L'ASSOCIATION DES MUSULMANS PROGRESSITES DU CANADA

 

NINTH OTTAWA CITY HALL IFTAR DINNER - APRIL 7, 2022 The 9th Iftar dinner was held on April 7. 2022 after a gap of two years because of the COVID19 Pandemic.   In keeping with the tradition, several elected representatives from all levels of government and from the Diplomatic Corps attended.    The event was supported by His Worship Mayor Jim Watson, Mrs. Marjolaine Hudon, Regional President, Ontario North and East Region, RBC Royal Bank and TD Bank. Additional funds were  needed and APMC members, Nehal Syed, Sajjad Hanif and Anees Khaja came forward to contribute the balance. Mrs. Marjolaine Hudon brought greetings from the Royal Bank of Canada as did Ms. Michelle Zagier, Branch Manager from the TD Bank Group. Hon. John McKay, PC, MP., host of AMPC's Eid dinners at Parliament Hill also brought greetings.  Everyone spoke about the values of charity, sharing, tolerance, inclusion and diversity that are shared by all religions and are practiced in the month of Ramadan. Retired Chief Armand La Barge was the emcee for the evening.  Mr. Craig Kennedy sang the National Anthem. Hon. Paul Chiang presented a Parliamentary Certificate to Chief Armand La Barge who was his former boss and thanked him for the support and encouragement he provided over the years which helped him to run for Member of Parliament. APMC also remembered and expressed support for the people and Government of Ukraine facing the hardship of war and dealing with the attack by Russia. In his welcome address, President Mobeen Khaja said "we are saddened to see the bombing, loss of life, uprooting of millions of innocent Ukrainians from their homes seeking refuge in other countries.  The civilized world is in shock watching the horrible pictures coming out every day and wondering when this brutal war is going to end. In these difficult times, we stand in solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine." Diplomatts who attended were: H. E. Kamal Bashah Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Abdulrahman Alothaina, Second Secretary Embassy of Kuwait, Mr. Emre Cantekin, Second Secretary Embassy of Turkey, Mr. Gregory D'Elia, Minister Counselor USA Embassy and his wife Mrs. Francoise D'Elia, Mr. Manuel Furtwangler- Head of Polotical Section Embassy of Germany, Mrs. Christin - Head of Communications and culture Embassy of Germany, Mr. Iwan Nur Hidayat - Minister Counellor Political Social Affairs of Indonesia, Mr. Hamid Raza Khan - Press Counsellor, Pakistan High Commission, H. E. Daniel Tumpal Simanjuntak Ambassador of Indonesia,  H. E. Anezan Siti Hajjar Adnin- High Commissioner of Malaysia. Some photos from the event. (L-R) Sajjad Hanif, APMC Treasurer and his friends who traveled from Toronto (L-R) Mayor Jim Watson, Mobeen Khaja and H. E. Daniel Tumpal Simanjuntak, Ambassador of Indonesia                                             A view of the hall - Jean Pigott Room  (L-R) Mrs. Christin Furtwangler and Mr. Manuel Furtwangler - Head Political Section of Embassy of Germany (L-R) H. E. Daniel Tumpal Simanjuntak, Ambassador of Indonesia, Jerry and Carol Sherman, H. E. Kamal Bashah Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei and Mr. Iwan Nur Hidayat - Minister Counsellor in Embassy of Indonesia  Armand La Barge -APMC's Advisory Board Member and  Emcee for the evening   Craig Kennedy singing National Anthem  A view of the hall - Jean Pigott Room  Mobeen Khaja welcoming guests Mayor Jim Watson welcoming guests Marjolane Hudon of RBC bringing greetings from the bank Michelle Zagler from TD Bank bringing greetings (L-R) MPs Yasir Naqvi, Paul Chiang, Chandra Arya and John McKay Paul Chiang presenting Parliamentary Certificate to Ret. Chief Armand La Barge H. E. Kamal Bashah Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam and H. E. Anezan     Siti Hajjar Adnin- High Commissioner of Malaysia. A sumptuous dinner was served buffet style  H. E. Anezan  Siti Hajjar Adnin and Marjolaine Hudon with RBC colleagues                                                    Michelle Zagler with TD Bank colleagues and Mobeen Khaja (L-R) Mobeen Khaja, Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Eli El -Chantiry and John McKay Mr. Gregory D'Elia - Minister Counselor from US Embassy and Mrs. Francoise D'Elia