Community Connection
By Adit Kumar
Toronto Arya Samaj (TAS) held its annual Baal Divas (Youth Day) activity last Sunday at its mandir at 4345-14th Avenue, Markham at which the youths were given full reign.
They excelled and brought much pride to their teachers and parents as they conducted the havan, led all the prayers, delivered the sermon, emceed the program, sang bhajans while accompanying themselves on the harmonium, presented a short skit on the wit of Birbal, the wise man of King Akhbar's reign and played the tabla accompanying other singers.
Under the leadership of Pandits Dave Ramoutar and Vidyarthi Sreeram, the youths demonstrated that they have benefited from their training. They presented their items with tremendous confidence and courage.
The topic chosen for the sermon - God, Soul and Matter - was a complex one and the youths did a scholarly powerpoint presentation that demonstrated they had a good understanding of the philosophy of the subject.
Their singing of chowpaees from the Ramayan with explanations confirmed that they had put a lot of effort into their training.
Youthful Dinesh Ghani and Sunil Kumar, who are in their early teens, emceed the program and ten-year old Sanjeev Kumar, who delivered the vote of thanks, all displayed signs of good public speaking skills.
Pandita Jasodra Prasad, who offered "ashirwaad" (blessings) to the children, summed up the feelings of the organizers when she commented that "Samaj is in good hands".
Friday Nov 18: 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Saturday Nov 19: 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Sunday Nov 20: 9:00 am- 12:00 noon
Venue: Pranav Ashram, 102 Rivalda Rd (Sheppard & Weston Rd).
Call: 416-741-4335 or 416-283-4109.
on Toronto's new G98.7 FM (CKFG)
radio station
For the first time in Canada there will be a Chutney segment on a commercial FM mainstream radio frequency. The show will air on the new radio station G98.7 FM (CKFG) and Riyad Mohammed, popularly known as Dj Riyad has been chosen to produce and host the program.
G98.7 FM is the first Black radio station in Canada that features an Adult Urban Contemporary and Caribbean music format.
The radio station has been in the making for over 10 years and after many battles the vision of its Founder, President and CEO Fitzroy Gordon has become a reality. Mr Gordon said "it has been a long battle and we will not leave out any of the major music genres from the Caribbean which includes Chutney music."
This represents an important development for Toronto's Indo Caribbean Community.
According to DJ Riyad, the Chutney segment will be presented in a "Dj mixed show format". It is scheduled to air from 3 pm to 5 pm on Sunday afternoons.
DJ Riyad informs Indo Caribbean World that the segment will also receive "creative direction and mentorship" from the popular Jai Ojah Maharaj, formerly of CHIN Radio's Caribbean Connection.
Jai Ojah Maharaj is also the News Current Affairs and Community Relations Director of the station.
Riyad expresses thanks and looks forward for the community's support by tuning in to his segment as "we continue to elevate our community together."
For information, go to www.G987FM.com or twitter @G987FM or @riyadmohammed.
By Manshad Mohamed
President Anthony Mohammed opened the evening of music, dinner and dance with a warm welcome to a number of honoured guests, among them Dr Vidyha Gyan Tota Maharaj, Consul General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; ex Consul General of T&T Mr. Michael Lashley; Dr.Rita Cox; Dr. Tim Singh, Presidentof T&T Business Council of Canada; Mr. Colin Benjamin, President of OCPA and OSCO. Three hundred attendes met for the 16th Anniversary of the T&T Fifty Plus and Seniors Association at Kally's Banquet Hall in Scarborough on November 12, 2011.
In his address Mohammed said that the organization is continuing to build on its past success and highlighted some of its major achievements.
"We opened a drop-in centre at Ellesmere Community Centre for members to meet and socialize. There is an average attendance of 20 persons daily. Dance classes led by instructor Clyde Gill looks after two dance programmes during the week and a once-a-month Friday Social that varies from 45 to 60 participants," the President informs.
The T&T Associationn continues to expand by partnering with other groups. "We are partners in the Seniors Wellness Fair to be held on November 17 at the Jamaican Canadian Association. This project is funded by the Ontario Association for Seniors. We continue with our seminars and recently conducted one on Fraud Identity Theft. We continue with our membership programme, a challenge we accepted from our past C.G., Mr Michael Lashley, by focussing on children and youth. For our November social we are planning a toy drive with the kids from La Petite Musicale," Mohammed outlined.
Dr Vidyha Gyan Tota-Maharaj, the present Consul General of T&T encouraged all nationals to become entrepeneurs and start investing in T&T. The State of Emergency has made T&T a safe place to return to and invest your money, time and energy," the Consul General assured.
Rasheed Sultan Khan, founder of the Association called on the audience to train their children to respect and admire their elders, their achievements and foster a spirit of togetherness.
Friends of Trinidad and Tobago announces the holding of a Special Dinner in recognition of former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, The Honorable Mr. Basdeo Panday "for his extensive contribution to Trinidad and Tobago and its citizens."
The Dinner will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at The Centre, 6765 Invader Crescent, Mississauga. Reception will be at 5:30 p.m.
Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former Chairman and party leader of the Opposition United National Congress. He lost the party's internal elections on January 24, 2010 to Deputy Leader Kamala Persad-Bissessar by a large margin.
Dinner Tickets are $45/person and/or $400/table of 10. Contact Nirvan Balkissoon 905-362-0320, Krishna Nankissoor 416-728-2496 or Farouk Hydal 647-271-6358.
For information go to www.fott.ca or e-mail: fott@live.ca.
55 Angels later...
It was the year 2000 that TCCF (The Caribbean Children Foundation) extended its first lifeline to a child from the Caribbean - Melissa Hercules - to fund her surgery at Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital. Now, after eleven years of helping to save children's lives, 55 in all so far, TCCF is as committed as it has ever been, to continue in its mission to ease the sufferings of both the children and their parents by making it possible for those with dire afflictions, with no where to turn for help, to have a hand of mercy extended to them.
Rescue begins when a child from the Caribbean is identified with a condition for which local treatment is not available. And to get the child to somewhere that treatment may be had, becomes impossible for the lack of finance. The situation may be described as a dead end in which poor parents and families can only look on while the condition of their suffering child continues to deteriorate.
Unfazed by the fact that this is a task that would involve millions of dollars (each case calls for a minimum of $25,000 in order to be resolved), Real Estate magnate Jay Brijpaul, the principal architect behind the formation of TCCF, called upon the community for help.
Where there's a will there's a way. Help came. And it keeps on coming as TCCF keeps on extending a helping hand so freely to those most in need.
At the 11th Anniversary celebration of the founding of TCCF on November 5, over three hundred community members paid $40 each to be present to say that they too care about saving the lives of these "Angels". But it didn't end there; in a snap, an additional $11,000 was raised thanks to the call made by the Emcee Richard Azeez.
The Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto has stated that in terms of the number of children helped at that institution, TCCF has outperformed most other similar children's charities.
And the acknowledgement from the families of the children attest to the fact that without TCCF's help, they would have been lost. Here are a sampling of such testaments:
"God heard our family's prayers and spared my daughter's life. He sent us a miracle. Thanks to TCCF"
Jade Lawrence, Trinidad & Tobago
"You have given us a second chance with our daughter and sister. Your organization stepped in and asisted us in our time of need. God sends angels and those angels are people like you."
Clinton and Alison Chin, Guyana
"You have been a God send to us and we are eternally grateful for your assistance. May God richly bless you so that you can continue to help other families in need"
Julia Miller, mother of Amanda Miller, Jamaica
"Without you and your help we would have been pinned against a steel wall and literally lost. No amount of words, letters and thanks can surpass the selfless sacrifice and assistance that you and your organization have done for us."
Avinash Garib, brother of Nirnana Garib, T&T
"Thank you for making a difference in children's life, especially Aiswarya's. Because of you Aiswarya has a new lease on life."
Parents of Aiswarya Monilall
While TCCF continues with its monumental humanitarian efforts, the community is invited to be active participants.
For info, please call 416-418-2745.