About South Asian Heritage Month (S.A.H.M.) - a non-profit organization. Mission: To encourage and celebrate the contributions of South Asians to Ontario and Canada. Goals: To develop and coordinate activities in the South Asian Community which celebrate, promote and enhance South Asian culture, history, and contributions to Ontario and Canada while working to enhance communication, cooperation and volunteerism amongst members of the South Asian Community and all Canadians. The Gala Dinner, 2002. The Gala Dinner, held in Toronto, was the inaugural function of South Asian Heritage Month. This evening showcased and celebrated the many contributions of South Asians to Ontario and Canada over the years. Not only did this event involve South Asians living in Ontario, but also attracted South Asians from neighbouring provinces and the United States. It was held at the magnificent Metro Toronto Convention Centre on May 2. Contact SAHM for more information: Email: saheritage@rogers.com Tel: 905-279-5679
	A First: Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month. Ontario Passes Bill 98. "'There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.' Our Candle is Bill 98." (A quote from the S.A.H.M. website) This past May, for the first time in history, South Asians throughout Ontario, Canada will celebrate the first South Asian Heritage Month. The Month of May has been proclaimed South Asian Heritage Month in Ontario, and May 5 is South Asian Arrival Day. "Every year in May," South Asian Heritage Month's moniker, South Asian heritage will be honored and the contributions of South Asians to Ontario and Canada will be encouraged and celebrated. ______________________ While most South Asians came to Canada from India many others came to Ontario from such places as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. ______________________ On December 14, 2001, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario passed MPP Raminder Gill's Private Member's Bill, Bill 98, proclaiming May as South Asian Heritage Month. The short title for the act is the South Asian Heritage Act, 2001. Raminder Gill was the second South Asian elected to the Ontario provincial legislature in 1999. Sixteen community leaders representing various countries and sectors of the South Asian community formed a committee, chaired by Harry Mann, to work to make South Asian Heritage Month a reality. To give spirit to the legislation, South Asian Heritage Month was launched with a gala event at Toronto's Convention Centre on May 2. Suhana Marchand from The National on CBC Television hosted the evening of dinner and presentations. The inaugural event to launch the first South Asian Heritage Month focused on celebrating South Asian heritage while looking towards the future. Numerous other events celebrating South Asian Heritage Month also took place throughout the province during the month of May. For South Asians, the month of May has been a time of celebration and commemoration of arrival from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas beginning on May 5, 1838. South Asian immigrants began arriving in Ontario at the start of the 20th century. Working primarily in the sawmill industry, South Asian immigrants settled in various areas of Ontario. While most South Asians came to Canada from India many others came to Ontario from such places as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. Today, South Asians make up 7% of Ontario's population and are proud to draw upon their heritage and traditions, contributing to many aspects of culture, commerce and public service across this province. This website: Copyright © 2002 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.