Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on September 12, 2016, at City Hall Committee room # 2
Present:
Thomas S. Saras
Neel Nanda
Maria Saras-Voutsinas
Ricky Castellvi
Jaques Varbadian
Mohammad Taldolati
Dick and Michelle Tissera
Lalit Thakar
Sandeep Prahhabar
Mohammad Bagher Samimi
Rosemary Sadler
Yohan Byrde
Ricky Castellvi
William Doyle-Marshall
Pooyan Tabatabaei
Helia Ghazi
Leila Monteiro Lins
TeshomeWorleamanuel
Dimitris Vohaitis
Patrick Lang
Martin van Denzen
Sandeep Prabakar
Rakhee Prabakar
Mike Kolosowski
Eugenie Bekchlow
Maria Swictorzechi
Mark Saunders
Wilson Song
Jennifer Zhu
Nishantha Don
Lui Queano
Petrolnila Cleto
Ranjit Wicks
HYon. Marco Medicino, MP
Srimasl Abeyewardene
Tom Bijouet
Janusz Niemczyk
Marek J. Goldyn
Julla Cosby
Sevag Haroutuniana
Raffi Der Boghossian
Hermie Garcia
Mila Astroga-Garcia
Iskham Ghazarian
Abdul Halim Tayyap
Khalid M
N. Logendraliyan
Metin Ciyyi
Patrick Long
Abdulhalee Tayyab
Mirzo Naseem Barg
Muhamma Yahya
John Saraidariw
E Mazak
Arif Ahmed
Khalid Magram
Isa Melo
Yuri Natchetoi
EugiusaBakchinow
Margaret P. Bonikaska, Dr.
Ernesto Donan
Susana Donan
Kevin Wang.
Agenda
Welcome Remarks by the chair.
Minutes of the previous meeting
Report of the President
Presentation by Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders
- Presentation by Marco Mendicino M.P. Eglinton-Lawrence
Presentation by Abul Haleem Tayyab Vice-President - Ahmadiya Muslim Jama’at Canada
Adjournment
Welcome Remarks by the Chair:
Mr. Thomas Saras chaired the meeting and declared the meeting open. Parry Long moved a motion to approve the agenda. Yohan Byrde seconded it. The motion was carried
Minutes of the previous meeting:
Sandeep Prabhaker moved a motion to approve the minutes of the previous monthly meeting Rose Marie Sadllier seconded it. The motion was carried.
President’s Report/Discussions:
- Thomas Saras reminded the members to renew their membership this year in order to enjoy the benefits and privileges of being a member of NEPMCC. He expressed disappointed that only a portion of members have renewed.
- The opening ceremony for NEPMCC pavilion at the CNE Ethnic Press Exhibition which took place on Sunday August 21 was a great success.
- President Thomas Saras was encouraged to see the participation of members at the NEPMCC Ethnic Press Exhibition at CNE on the opening and closing ceremony in large numbers. There was a reception for members following the opening ceremony at CNE. The booth of NEPMCC at the CNE was visited by thousands of visitors daily and was a great Public Relations exercise for the members of NEPMCC.
- The President expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision of Minister Jaczek to take out of the settlements thousands of handicapped young and old persons and put them to the streets where they have no other way of living than begging for few pennies in order to survive. Maria already wrote to ministry and we had no response. With this action of the ministry, said the President, the Wynne government is taking away the last remaining part of integrity, of these persons as they push them to be beggars, exactly what they done previously with persons with mental disabilities and or sickness, which they took out of the hospitals and place them to “community” where they are suffering daily from the way they are treated. I know Kathleen Wynne, said the President and I am sure that she has no idea what is happening in her name by some political neophytes which eventually will destroy her leadership. I am sure, said Mr. Saras, that the article of the Toronto Star was the idea of the political neophytes in order to get the excuse they wanted and close the setlements.
- The President suggested that all members must run an editorial about this serious problem and inform the communities what Queen’s Park is doing against the little pure Canadians, the people with disabilities.
- Thomas Saras mentioned that the list of the award winners this year is final after review by the awards committee headed by Dr. Tajdolati.
Presentation by Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders
President Thomas Saras invited Toronto Police Chief to make his presentation to the council
Chief Mark Saunders expressed his happiness to meet the members of NEPMCC. He began his address by mentioning that working with the community is the key to success.
Toronto is a large and complex city. It is vibrant and dynamic with diverse multicultural and multiracial communities. As Toronto has grown and changed The Toronto Police Service has responded effectively in many areas and can be proud of its accomplishments.
“We formulated a task force with 7 members from Toronto Police and 7 members from the community of diverse background. We have gone to every single aspect of the community. We have an interim report and the final report will be presented in January 2017. We did a few focus groups within the community and advocacy groups.”
He mentioned that the report had three goals are 1) where do you need us the most? 2) Whom do we partner with, 3) dealing with the complexities dealing in a large city.
Those are three goals we have along with 35 recommendations in the interim report.”
He then opened the floor for discussions
William Doyle Marshall, Janus Maria, Khalid Magram, Tom, Rosemarie Sadlier, Dr. Tajdolati, Mareck Goodyn, Raffi Boghossian, Aris Babikian and others asked a wide variety of questions such as the implementation of the goals, budgetary constraint, community partnership, policing with people with mental health issues, effect of global terrorism in Toronto, impaired driving and distractive driving, integration of Refugees in Toronto.
Toronto Police chief candidly answered all questions to the satisfaction of all and encouraged members to be effective partners with Toronto Police in making this city safe and vibrant.
President Thomas Saras suggested to the members that any issue the community faces t be brought before the Police Services.
Presentation by Marco Mendicino M.P. Eglinton-Lawrence
Maria Voutsinas introduced Marco Mendicino, to the council
He began his presentation by mentioning that he feels like he is sitting at the United Nations – reflecting on the members of NEPMCC and the country overall where we live.
He said that multiculturalism and heritage is in his DNA. He was the first person in his family to run for elected office.
The role that the ethnic media plays is unique as it is critical in transitioning the communities. Ethnic Media also make members of the communities connected.
He then opened the floor for discussions
Dr. Tajdolati, Aris Babikian, Mareck Goodyn, Rosemay Saddlier, Raffi Boghossian and others asked questions on a wide variety of questions such as immigration and refugees, accreditation of foreign trained workers.
President Thomas Saras while welcoming the participation of MP Marco Mendicino at the opening ceremony expressed disappointment that the Prime Minister was not able to participate. He suggested that the grievances of the members of NEPMCC be conveyed to the PMO as NEPMCC and its members work very hard to keep the communities connected.
Presentation by Abul Haleem Tayyab Vice-President - Ahmadiya Muslim Jama’at Canada
He made a brief presentation about Ahmadiya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, it spans over 206 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its current headquarters are in the United Kingdom.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) (1835- coming of Jesus(as) of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad(sa). The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that God sent Ahmad (as), like Jesus (as), to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival. He divested Islam of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings. He also recognized the noble teachings of the great religious founders and saints, including Zoroaster, Abraham(as), Moses(as), Jesus(as), Krishna(as), Buddha(as), Confucius(as), Lao Tzu and Guru Nanak, and explained how such teachings converged 1908) of Qadian. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second into the one true Islam.
Many members participated in the discussion.
In the end Abul Haleem concluded that this religion is meant for love to all and hatred for none. He also invited the President of NEPMCC and its members to the annual event on September 24
Adjournment:
Aris Babikian moved a motion to adjourn the meeting and Teshome Wondermanuel and John Saras seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair, President Thomas Saras adjourned the meeting at 9 pm. The next monthly meeting would take place on Monday, October17, 2016 at Committee room N# 4, second floor, City Hall.
