EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS.

The 18th annual celebrations were  held in Toronto at the Woodbine Banquet & Convention Centre Hall, 30 Vice Regent Boulevard.  Hon. John McCallum, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship was the Keynote Speaker and Award Recipient.   Canada Day and the Independence Day of the United States of America were celebrated together for the seventh time.  

This year's celebration was the last one to be held during Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims as the Muslim calendar is 10 days shorter.  This year, APMC hosted a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony for the first time.  It was held before the event and was presided over by Citizenship Judge Nancy Siew.  Some of the new citizens joined this combination of Iftar Dinner and Canada Day celebrations and were very happy to be invited to celebrate, participate and get an understanding of how great it is to be a Canadian regardless of one's faith or ethnic background.  

Iftar, the breaking of the fast at sundown was followed by a dinner.  Then there were greetings from elected representatives, heads of Police and Security services and some prominent people. Minister John McCallum was introduced by former MP Derek Lee.  After the Minister's Keynote speech, he was presented with a plaque that recognized his 'OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR, BANKER, ECONOMIST, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MINISTER AND YOUR PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURISM'.

A Sandulak's polar bear was also presented to Hon. John McCallum.

Miss Yumna Siddiqui and Retired Chief Armand La Barge were the Masters of Ceremonies. The National Anthems for Canada and for the US were sung by Sheba Arifullah both at the start of the event and at midnight before the cake cutting ceremony.  

Two cakes were cut at the end of the event, for Canada Day and the US Independence Day.  Young and old joined in to cut the cakes, mingle and take photos 

Thanks to Dr. Shan Chandrasekar and Mrs. Jaya Chandrasekar of Asian Television Network for Media sponsorship.

We are also grateful to all those who sponsored tables. 

Some photos from the event:

The first six photos are of the Citizenship Ceremony which was held  from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  It was presided over by Citizenship Judge Nancy Siew.  The oaths were administered, and taken by all those  present.  Mobeen Khaja, Imran Hasan, Derek Lee and Ret'd Chief Armand La Barge from the host organization, Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada, welcomed and addressed the new citizens and participated in giving the Certificates of Citizenship.  Judge Nancy Siew presented a Certificate of Recognition to APMC.