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The
Ethiopian Association in the GTA and Surrounding Regions will be
hosting the
12th
annual Ethiopian-Canadian Day Celebration on:
Saturday, September
11, 2010
10am to 11pm
at Christie Pits Park
Click here for more pictures.
Festivity of the Ethiopian-Canadian Day Celebration in Toronto
On September 12 , 2009 the Ethiopian community in Toronto marked the 11th annual Ethiopian Day celebration. For third
year in a row, thousands of Ethiopians gathered at Christie Pits Park located at the heart of the city extending partially over the Bloor/Danforth subway line. Along this surface route, to the west, are thriving Ethiopian businesses , as expected, more Habeshas are frequenting this area more than any other place in the
city. The city of Toronto and its suburbs are homes to over 50000 Ethiopians who have chosen Canada as their adoptive country.
The bright and warm sunny day in Toronto has given color to our great event which all Ethiopians do pride themselves. As an event coinciding with the Ethiopian New year, we all give this event the highest sentimental value, not quantifiable in any other terms. We all have memories of how enqutatash is being celebrated back home. The rainy season is over and spring is taking shape by clearing off those dark clouds. The fields are still green filled with blossoming flowers and roses everywhere. Young girls and boys joyously welcome the season with traditional chants and dances peculiar to each custom. They aspire for a better future and wish everyone the best of the new season. The neighborhood blesses them with gifts like some changes to assist in purchase of school supplies. Relatives and friends take the occasion to socialize. As the start of the new academic year, students would look forward to getting enrolled to the next higher grade and cannot wait to meet old and new friends alike.
There are more reasons to give our new year more significance than what is stated here. Ethiopian communities, all over the world, give the New Year celebration the highest regard, tradition continues to dictate our way of life in as much as we are keen to preserve it. It is with this sense of obligation to preserve and promote our heritage that the Ethiopian Community in Toronto has taken over the task of organizing such an event. We had it for
11 consecutive years; growing in size and glowing in colour year after year.
As in the past, our Association took charge of planning, budgeting and coordination of tasks. Functional units were created and assigned detailed responsibilities. The board was indeed determined to prove that the event draws the largest crowd ever and had to reach out every sector of the community across and beyond all artificial barriers. All efforts were, thus, directed, to bring in more funders, volunteers and vendors of all sorts as organizational, logistic and financial needs of the event warrant active participation of these groups. Consequently, detailed planning activity was professionally carried out from start and the board has drawn the support of employees, volunteers and other generous funders who graciously donated their time, expertise and money for the event.
Once all plans were put in place, it was time for execution. All required permits were secured and contractual agreements with all vendors and suppliers of services were signed. Entertainers and youth groups concluded their practices and rehearsals for the show. The board devised all mechanisms to ensure safety and security of the big crowd expected to attend. All contacts with stakeholders of the event were carried on and frequent follow ups made to streamline the success of the event
All went really well as initially planned and everyone couldn't wait to that big day. Tents and stage were set up on the eve of our event. Starting early morning on the 12th, Bloor St was flooded with Ethiopians coming from all corners of the city and as far away from Montreal and Ottawa. Vacant tents were filled with food items and cases of pops and water. Vendors of Dry goods also stacked their items for sale. Cultural committee organized its larger tent with exhibits of pictures depicting our history, mosaic of cultures and traditions, alphabet and our beauty through diversity. As usual, the exhibition had visitors of all age groups, Ethiopians and non Ethiopians alike. Historical sites of tourist attraction, internationally acclaimed scientists, Artists, writers and world class athletes etc have been given prominent space on the exhibition. It was very impressive from historical perspective to show our past leaders who had heroically preserved our unity and territorial integrity against enemies.
Seniors and women groups were among the tent space holders and had individual tasks to carry out. Religious and human rights groups and other NGOs had their respective places at the park. For the first time, children from Ethiopia with their adoptive Canadian parents were given a tent and they enjoyed the festivity amid the huge crowd of jubilant Ethiopian Canadians.
What would satisfy most for organizers and participants is to see everyone filled with a festive mood, draped in costumes, hugging and caressing each other with words of best wishes for the New Year. What a joyous moment to watch Ethiopians dance nonstop with New Year song of Teddy. It was really amazing to see religious leaders blessing the event and pray for peace in our country. The choir sang religious songs and conveyed messages of hope and best wishes to all celebrating the event. Vendors were busy emptying stocks of food and beverages by attracting more and more customers. The competitive business environment was conducive that everyone felt supporting such an event is part of meeting their social and cultural responsibility.
Late mid afternoon, the crowd was addressed by the president Miss. Ayda Assefa and executive director Dr. Retta Alemayehu of our Association and the Guest of Honour the Honorable Maria Mina MP Beachs-East York.
Dr. Retta Alemayehu, Executive Director of the association made an opening remark on efforts made on organizing the event and introduced Miss Ayda Assefa to the crowd. Miss Ayda Assefa, president of the Association welcomed everyone to the event and wished the best of the season to all. She invited all to join the association by becoming members and volunteers. She expressed her commitment to serve the community diligently and thanked everyone for supporting the event. Finally, she invited The Honourable Maria Mina to come forward to the stage and address the crowd. As familiar a politician to the Ethiopians, the honourable Maria Mina expressed her happiness that she is once again invited to be part of this joyous moment. She wished everybody in the attendance the best of the new season and promised to continue her presence amongst Ethiopian Canadians whenever the need arises.
Now , the festivity is in high gear and party continued with stage performances ranging from fashion show to individual and group musical shows. These performers gave the event its most shining face, Musical groups from Sudan, Reggae and Africa have energized the crowd with their unique tunes and rhythms of drums and other musical instrument. Our own youth group, amateur performers were phenomenal when they entertained the crowd with the various traditional dances. They clearly demonstrated our rich culture we all are proud of. Later, the stage was controlled by our local artists who continued to entertain until the end of our program. It was very amazing to see once again that Toronto has its own talented artist to rely on for similar events we will be hosting in the future.
The long anticipated event finally had to come to a close at 11 pm. Just before the closing, the raffle committee brought their box for a draw. Three lucky winning numbers were picked starting from third prize digital camera, laptop and finally the grand prize of round trip air ticket to Ethiopia and $500 cash. This was an event which ended with great satisfaction and without any single incident whatsoever. The crowd has proven itself as the most orderly and decent. We are proud of being part of such a community whose decency is the envy of every other community.
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