Guyanese Heritage Month celebrated in Toronto

Jun 18, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
I applaud the organisers of the celebrations marking South Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Most of the organisers, I am told, are Guyanese.

The celebrations took place two weeks ago in the city of Markham in Toronto. The Honourable Consulate General of Guyana, Mr. Danny Doobay, along with the Mayor of Markham, declared open the cultural extravaganza at the Vedic Cultural Centre. This was the 10th Annual South Asian Heritage Month celebrations.

Consul General Doobay congratulated the organisers of the celebrations, which marked the 100th anniversary of Indo-Caribbean presence in Canada, as well as the 170th anniversary of Indian arrival to Guyana.

Doobay praised the organisation for its role in forging greater linkages between Indo-Guyanese and other communities in Canada, and in building partnerships with other cultures aimed at creating a greater understanding, tolerance and a stronger Canadian mosaic.

The Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, presented a plaque to the Vedic Cultural Centre recognising its many achievements.

The plaque reads as follows: “The Mayor and Council of the town of Markham extend congratulations and best wishes to the Vedic Cultural Centre as it celebrates and presents its 10th Annual South Asian Heritage Month programme recognising your educational and cultural achievements”.

The Mayor praised the organisation for its outstanding contribution in promoting cultural diversity in Markham. “Canada does not ask you to give up your heritage; but, rather, encourages you to use those values to enrich the Canadian mosaic”.

He also commended them for issuing a commemorative Canada postage stamp recognising 100 years of Indo-Canadian presence in Canada.

Guyanese Adit Kumar, Chairman of the Heritage Month Committee, pointed out that Member of Parliament Raminder Gill has piloted a bill in Parliament that designated the month of May as South Asian Heritage Month, and the 5th of May as Indian Arrival Day, the same as in Guyana.

The theme of this year’s celebrations is 100 years of Indo-Caribbean presence in Canada, recognising Dr Kenneth Mahabir and M. N. Santhoo who came from Trinidad and Guyana respectively as the first Indo-Caribbeans to settle in Canada.

An exhibition and cultural show marked the celebrations. Huge life size scrolls depicting several Indo-Caribbean personalities with their contributions and achievements were prominently displayed.

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Michael Chan, declared open the exhibition reading a message from the Premier of Ontario, in which he offered congratulations to the organisers and the community on the occasion, and also paid tribute to the contributions of the South Asians to the Canadian mosaic.

The exhibition also featured artifacts commemorating the 170th anniversary of the Arrival of Indians in Guyana. The interactive booths and artifacts captured the immigrant experience in the colonies, and a very popular booth was the mini “logie” (mud house) which highlighted the living quarters of the immigrants. A commemorative magazine was also launched at the show.

Vishnu Bisram

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Guyanese Heritage Month celebrated in Toronto

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