Minutes of the Monthly
Meeting held on August 08, 2011 at Queen’s Park
Present:
Thomas S.
Saras Asha Rajak, Bikram Lamba Irene
Keroglidis Neel Nanda Saad Alsafar Mohammad
Samimi Jonathan
Annobil Sandeep
Prabhakar Rakhi
Prabhakar Suleyman
Guven Teshoma
Woldeamanuel Ali Mahboub
(ITC TV) Ned Blair Ahmed Hotaki Gerald Paul Aaron
Berhane Dumitru
Pupescku Shahidul
Islam Mintu Sultan Ali
Shunbuli Parry Long C. Senthi Marek J.
Goldyn Mulugeta
Zergaber Isa Melo Mohammed
Tajdolati, Dr. Sive
Harouturian Raffi Der-
Boghossiah Mohamed
Busuri Fardad Housh Michelle
Williams Nishaniha
Don Ranjit Wicks Susana Donan Viara
Dimitrova Hai-Tien
Lin Moorthy
Sellathurai Perrii
Muthuraman Paulraj
Rajapandian Mila
Astroga-Garcia Hermie
Garcia Bal Mukunda
Nepal Kevin Wang (MCT) Bhaskar
Sharma Lankathas
Pathmaranthan Ernesto
Donan Indira
Naidoo-Harris Shabnam
Janani Mahesh
Abeyewardene Logendralya Fereydoon
Rahmani Ned
Blair John
Saraidaris Muluken Luba Cherny Agenda
1.
Welcome Remarks by the chair. 2.
Minutes of the previous meeting. 3.
Presentation by Jim Karygiannis M.P. Scarborough-Agincourt, Liberal
Multiculturalism critic. 4.
Presentation by Indira Naidoo Harris 5.
Presidents Report 6.
New Business 7.
Adjournment Welcome Remarks by the Chair:
Dr. Lamba
chaired the meeting and declared the meeting open.
Irene Keroglidis moved a motion to approve the agenda and Sandeep
Prabhakar seconded it. The motion was carried Minutes of the previous
meeting:
Suleiman
Guven moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly
meeting held on July 11, 2011 Ahmad Shah Hotaki seconded it.
The motion was carried. President’s
Report/Discussions
·
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). This year we have a for space
on international pavilion where we can display exhibition of the ethnic
press for 18 days. We are going to participate 18 days at CNE. The Prime
Minister or Premier of Ontario may inaugurate the opening ceremony of the
exhibition. The opening ceremony is most likely on August 21, 2011.
Insurance is required for the event.
President urged members to volunteer for the event spanning to 18
days. Members who decide to volunteer will be given passes and also food
tokens for the days they decide to participate and volunteer. Besides
volunteers NEPMCC may employ students for this event. President suggested
Asha Rajak and Neel Nanda to coordinate the activities with the volunteers
during the event. President’s office received very few newspapers for
CNE pavilion. President Thomas Saras hoped to have as many copies as
possible before the CNE. President hoped to have at least 100 copies by
the weekend of August 8, 2011. President Thomas Saras will notify members
on exact timing of the opening ceremonies
which is most likely to take place on August 21 at the Direct Energy
Building- Hall B of the International Pavilion. Thomas Saras asked members
to be present during the opening and closing ceremonies. The last Sunday
of the exhibition, (September 4, 2011), NEPMCC is celebrating Canadian
multiculturalism by supporting and also sponsoring a number of
multicultural shows at the great stage of the Hall B International
Pavilion. During the day Asha will be delivering speeches emphasizing the
critical role the ethnic publications are playing in our democratic
society. ·
About one thousand CNE entrance passes along with parking passes
were distributed to members who promised participation for the CNE
exhibition. ·
The Canada Day celebration took place on Saturday July 2nd with a
dinner and entertainment at the Whistler’s (McNeil Room) 995 Broadview
Avenue. There were a lot of dignitaries and VIPs present to celebrate the
event. The event was a huge success as there was huge turnout and
participation from various cultural groups. President Thomas Saras thanked
everyone who contributed and participated towards the event. ·
On September 25th, we participate at the Word On The Street,
Exhibition in Toronto and Vancouver. ·
Hopefully the administration expects the participation and support
of every member. Bro. Hotaki is the chairman of the organizing committee
and also the responsible person for this event. ·
NEPMCC Awards. In October we will organize our Awards ceremony.
Effective from January 1st until end of June 2011, members were asked to
download nomination form from our website and submit names of members they
propose from their community, media or organizations who they think are
eligible for recognition or to receive the NEPMCC Awards.
Members were earlier asked to send the completed nomination form to
either Dr. Tajdolati or to the office of the President. . President Thomas
Saras mentioned that NEPMCC has received the nominations for the annual
awards. Asha Rajak, Irene Keroglidis, and Dr. Tajdolati will decide on the
nominations as members of the awards committee. ·
The office of the President has already sent the questionnaire of
the economic survey via email to all the members of NEPMCC along with
reminders. President urged members to cooperate and respond to the
economic survey undertaken by NEPMCC as it was in their own interest to
participate. Less than 300 members out of more than 600 members have
participated in the survey so far. President Thomas Saras expressed
disappointment at the rate of responses by the members. Students may be
employed to call ethnic media outlets individually, if the responses
continued to be poor. Employing students will also have an additional cost
to the organization. Seneca
College will receive the responses of the survey and tabulate and present
the findings of the survey in a report.
To make a conclusive report based on the findings, participation in
large number is required. Based on this report of the economic survey, The
National Ethnic Press and Media Council will prepare a three day
convention and seminar for the members of the sector next year in 2012 and
apply for Government funds accordingly. This national convention in turn
will provide to all of the members the important information and education
about the Canadian Laws on Journalism. The questionnaire which was
prepared with the help of Seneca College was designed to make a decision
about the nature of the educational material the Seneca College should
prepare for the three day national convention. Besides this we are working
with the government in order to get some benefits for the members of
NEPMCC. In order to be successful we have to show to authorities that most
of our members are professionals and they are contributing to Canadian
economy. This will only be possible if the members participate in large
numbers. ·
President Thomas Saras mentioned that the new Director of PAP,
Heritage Canada was for some reason not able to make it to the monthly
meeting. He went over some guidelines under which members can apply for
funding under the program. He said only very few members applied under the
program (PAP) for digital periodicals. Members can still apply for funding
under some other federal programs. Many discussions took place regarding
process of application for funding. The office of the President is working
hard to help the members in their application under PAP but the members
should also pay attention to the deadlines and other documentary
requirements by Heritage Canada and other Government departments. ·
Word on the Street. Besides Toronto, this year we are going also to
organize this exhibition in Vancouver on the same day with Toronto. ·
Annual Dinner: President Thomas Saras suggested moving this
year’s annual dinner back to Cypriot Community Centre. Motion: Irene
Keroglidis moved a motion to this effect and Dr. Tajdolati seconded the
motion. The motion was carried. Presentation
by Jim Karygiannis M.P. Scarborough-Agincourt, Liberal Multiculturalism
Critic.
Dr. Lamba
welcomed Jim Karygiannis to the meeting. Some
excerpts of Hon: Jim Karygiannis is as follows “It is a
pleasure to be here. I want to thank Thomas Saras and the board of NEPMCC.
I am the critic of multiculturalism of the Liberal Party. Bob Rae
asked me to thank you for the Canada Day celebration which was hosted by
NEPMCC in July. There is a movement in Europe to strike out the word
Multiculturalism. We must not shut our doors. We have done mistakes in the
past. We ignored you and mistakes were made. My door is always open to
discuss and resolve issues people face in our society. My mother does not
know English but turns to Greek Radio and Greek TV to be informed. We want
to take the word tolerance and replace it with respect.
The word RACE stands for Respect Accept Celebrate and Embrace. I
want to invite everyone to Ottawa on August 27 and August 28 (Saturday and
Sunday) in the Liberal Caucus. Multiculturalism
is fundamental to our belief that all Canadian citizens, regardless of
their racial, ethnic or religious background, have an equal voice and
opportunity to participate fully in Canadian society. As
Canadians, we are proud of our citizenship and value our rights and
freedoms. Canada’s strength
is its people. The Liberal
Party of Canada continues to reach out to all Canadians to develop lasting
relationships with ethnic and religious communities in Canada.
As the Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism, I join my Party in
encouraging all Canadians to participate fully in Canada’s present and
future. I believe in
the power and potential of the human race. We must Respect our neighbours,
Accept our differences, Celebrate our rich diversity and Embrace our
heritage. We live harmoniously under one flag, the Canadian Flag.
We are different from one another, yet we are one – we are
Canada. Unless we
listen to you we fail. I will stop here. Our policy is “everybody
belongs”. Hon: Jim
Karygiannis then opened the floor for discussion through the chair of the
meeting –Dr Lamba Gerard Paul,
Mareck J. Godyn, Suleiman Guven, Aaron Berhane and other members discussed
a wide variety of issues such as immigration, trade, economy, healthcare
amongst other issues. Hon: Jim
Karygiannis candidly answered all questions to the satisfaction of all
present. . President
Thomas Saras thanked Jim Karygiannis for his presentation.
Thomas Saras said that Jim Karygiannis is a highly capable leader
and has worked very hard to be successful. He has known Jim for many years
and always appreciated his hard work and dedication and commitment.
It is a special honour for this organization that Jim is with us.
He praised the Liberal leader for his tireless work for the country. He
would like to provide all possible help to the leader for the betterment
of Canadian society. . Presentation by Indira Naidoo
Harris – Provincial Liberal Candidate-Halton
Dr. Lamaba
invited Indira to make her presentation. She
began her address by saying“I am really happy and thrilled to be here
and I thank you for inviting me” Indira then
gave her brief to the council as follows: Indira
Naidoo-Harris was born in Durban, South Africa. Her family immigrated to
Canada, to pursue the dreams they could not achieve under the oppression
of apartheid. The Naidoos
settled in central Alberta, where Indira grew up in a small, rural town.
Fuelled by her family history in South Africa and her arrival in Canada
during our Trudeaumania years, Indira has always been interested in
current affairs and world events. That interest led her to the University
of Lethbridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After
graduate work at the University of Alberta, Indira moved to the United
States for two years with her husband, Randy. She began her career in
journalism there, working for NBC and PBS. From those
beginnings, Indira built a successful career as a writer, reporter,
producer and anchor at the international, national and regional levels.
Coming to Ontario in the 1990's to work for CBC’s The National, she has
anchored for two of Canada’s national television networks (CBC Newsworld,
CTV Newsnet), as well as for many local Ontario stations (CBC Toronto and
CBC Ottawa, TVO and OMNI Television). Indira has also anchored for
regional and national radio, including World Report, and The World at Six,
and has hosted the popular current affairs shows, Cross Country Check-Up
and The Current. Throughout
her career, Indira has earned admiration and respect as a fair-but-firm,
honest, intelligent and credible journalist. She has interviewed Prime
Ministers, Premiers, entertainers, authors and other important Canadian
and international personalities, winning numerous awards for her work and
volunteerism in national and international causes. A year ago Indira
finally decided to pursue her interest in government and currently works
with the Honorable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration Ontario as a Director of Communications. She has sat on the
Board of Directors for the Reel World Film Festival and the Nelson Mandela
Children's Fund of Canada. Her
family spends its time visiting the many Halton Region conservation areas,
shopping in the Milton and Burlington Farmer's Markets, attending the
local fairs, and enjoying everything the region has to offer. Indira
said she felt it was the right time to enter politics because of her
constant conviction in serving the society. She is well aware of the
issues facing her constituents and the province. Indira
Naidoo-Harris then opened the floor for questions. Janus Adu
Raudkavi, Gerard Paul, Mareck J. Godyn, Aaron Berhane, Ahmad Shah Hotaki
and others took part in the discussion following her presentation. Various
issues were keenly discussed Indira
Naidoo Harris candidly answered all questions during the discussion. Thomas Saras
thanked Indira for her time and wished her success in her campaign. Adjournment:
Irene Keroglidis moved a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dr. Tajdolati
seconded it. The motion was carried. The chair adjourned the meeting at
10:30 pm. The next meeting would take place on September 12, 2011, 6:00 pm
at the committee room N# 4, at the Toronto City Hall. The Minutes
prepared by Neel Nanda, Secretary General of the NEPMCC and have been
accepted by the executive as is for distribution to members.
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