Aleyamma Samuel
7 November 1998

INTRODUCTION

     Namaskaram. Good evening everyone. It sure is great to see all of you, some new faces, some not so new. As you just heard my duty tonight is to jog through the history of the Indo Canadian Community Centre. History, as we all know, can be, kind of dry, more so when there are no juicy stories. Since we have to cover 25 years, may I request you to sit back and relax: This is going to take a good part of the evening.

     At this silver jubilee celebration, it is appropriate to trace the footprints of time to remember from where we started and how we reached where we are now. As you will see, we have travelled through some rough and bumpy roads; well, that gives us more reasons to celebrate.

ORIGIN

     It was the early 1970s, and there was a general feeling among the Indo-Canadians in Ottawa that to better serve our rapidly growing community. we needed to form a Charitable Trust. The then president of the India Canada Association (ICA), the tenacious Dr. John Samuel took up the challenge during the period 1972 – 73. Although there were a few of us assisting in its conception, this time, he went through the labour pain and delivered. The ICA Charitable Trust was born. In early 1973, the Trust was registered as a charitable organization with the then Department of National Revenue and Taxation. For this, the constitution of the India Canada Association needed revision and changes with a separate constitution written for ICA Charitable Trust. The objectives of the Trust as listed in the one-page constitution were ambitious: relief of poverty, advancement of religion, advancement of education. But the single largest project has been a Centre, secular in nature: this idea sure has had a compelling appeal.

     The Trust was then put in the trustworthy hands of Dr. Shiv Jindal (President), Dr. Hari Srivastava and Ram Dilawri. It sure was a monumental task to build a Trust fund from almost nothing. The Trust took crucial baby steps and went through the ‘terrible two-s’. Their fervent fundraising activities brought in a significant sum.

The next Board with Dr. Shiv Chopra as president, Kanu Bhatt and Dr. Dinesh Bhatnagar had a very active term. During this period the constitution was revised with the original objectives intact but expanded. Search for a property continued in earnest and of course, more fund raising.  The Trust reached a new milestone in October 1976 with the purchase of 48 acres, later surveyed as 53 acres of land in Embrun. In early 1977, the Trust name was changed to Indo Canadian Community Centre Inc. with a provincial Charter. In February 1976, the Centre found a temporary home when Sarita and Dr. Shiv Jindal offered a house on Hwy 31. For the next three years that house was used for small gatherings at no cost to the members.

     During the next term, 1977 – 79, the activities of the centre were managed by Dr. Madhu Sahasrabudhe, president, Dev Basu and Dr. Bhagawan Shah. The major project undertaken during this time was the Andhra Pradesh flood relief and rehabilitation to provide boats and nets to a few fishers who lost everything to the devastating flood. This project was initiated and chaired by Aleyamma Samuel. Active search for a centre continued.

     With the changing of the guard in 1979 came the exceptionally pragmatic and highly energetic Diju Raha as president, Aleyamma Samuel and Darshan Kant on the Board with Shiv Chopra and Nitya Varma as ex-officio. In late summer of 1979, we saw the property at 1346 Bank St. on sale. Over the next few weeks, several community meetings were held at this location like an open house. Many turned up to view the property. A very vigorous campaign was launched, and carried on with resolve. We tried everything:and of course, turning up at homes even at odd hours. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people tried to avoid a few of us.

     Although we did not achieve our goal to have a debt-free building we had nearly two-thirds of the $160,000 needed. The land in Embrun was sold in time. The deed was signed on April 29, 1980 and we moved in to our modest first home on April 30^th. It sure was ‘a dream come true.’ The then mayor of Ottawa Marion Dewer officially opened the Centre on March 22, 1981 in the presence of an enthusiastic and cheerful crowd, including a few city councilors, MPs and Senators . It was like a house-warming party. This centre was viewed as a modest but good beginning – the very first secular centre for people of Indian origin in Canada and perhaps in N. America.

MAINTENANCE & ACTIVITIES

     Now there was a centre. . . with new challenges to be faced…  leaky taps, clogged toilets, smoky furnaces, a caved-in roof, basement flooding, loose tiles, high taxes, smelly garbage, even curious vandals. So much so, there were times we thought of asking prospective board members if they had experience in cleaning, plumbing, heating, and electrical work. And they should also own and know how to operate a broom, mop, plunger, shovel and lawnmower. I know for a fact some of them indeed practiced these skills at the centre. I must confess I did. See how much fun we have been having. Sometimes enough to make us all get so depressed, call it quits, and walk away. Miraculously, together we have overcome all the crises; a lot of us really started to believe in miracles.

      This centre has served as a school for several forms of dances, karate, yoga, a drop-in centre for the youth, women, seniors, a place for social and cultural gatherings, private parties, meetings and as a place of worship for several groups before they built their own.

     Over the years, we have raised a few thousand dollars for other charitable causes such as flood relief, children’s aid society, cancer society, Vietnamese refugee settlement called Project 4000, managed blood donor clinic, organized children’s field hockey, donated books to Nepean public library, etc.

     Basically from 1980 to the present, managing and maintenance of the building has been a constant challenge. The restoration project undertaken when Nitya Varma was president in 1981- 83 saved the basement from flooding. During 87-89 when Baldev Vij was president, a major renovation project was launched with a dollar-to-dollar matching grant from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture. The work was completed when Chan Chandramouli was president.  

     Again there was a fundraising blitz in 1991-93 with Shyam Khubchandani as the president to clean up and improve the landscaping. With all this work done the Centre now has a bright and much improved look.

CLOSING

      In closing, I have no doubt that as supporters and members of the Centre we all share a great sense of satisfaction for what we have achieved so far. We have made major strides, acquired significant amount of financial assets. May I suggest that now is the time to look ahead and decide where we want to go from here. We still have many miles to go. It seems to me ours is a task eternal. I wish us continued success. 

     Thank you. You all have been patiently attentive.

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Before I sit down I have one more thing to do, a pleasant one indeed. There are many individuals and several businesses that contributed countless hours, and made very generous donations of money and material. Ideally they should all be recognized tonight. I am not even attempting it due to lack of time and for fear of leaving out a few. But I am sure I have your permission to recognize those who have served as Board members.

     As I call the names out would you please stand up and remain standing.

Audience, please hold your applause. If I leave anyone out, please don’t wait to give me hell later, tell me now.  

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