Dream: the belief that through perseverance, integrity, and community, anyone can build a meaningful and lasting legacy. It’s more than building a business; it’s about shaping a story that inspires future generations. Today’s guest, Basem Hanna, embodies that vision. From humble beginnings to becoming a serial entrepreneur, Basem has built and scaled companies that challenge norms and redefine industries, from cannabis to real estate. 

Listen to the full conversation: 

For Basem Hanna, President and CEO of Almega Corp, success began with sacrifice. Growing up as an immigrant in Canada, he watched his parents rebuild their lives from scratch, relicensing as a doctor and engineer, all while navigating a new culture.   

“We didn’t have the finer things in life,” Hanna recalls. “That builds hunger because you want things you can’t have.” 

This hunger became the foundation for his entrepreneurial spirit. It taught him resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community support. 

Hanna’s first entrepreneurial leap came when he was just 23 years old. His initial real estate venture didn't take off, but the experience was transformative.  

Rather than giving up, Hanna doubled down on learning. He worked for established firms, rounded out his skill set, and prepared for his next big move. These early setbacks taught him that persistence and humility are essential ingredients for long-term success. 

Hanna’s breakthrough came with Almega Corp, a vertically integrated real estate firm now managing over $1 billion in projects. But his boldest move was co-founding TerrAscend, a leading North American cannabis company: a venture sparked by a casual conversation at a closing dinner. 

Recognizing the potential of cannabis legalization before it was mainstream, Hanna took a calculated risk. “If we do this right, it’ll change our family’s trajectory forever,” he told his wife. That conviction paid off: TerrAscend became one of Canada’s first licensed producers and later went public, redefining an entire industry. 

“We went from buying $1–5 million properties to building some of the largest apartment buildings in Canada. That shift happened because we believed more in ourselves—and had the confidence and capital to take on bigger risks,” Hanna said.  

Despite financial triumphs, Hanna faced an identity crisis after exiting TerrAscend. “Life isn’t about monetary success: it’s about impact,” he came to realize. 

This realization shifted his focus toward building multi-generational wealth and unity within immigrant communities through shared investment and trust. For Hanna, success means creating opportunities for others, not just accumulating wealth. 

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: trust each other, work harder than anyone else, and never let failure be the final option. 

Pooling resources and building trust within communities can unlock opportunities that individuals might never achieve alone. Hanna’s approach emphasizes collaboration as the cornerstone of sustainable success. 

Hanna remains committed to giving back. Ten percent of Almega’s profits go to charities chosen by employees: a practical way to Grow the Good beyond business. 

Hanna’s story is more than a tale of entrepreneurial success; it’s a blueprint for resilience, community building, and purpose-driven leadership. 

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