Canadian Ethnic Media Association

The City of Pickering, Ontario is celebrating its Bicentennial Year in 2011. Myriad related activities have been organized throughout the year. As part of the celebrations, the accomplishments of 12 prominent resident families have been recognized in a presentation by the Historical Society of Pickering and Pickering Public Library.

Titled ’200 Years of Pickering Families’ is a one-of-a-kind display which features among others, soldiers, doctors, businessmen, political personalities and a writer. As part of the Library’s Bicentennial activities, the Local History Room at the Pickering Central Library is the site of an ongoing display.

South Asian-Canadian Jawaid Danish and his family are among the  families featured in this program. Playwright and Poet Jawaid Danish, has published more than 12 books and is well-known in literary circles, especially among theatre lovers, as an ambassador of Eastern values and culture. A two-time City of Pickering Civic Award winner, Jawaid Danish is actively involved in the local community. His many accolades, trophies, medals and photographs were on display in the Pickering Public Library for the entire month of December 2011. Continue reading →

In commemoration of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011, CEMA partnered with the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (www.ethnocultural.ca) and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (www.crr.ca) to organize a special event with Natalie Des Rosiers of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The discussion was thought-provoking as it provided an overview of our rights and how they are changing in our Canadian democracy and elsewhere.

From L to R: Anna Chiappa, Executive Director, Canadian Ethnocultural Council; Ayman Al-Yassini, Executive Director, Canadian Race Relations Foundation; Natalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Dat Nguyen, President, CEMA; Gina Valle, CEMA Board Member; Lou Sekulovski, President, Canadian Ethnocultural Council.

The 33rd Awards Gala of the Canadian Ethnic Media Association, being held on Dec. 10, 2011, at the Enwave Theatre in Toronto’s Harbourfront, will be hosted by Sudha Krishnan, reporter and host of OMNI-TV News: South Asian Edition, and Vincenzo Somma, anchor of the Italian Edition. (See end of this post for details on the venue and program of the gala.)

Here is some background on the two hosts:

Sudha Krishnan started with OMNI News Alberta at the beginning of its launch in 2008 as an anchor for OMNI News: South Asian Edition. In 2011 Sudha made the move to OMNI News: South Asian Edition in Ontario, where she currently works as a reporter and host. Continue reading →