SIXTEENTH  ANNUAL CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS.

The 16th annual celebrations were held at the Estate Banquets & Event Centre, 430 Nugget Avenue, Scarborough.  Canada Day and the Independence Day of the United States of America were celebrated together for the fifth time.  Zaib Shaikh, Imam of the CBC's hit series Little Mosque on the Prairie, was the Keynote Speaker and the Award Recipient for this year.   He was presented with Sandulak's polar bear and a plaque with the following inscription: IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS THE IMAM OF THE LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE AND YOUR PASSION TO DEVELOP A VARIETY OF TELEVISION AND FILM PROGRAMMES UNDER THE BANNER OF GOVERNOR FILMS INC.

This year's celebration was on the second day of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims. Hence, it was a combination of Iftar Dinner and Canada Day celebrations and a great opportunity for all to celebrate, participate and understand how great it is to be a Canadian regardless of one's faith or ethnic background.  Everyone who spoke had something to say about this all encompassing feeling as being one, the spirit of community, the enjoyment of the diverse cultures and customs and how blessed we are as Canadians.  

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 the Ismaili Choir both at the start of the event and at midnight before the cake cutting ceremony.  They also delighted the audience with other songs and lyrics. 

Zaib Shaikh gave an inspiring an eloquent speech and received a standing ovation.  For his speech, please click here 

Mr. Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies came from Ottawa to introduce Zaib Shaikh and do the citation.

From the US Consulate, Mr. Scott Walker, Public Affairs Officer attended.  Two cakes were cut at the end of the event, for Canada Day and US Independence Day.  Young and old joined in to cut the cakes, mingle and take photos with Zaib Shaikh and his wife,  Kirsten Stewart, Head of Twitter Canada who was tweeting through the evening.

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: