Arif Virani

Virani's roots are in Ahmedabad, though he was born in Kampala.[6] Virani is a multilingual Ismaili Muslim who came to Canada as a refugee from Uganda.[2] Upon arriving in Canada in 1972 his family found solace in the Stanley Street YMCA in Montreal.[7] His family then became more permanently established in Toronto.[2] Virani spent his childhood growing up in the Flemingdon Park and Willowdale neighborhoods.[7]

Virani received a joint honours Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from McGill University in 1994.[8] He then graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.[9] Virani remained connected to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law following his graduation by remaining involved with its alumni committee.[10]

Virani began his legal career by articling for Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP in 1999.[8] Following this he worked in London, United Kingdom for a year with the support of the Harold G. Fox scholarship.[8] This scholarship for recent graduates of the Bar Admission Course allows for a pupilage with leading Barristers at the Inns of Court in London, United Kingdom.[11][12] In 2003 he then went on to work as a lawyer for the constitutional law branch of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.[8][1] He does not currently practise law as he serves in his role as a Member of Parliament.[13] He remains an L1 class licensed lawyer according to the Law Society of Ontario.[13] This means he is "entitled to practise law in Ontario as a barrister and solicitor".[14]

Virani lives in Roncesvalles Village in Toronto with his wife Suchita Jain, originally from London, Ontario, and their two sons.[2][15]

• Official website