ICCC Communique #12

ICCC Members Communique # 12 (January 2019)

The audience for the Communique: Life Members of ICCC

Purpose: To update the ICCC members on the activities and accomplishments of ICCC during the past year.

Grants Received
Govt. of India Grant: The Government of India has given ICCC a $10K grant for the 2018-19 fiscal year to support ICCC’s various cultural initiatives & collaborations.

Community Centre — The key objective of ICCC
The Community Centre was originally a gathering place for the Indo-Canadian community in Ottawa. It became the ‘community hub‘ that led to a new VISION for the ICCC, i.e.

“A United Indo-Canadian Community Thriving in the Canadian Mainstream.”

The Board also expanded the scope of the ‘community hub‘ four-fold, i.e. a Virtual Hub (an online Community Portal), and three Physical Hubs — Community Centre (meeting room), Spiritual Hub (Meditation and Peace Garden), and Sports Hub (sports facilities for the community youth and others). Here’s the status:

ICCC Virtual Hub – An Online Community Portal (https://icccottawa.org): The Portal is intended to gather the community online for a one-stop source of information on community events, news, views, etc. The “Events Calendar” is aimed to become the central “go to” place for all the community events.

ICCC Physical Hubs — Community Centre, Spiritual Hub, and the Sports Hub: Your Board of Directors has been diligently exploring options and avenues for the three Physical Hubs. Presently, an option is under consideration for the Community Centre, which is the key ICCC objective. This place, if acquired, will be the focal point for the ICCC membership and the Indo-Canadian community at large. Further details will be communicated soon. 

ICCC Programs & Activities
ICCC Seniors Program: ICCC’s Seniors’ weekly social get together at four locations in the city is gaining community participation.  ICCC Seniors successfully celebrated Diwali festival at Palki Restaurant with over 150 participants including the seniors, Mayor Jim Watson and other dignitaries in the community.  The seniors also celebrated the Lohri festival in January at the Tanglewood and Orleans location.

Seniors Directory now has over 375 members.

ICCC Social Network of Women (S.N.O.W.): S.N.O.W. is planning to celebrate the International Women’s Day – 2019 in March. Preparations are in process.

ICCC Celebrations Evening – 4th November 2018: This major event of 2018 was held at Jean Piggott Hall, Ottawa. It attracted over 215 participants (“oversold”). It has significantly enhanced ICCC’s brand and image in the community. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of a cheque for $85,000 as the community donation for the Kerala Flood Disasters Relief Fund. Other activities included the following presentations:

  • ICCC Hubs and Programs and other activities — Presentation and audio-visual displays.
  • $5,000 cheque — as an ICCC contribution to Compassionate Ottawa.
  • Award of 5 x $500 ‘Leaders of Tomorrow – ICCC Youth Scholarships’ to five post-secondary students.
  • Honouring of Volunteers for their dedication to ICCC — Appreciation Certificates were given to six seniors, three SNOW members, and to two other community members.
  • Certificates for summer students from Chandra Arya, MP.

Entertainment: Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, classical Indian & Bollywood dance performances, music & songs, door prizes. appetizers & sumptuous dinner.

Please visit the ICCC website: https://icccottawa.org to view the event highlights and photo gallery.

ICCC Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) Celebrations – 9th January 2019:  Over 150 community members attended the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebration that was held in collaboration with the High Commission of India. The participation was represented by over 25 Indo-Canadian community organizations. The program highlighted a speech by High Commissioner Vikas Swarup about the significance and contributions of Pravasis (Non-Resident Indians), a presentation on Counsellor Services by the High Commission of India, and cultural entertainment with dance and songs.

This dinner event at the Rinag Banquet Hall, after the 4th November 2018 event at the City Hall, further enhanced ICCC Brand image and credibility in the community.

Please visit ICCC website for the highlights of the event and the photo gallery.

ICCC Summer Students Program – 2019:  ICCC is applying for a grant to hire 8 summer students during 2019 to work on its various projects.

ICCC Collaborations with the Community
ICCC- Compassionate Ottawa (CO) Partnership: Compassionate Ottawa has partnered with ICCC to promote the ‘the elderly care and life transitions’ educational programs to the Indo-Canadian community and the Ottawa community at large. ICCC has contributed the first instalment of a $5,000 donation to the Compassionate Ottawa. ICCC has now received an additional donation of $2,000 for the Compassionate Ottawa cause. Your donations are welcome towards the promised second instalment of $5,000 donation towards this worthy initiative.

A History of Indo-Canadians in Ottawa – Book Collaboration: This was originally an ICCC initiated project. ICCC actively participated in the official Book Launch ceremony on the 14th of July, 2018. It was attended by the Mayor of Ottawa and the High Commissioner of India.

Kerala Floods Disaster Relief Fund – Community fund-raising in partnership with the Malayali Association of Ottawa and Hindu Society of Ottawa: ICCC actively worked with Malayali Association of Ottawa, Hindu Society of Ottawa, Cochin Kitchen Restaurant and other community members and organizations to raise over $85,000 for the Kerala Floods Disaster Relief Fund.

ICCC – 2nd Annual Cooking Up Community Services ― Free Breakfast Collaboration: ICCC joined hands in the 2nd Annual Cooking Up Community Services – Free Breakfast — on 12th September 2018 to raise funds for the STEP Program for mental health and addiction counselling for Ottawa’s youth. This initiative is a collaborative effort of ICCC’s own legal counsel Daljit Nirman, Eggspectation Restaurant, and the United Way.  ICCC’s efforts raised $3,500 of the total $15,000 presented to the United Way of Ottawa.

We encourage community members to donate funds to ICCC with a clear direction to channel donations to a charity of choice. This will promote unity and raise the profile of the Indo-Canadian community in the Canadian mainstream.

ICCC – Mahatma Gandhi Peace Council of Ottawa (MGPC) Partnership: ICCC partnered with MGPCO and took an active part in celebrating the 150th year of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October 2018 (Charity Dinner event at the Infinity Centre). ICCC guests had their own 2 tables + 3 additional seats at this event.

Other Activities & Events
ICCC participated in following community activities:

  1. Diwali Celebrations at the Parliament Hill.
  2. Hindu Heritage Day Proclamation celebrations at the City Hall.
  3. Hindu Heritage day celebrations on the Hill, organized by MP Chandrakanth Arya.
  4. Sikh Community Services, Ottawa meetings.
  5. Nepean Field Hockey Tournament (Nepean Nighthawks).
  6. Numerous meetings and discussions with community members regarding new initiatives, ICCC activities & events ideas, policies, identification of potential volunteers for ICCC, etc.

General
A tax-deductible donation to the ICCC can now be made through Interac e-transfer to secretary@icccottawa.org. Donations may also be given online via Paypal on our website https://icccottawa.org.

Please provide information such as donation for the specific program, your full name, address, telephone number and e-mail for forwarding income-tax receipt.

Any questions or comments? Please contact:

Kanwal (Ken) Talwar
President, Indo-Canadian Community Centre
613-866-5623