HEARTY SENIORS ENJOY FAMILY
DAY CELEBRATION
BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION
AWARD WINNER,
DEDICATED TO SERVE, CREATE AWARENESS
TORONTO:
Despite the mounds of snow, slippery ice and strong chilly winter wind, a large
number of seniors of various communities participated, danced, entertained and
enjoyed the Family Day Celebration for Seniors held on February 20, 2013, at
the Seniors Building, 12 Thorncliffe Park Drive. Refreshment was served.
The
celebration was organized by Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office—Settlement
Services and New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). It was funded by Service
Canada. The distinguished guests included Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director,
and Ahmed, Director, of TNO. NHSP Coordinators Syed Iqbal and Linda Verzosa and
Settlement Workers Nawal Ateeq and Alberto Rodil put great efforts in making
the program successful.
Members,
mostly of Pakistani community, of the Seniors Club including Javed Zaheer,
Naseem, Sajid Ali, Aziz Meherali, Azhar Bokhari, Syed Shakil Ahmed (Indian
Community) took part. The Seniors Club has been formed by Tariq Rehman and hold
weekly meeting at the TNO Youth Centre. It has decided to show presence at
other meetings as well in order to remove the propagated bad impression that
the South Asian community is not active.
This
club had recently organized a highly successful musical/entertainment program
and more are in the pipeline. It has gained great popularity and the members
are increasing. The club is based on the policy---Respect each other and share
time, experiences and food with love, care and understanding. It gives the
touch of a family and home. Nooruddin twice brought from home mouth-watering
and very delicious Haleem and Zarda. Others too keep bringing food from home. Syed
Shakil Ahmed and Syed Sajid Ali keep entertaining the group with their good
voices including songs, ghazals and naat. Shakil plays piano as well.
Performances
in the family celebration included Gujrati dance under the supervision of
Hilda. The participants included Shakil Ahmed, Syed Sajid Ali, Sonia, Norma and
Dident. Shakil also sang Ghazal (Poetry in song form). The Philippines
community members presented a sign language show. The Sri Lankan community presented a dance
show. The Afghan community too presented a show. Certificates were also
distributed on the occasion.
Tariq
Rehman and Almas acted as MC. Fiza also spoke on the occasion. The convenor was
Alberto Ridol.
The
program was to be held from 1:00 to 4:00 but ended before 2:30. Many guests
including me coming by this time were surprised and disappointed. Those who
invited me were happy to see me and wanted to arrange food for me.
Alberto
was giving the food and when one of my friends told him to arrange food for me
as well he stared at me and said that he came late and will not get the food. I
personally was not interested in the food, refuse to have it and did not ask
for it but the way Alberto Ridol stared at me and insulted me really shocked me.
My friends who invited me were also shocked. They were not expecting such
insulting attitude and behaviour from a responsible worker of TNO.
I
told my friends who wanted to introduce me to Alberto that I don’t make such
people friend and cannot work with such a person. I was shocked that TNO has
such an irresponsible person working on a responsible position. The impression
I got from his dirty look and attitude was that `We (South Asians/Muslims) were
not welcome’. How would one have trust and confidence in such a person/official
when it comes to helping them in TNO?
Still
we are prepared to work with the TNO groups and others provided we are welcomed
and treated respectfully and with spirit of togetherness. Sorry Alberto Ridol,
we cannot tolerate, support and promote discrimination and insults. You and
your group are welcome to our Senior Club, where you will get respect and all.
You
must thank the participants for making the program successful although many
were disappointed because of your failure, due to reasons best known to you, to
keep the program alive and running from 1:00 to 4:00. Anyway, it happens. Focus
must always remain on improvements. It will affect the sponsors and funds. The TNO
and community both need them.
---Javed Zaheer, Free Expression
Award Winner, Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner, Member/Honorary Director of
NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The
National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan
Abroad’, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’,
ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan, Chairman, CANOPI, and
Director, Canpak Camber of Commerce, is contributing purely on Voluntary and
Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact:
(416)696-0981/jazamedia@hotmail.com. To read more JZ’s exclusive articles,
please visit: www. nepmcc.ca and nationalethnicpress.com (Editorial Sections.
Scan years from 2004 to 2011. Visit www.javedzaheernews.blogspot.com
and
www.jazamedia.wordpress.com.
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