Tim L
Who wants to own a skunk?
I’ll tell you one guy who does—and it’s none other than Khal Ramahi, a longtime resident of our fine city.
Khal has the distinction of kicking off 2026 as The Street’s Initiative’s first charity selector of the year. Married and a father of twins, the 50-year-old optometrist owns and operates his own practice on Edmonton’s north side. I had the opportunity to sit down with Khal over some super healthy donairs, and we ended up having a great conversation.
TL: How long have you lived in the city, Khal?
KR: My family moved here from Jordan when I was about a year and a half old. Other than four years in the Caribbean for school and a six-month optometry internship in L.A., I’ve been here ever since.
TL: Wow—L.A., huh? Could you have stayed there if you wanted to?
KR: Totally. I was in Orange County and the doctor I worked with actually made me an offer. It was a great place and a fun city for a single guy, but I turned it down. I just love Edmonton, man. My family’s here—it’s home.
TL: You operate your own practice now. How’s that been?
KR: I do. I opened my own clinic in north Edmonton, and it was super stressful at first. You go from being comfortable—seeing 25 to 35 patients a day—to investing everything into your own place with no guarantee of clients. Suddenly, everything’s on you.
That said, I love it. My favorite part is the instant gratification. People come in and tell me how their life has changed because of treatment, therapy, or even just a new pair of glasses. That makes me happy. The best part is bringing smiles to people’s faces.
TL: That’s huge. Outside of eyeballs, what other passions do you have? You chose Meika’s Safehouse as the charity for the next two months—so birds, obviously?
KR: Birds, for sure—but animals in general. Honestly, if I could have a skunk, I’d have one tomorrow!
TL: Seriously? What if you got sprayed? Pretty stinky.
KR: Well, you can buy them in Florida and Texas, and I think they de-gland them…
TL: Fair enough! So why did you choose Meika’s Safehouse for The Streets Initiative donations?
KR: I love birds. I’ve had three—a conure, a macaw, and an Amazon—so I know what they go through. With all the birds Meika’s fosters and cares for, I know they can always use the help.
People dump birds on them—sick birds, birds missing limbs, birds people just don’t want anymore. I even know of cases where people dropped birds off for boarding and never came back. Meika’s does an incredible job rehabilitating these birds, caring for them, and finding them new homes.
TL: Thanks for the suggestion, Khal! Hopefully lots of donations fly into the website so we can help out our feathered friends.
To learn more about what Meika’s Safehouse is all about, visit:
https://www.meikasbirdhouse.com/safehouse
And to make a donation, tap here.
Thanks, Edmonton!
