Ontario’s Minster of Consumer Services addressed CEMA members at its Speaker Series meeting on…

Thursday, June 3, 2010, at 6:45 p.m.
Majestic Boardroom, OMNI Television
545 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
(Bathurst & Lake Shore)

Sophia Aggelonitis

Sophia Aggelonitis was first elected to the Ontario Legislature to represent the people of Hamilton Mountain in October, 2007. Currently, she is the Minister of Consumer Services. In addition, Sophia is a member of the Legislation and Regulations Committee, the Economic, Environmental and Resources Policy Committee, the Treasury Board Working Group and was appointed by the Premier as the Chair of the Restaurant and Hospitality Caucus. (more…)

Tributes pour in for his single minded devotion to the cause of the ethnic media in Multicultural Canada

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Toronto (May 6, 2010) — Ben Viccari, a champion of Canadian multiculturalism, who led the Canadian Ethnic Media Association for 10 years, establishing it as a force to be reckoned with when it came to ethnic media and communications, died early today at the St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto as a result of complications arising from pneumonia. He was 92 and remained an active writer, journalist and broadcaster a year before his death, when his physical condition forced him into retirement. (more…)

The Story of Ontario’s fast-growing wine industry…

Mark your calendars for the next CEMA Speaker Series event on March 4, 2010.  The speaker is Ed Madronich, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario, and President of Flat Rock Cellars in Jordan, a well-

Ed Madronich, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario and President of Flat Rock Cells, Jordan, Ontario

known winery in the Niagara Region. Given his love of the grape and wines, this promises to be a heady and fruitful session.

Date:
Thursday, March 4, 2010

Time:
7:00 p.m. Sharp

Location:
Majestic Boardroom, OMNI Television, 545 Lake Shore Blvd. W
(Bathurst & Lake Shore)

Parking is available in the OMNI parking lot, off Lake Shore, east of Bathurst. Please press the white button at the parking gate to gain entrance

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Alok Mukherjee, Chair of the Police Services Board that oversees Canada’s largest police force, that of Metro Toronto, will address CEMA’s Speaker Series on February 4, 2010.  He will be talking, among other things, about the race relations within the force and what is being done vis-a-vis recruitment so that the police represent the city as a whole.

The event will be held at OMNI-TV’s boardroom at 545 Lakeshore Blvd. West at 6 p.m. More details will be posted on this site as the even draws near.

Alok Mukherjee

Most recently, he addressed the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, in a session entitled “Crisis in Canadian Policing.”  His topic was “Let’s Tackle the Mismatches.” To read his presentation on this, please CLICK HERE to access his blog, which also contains other interesting tidbits.

Here is a short bio of the Chair as provided by the Metro Toronto Police Services Board:

Alok Mukherjee has been Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board since September 2005.  He is the first South Asian to occupy this position.  As a Vice President of the Ontario Association of Police Boards and Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Police Boards, Dr. Mukherjee is actively involved in efforts to promote community-based policing under civilian oversight provincially and nationally.  He is frequently called upon to speak on policing issues to a variety of audiences. He brings a unique perspective to law enforcement issues from his experiences in a highly multicultural and multiracial environment. (more…)

Toronto, Nov. 9, 2009 – Multiculturalism is “basic building block in the Canadian identity” and our getting it right “helps the world towards survival,” Member of Parliament Justin Trudeau told members at a specially convened Speaker Series of CEMA.

He told a packed boardroom that unfortunately the current Conservative government “is mistaken in lumping the multicultural portfolio in with immigration.”

Chip of the Old Block: Multiculturalism heir Justin Trudeau... (Photo: Lisa Warner)

Mr. Trudeau, a Liberal Party MP from Quebec, is the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the father of Canadian Multiculturalism and a champion of spurring Canada to broaden its trade and cultural vision from simply south of the border to the rest of the world.

Justin Trudeau told CEMA members that Multiculturalism should be regarded as a collectived set of values and hence becomes a tremendouis strength in building a better life for us all. “There is truth in the phrase ‘the kindness of strangers’”, he said.

“Look at the way our literature has broadened with many new Canadians and Aboriginals as important award winners in the fields of literature and the performing arts,” he said. (more…)

2009 Season’s Dinner

Friday, November 27, 2009
at

Hurry! Gala ticketsare fast selling out

The Golden Lion
King’s Garden Banquet Hall
15 Canmotor Ave.
(runs south off the Queensway, east of Islington)
Reception: 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30

Tickets: $40.00

CLICK HERE to print form and buy tickets

A unique new exhibit was unveiled at the Mississauga Civic Centre’s Great Hall, 300 City Centre Drive, on Saturday, September 26. The exhibit, created by the Polish Canadian Women’s Federation, will tell the stories of 60 Canadians of Polish heritage. The “Polish Spirit Exhibit” will highlight the contributions that men and women have made in the fields of politics, science and engineering, the arts and community involvement.

Laurel Broten, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore congratulated the organization for the work they’ve done as a result of receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Over 250 pictures will be on display and people will get an opportunity to learn more about the design of such Toronto landmarks as the CN Tower and Roy Thomson Hall as well as seeing some amazing works of art. The Polish Spirit exhibit features Sir Casimir Gzowski, Senator Stranley Haidasz, Isaac

Hellmuth, the founder of Western University, Janusz Zurakowski- aviator, Mark Starowicz- Director, Documentary Programming at CBC TV, Shirley Mask Connolly, Curator of Polish Kashub Heritage Museum in Wilno.

Also present were Luz del Rosario, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Grant Review Team volunteer and Yvonne Bogorya, President, Polish Canadian Women’s Federation

For more information, please contact:

Yvonne Bogorya, President, Polish Canadian Women’s Federation, at 416-255-8608 or y.bogorya@rogers.com

PRESS RELEASE:

CJFE & Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Present a Benefit Screening/International Premiere

Of Willing Mind Productions’ “So Far From Home”

Toronto, Sept. 17, 2009 – Canadian Ethnic Media Association Executive Chair and OMNI Television National Vice President Madeline Ziniak joins a panel of journalists at the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s (CJFE) and Sheridan College’s benefit screening/international premiere presentation of  “So Far From Home”, a  documentary produced by Willing Mind Productions that offers a unique window into the challenges and dangers faced by five journalists from regions of major conflict. The documentary was made possible by OMNI ‘s Independent Producers Initiative.

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A long-time CEMA member and supporter, Renato Zane, has been promoted to the position of Vice President / General Manager for Citytv Vancouver and OMNI B.C. Renato’’s background of 25 years of journalism, production and managerial experience will be valuable in his new role.

Renato began his broadcasting career in 1984 as a reporter for the Italian News at CFMT (now OMNI Ontario) and over

Renato Zane

the next four years was promoted to Italian News Anchor then to Assistant News Director. From 1988 to 1994, Renato was the Producer for Incontri, a nightly Italian magazine show. Renato was then promoted to Director, News & Sports, a position he held until 2002, when he was promoted to Vice President, News for OMNI Television, his most recent position.

Renato has spent more than five years on the Board of Directors of the Radio-Television News Directors’ Association of Canada (RTNDA), serving as Treasurer, VP Television, and Chair of the RTNDA diversity committee. He received the association’’s distinguished service award in 2007.

Renato is married and has two children – one attending McGill University and the other attending University of British Columbia. Please join us in congratulating Renato and welcoming him to his new position.