Indo-Canadian Organizations
(Click on the image to open the corresponding website)
The Art of Living is an international non-profit organization that was founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This organization is one that is humanitarian and educational and offers many courses which include things such as meditation. In addition, the Art of Living Foundation has worked on several humanitarian projects around the world with The International Association for Human Values.
Contact (Ottawa Centre): 613-261-1657, ottawa@artofliving.ca
Bhawani Anantaraman Foundation (BAF) was established by Dr. Anantaraman in memory of his wife, Bhawani, and his two daughters, Aruna and Rupa, who died in the Air India bombing in June, 1985. After spending several years supporting various Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) with donation and volunteer efforts, Dr Anantaraman decided to set up a foundation whose aims are to promote education among children, particularly the disadvantaged. Thus BAF was born in August 1995. (Obtained from: http://www.baf.uottawa.ca/index.html)
President: Anant Anantaraman, bhawanischool@gmail.com
The Bihar Association of Canada represents the Indian community but focuses on representing those from the states of Bihar and Jharkhand in India. This is a non-profit organization that aims to connect those living in Canada who originate from Bihar and Jharkhand and to share the culture and history of Bihar and Jharkhand with Canadians.
Contact: Fill out the form here
The Canada-India Centre for Excellence, housed in Carleton University, was created by Carleton University, the High Commission of India, and some Indo-Canadians. The centre aims to participate and work on policy initiatives with the help of people working in various fields to develop such policies that would be of benefit to Canada and India.
Contact: india@carleton.ca, 613-520-2600 x 7873
Chinmaya Bharati is an international organization which has many locations all over the world, one of which is in Ottawa, Canada. This organization was founded in the 1950s by the devotees of Swami Chinmayananda and aims to share the Vedanta with as many people as they can. They aim to help individuals contribute to society in a positive way through giving them the knowledge of Vedanta. Chinmaya Mission Ottawa conducts various charitable, spiritual, educational, etc. activities which are open to everyone.
Contact: chinmaya.bharati.ottawa@gmail.com, 613-749-3399
Deshantari is a non-profit organization that was founded in the 1970s by the Bengali community in Ottawa. Deshantari aims to bring the Bengali community together to promote the various aspects of their heritage such as culture. They conduct many activities and events throughout the year including musical performances by local artists, an annual dinner, Durga Pooja, and many more. Deshantari also conducts various fundraising activities to give back to both local and international communities and organizations.
President: Shibu Pal (http://deshantari.org/contact-president/), president@deshantari.org
Contact: Fill out the form here
Gujarati Cultural Association is a registered charity that was founded by the Gujarati community in Ottawa more than 35 years ago. GCA aims to promote and support cultural and charity values, educational activities, meditation and yoga activities, and more. They also aim to share, spread, and preserve the Gujarati culture, language, etc. and to aid international students and immigrants new to Canada. GCA conducts several activities and events during the year to bring the Gujarati community together.
President: Hiral Patel, president@gcaottawa.ca
Contact: info@gcaottawa.ca
The Hindu Society of Ottawa Carleton is a volunteer-run non-profit organization which conducts charitable activities mainly in India in collaboration with other organizations.
President: Mythili Kalyanasundaram, 613-599-0690
Contact: hindusocietyottawa@gmail.com
The Hindu Temple of Ottawa-Carleton is a non-profit organization located in Ottawa, Canada. This organization is charitable and religious. The Hindu Temple is also a place for the learning of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta. The Hindu Temple was built in 1989 and has nine shrines.
Contact: hindutempleottawa@gmail.com
India Canada Association is a non-profit organization that was founded over 50 years ago. ICA aims to spread awareness about the Indian culture and to create a good relationship between the Canadian Mainstream and Indo-Canadians. ICA conducts many events throughout the year such as Diwali and Vaisakhi. They also participate in many fundraising events.
President: president@indiacanada.org
Contact: Fill out the form here
India Canada Friendship Circle is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2004. ICFC aims to increase and strengthen India’s profile in Canada. ICFC also aims to create and maintain relationships between Canadians who are interested in India. ICFC conducts five events each year with different speakers who speak about topics related to India such as culture, history, etc.
President: Roohi Ahmed, 613-513-8915
Contact: info@icfc.ws
The Indo-Canadian Community Centre (ICCC), an Ontario Non-profit Corporation, incorporated in June 1977 in Ontario. ICCC aims to Promote Indo-Canadian cultural heritage, provide support services for seniors and youth, undertake charitable and philanthropic initiatives, and own and maintain a community centre building for programs and activities.
President: Kanwal (Ken) Talwar, president@icccottawa.org
Contact: Fill out the form here
Indo-Canadian Council for Arts and Culture is a not for profit organization that was founded in 2014. It aims to enhance the community with both cultural heritage and artistic values.
President: Dr. Azad Kaushik
Contact: 647-669-1000, info@icacouncil.ca
Kannada Sangha Ottawa is an organization that aims to assemble those from Karnataka in Ottawa. It aims to spread the culture of Karnataka. Kannada Sangha Ottawa conducts several events throughout the year such as picnics.
Contact: kso_committee@yahoo.ca or fill out the contact form here
The Mahatma Gandhi Peace Council of Ottawa is a non-profit organization based in Ottawa. It aims to spread and educate others about the beliefs and principles (especially non-violence and peace) of Mahatma Gandhi through various events, seminars etc.
President: Rashmi Gupta, 613-744-4401
Contact: Fill out the contact form here
The Malayali Association of Ottawa is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1971. It aims to bring together people from Kerala in Ottawa. It conducts several events throughout the year.
President: Sudheesh Panicker
Contact: Fill out the form here
The Manjari Sankurathri Memorial Foundation was founded in 1989 in memory of Manjari, Srikiran, and Sarada Sankurathri, who were killed in Air India Flight 182 in 1985. They are the wife, son and daughter, respectively of Dr. Chandrasekhar Sankurathri. MSMF has worked to support Sankurathri Foundation’s programs in health care, education and disaster relief.
President: Dr. Chandrasekhar Sankurathri
Contact: 613-523-5413 or fill out the contact form here
Mukul Hindi School is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1971. Mukul Hindi School teaches Hindi and Indian culture. This education is provided at the elementary school level (kindergarten to grade 8), through a high school credit course, and through adult education.
Chairperson: Vinay Purohit, chair@mukulhindischool.org
The National Capital Region Tamil Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005. It works to bring together the Tamil community in Ottawa, to spread Tamilian culture, and to support the cultural relationship with Tamil roots. It also aims to bring all of this together with the Canadian lifestyle.
President: Ranjithan Camalalingam
Contact: info@ncrta.ca
The Network of Indian Professionals is a non-profit organization based in Ottawa. It aims to assist South Asian professionals through political awareness, professional development, cultural awareness, and community and civic engagement.
Contact: info@netipcanada.org or fill out the form here
Ottawa Marathi Mandal is a non-profit organization. It aims to spread the Marathi heritage, values, culture, and traditions. Ottawa Marathi Mandal conducts various events such as dance performances and musical concerts and celebrates festivals such as Ganesh Utsav.
Contact: Fill out the form here
The Ottawa Sikh Society is a charitable organization that was founded in 1968. It aims to fulfill the requirements of Ottawa’s Sikh community related to religion and culture, maintain the OSS building, create a library of works containing Sikh history, teachings, and philosophy, etc and maintain this library, etc.
President: Bhagat Singh Bhandal
Contact: 613-225-8280, oss@ottawasikhsociety.com
The Ottawa Sivan Temple is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2007. The Ottawa Sivan Temple is a Tamil Hindu temple which serves as a place of worship, a place for children to learn, a place for social activities, and a place for seniors to come together.
President: Kugendran Sabaratnam, 613-863-6445
Contact: 613-489-1774, info@ottawasivantemple.com
The Ottawa Tamil Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2015. It aims to bring the Tamil community together through meetings and events, fundraise to give back to the community, promote justice and human rights for Tamils worldwide, etc.
Contact: info@ottawatamilassociation.ca
The Ottawa Tamil Sangam is an organization that works to bring the Tamil community together to spread and promote Tamil culture and language. It conducts several events throughout the year.
Contact: ottawatamilsangam@gmail.com, fill out the form here
The Ottawa Telugu Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1979. OTA represents the culture of those who speak Telugu. It also brings those that speak Telugu together in social settings.
President: Phani Koya, president@ottawatelugu.com
Contact: ota@ottawatelugu.com
Overseas Friends of India Canada is a non-profit organization that works to build up the relationship between Canada and India by bringing together Indo-Canadians of varying backgrounds.
President: Shiv Bhasker, president@ofic.ca, 613-981-4284
Contact: Fill out the form here
Punjabi Community Health Services Ottawa is a non-profit organization. PCHS offers health services such as geriatrics, family programs, community and mental health. The health services are delivered taking both South Asian and Western outlooks towards health and illness and taking the related social problems into consideration.
Contact: 613-903-9901, info@pchsottawa.ca
The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Ottawa-Carleton was established by the Sathya Sai International Organization which is a non-profit organization. The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre practices the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba through volunteer, spiritual, and educational activities.
President: ggottawasaictr@gmail.com
Contact: 613-733-7180, fill out the form here
Sikh Community Services Ottawa is a non-profit organization. It aims to abide by Sikh principles to benefit and improve Ottawa through community service. It provides services and programs to the community to enhance the community’s social wellbeing and health. Sikh Community Services Ottawa conducts several cultural, recreational, and educational activities, provides support services and counselling, employment training and more.
President: Swarn Singh Lall
Contact: 613-599-9074, swarnbalbir@rogers.com, fill out form here
