On November 24, 2017 CEC President Mr. Dominic Campione was the recipient of the Shirhey Khamara Ziniak Award for his longstanding dedication to multiculturalism in Canada and its affirmative expression through media and activism. This award is presented annually at a Gala held by the Canadian Ethnic Media Association.
Congratulations Mr. Campione for a well deserved recognition of all your efforts!
Dominic Campione and Madeline Ziniak, Chair, Canadian Ethnic Media Association
OTTAWA, February 1, 2017. Canada and the world as well as the hearts and souls of Canadians and our Canadian ethnocultural communities have been stricken by the tragedy at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec, in Quebec City.
The Canadian Ethnocultural Council(CEC) and its member organizations extend their prayers, thoughts and condolences to the families and friends of the victims and injured in the Quebec City Mosque attack and deadly shooting.
“These are most difficult times wherein not only our democratic values are being challenged but where incidents of hatred and violence shake our very existence. We must continue to be ever more vigilant in preserving our priceless democratic values and constitutional rights. Most importantly we must continue to build bridges of understanding that bring together all communities in mutual respect and thereby combat all forms of hatred and violence and in our diversity, nurture a most peaceful harmonious and inclusive society,” concluded Dominic Campione, CEC President.
On November 13, 2002, the Government of Canada, by Royal Proclamation declared June 27th of each year as Canadian Multiculturalism Day. On this Canadian Multiculturalism Day we recognize and acknowledge Canada's rich diversity and the significant contributions that ethnocultural communities have made and continue to make in shaping our great country, Canada.
“On this 27th day of June we celebrate and reflect on Canada's rich diversity which is a testament to the important principle that by working together we can preserve and advance the precious values of equality, mutual respect and democracy which have contributed to making Canada such a great nation and the envy of the world. Multiculturalism does not only form a fundamental part of our Canadian identity but is also one of our great strengths. Let us come together on Canadian Multiculturalism Day and proudly celebrate our rich and vibrant diversity and thereby embrace our identity and heritage.” Viva Multiculturalism! Viva Canada!" said Dominic Campione, President.
Canadian Ethnocultural Council is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of national ethnocultural organizations. The CEC works to promote the understanding of the multicultural reality of Canada thereby ensuring equal opportunity and dignity for all Canadians regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, and ancestry, as defined in The Charter of Rights and Freedomsand the Canadian Multiculturalism Act.
On November 13, 2002, the Government of Canada, by Royal Proclamation declared June 27th of each year as Canadian Multiculturalism Day. It is a day to recognize and acknowledge Canada’s rich diversity and significant contributions many ethnocultural communities have made and continue to make to the development of our great country, Canada.
“As we celebrate Multiculturalism Day, let us reflect and give homage to not only all those people who have come from every corner of the world and by working together contributed to building this country of ours but also to the precious values of equality, mutual respect and democracy that are at the forefront of our diversity and which make Canada such a great nation and the envy of the world. Multiculturalism is also a cornerstone of our values and a very fundamental part of our Canadian identity. Let us together celebrate Multiculturalism Day and be proud of our rich diversity and at the same time embrace our identity and heritage”, said Dominic Campione, President.
" We applaud and are in gratitude to the Government of Canada for proclaiming in 2002 Canadian Multiculturalism Day, and most recently the unanimous support at the Ontario Legislative Assembly of MPP for Trinity- Spadina Han Dong's motion officially recognizing Canadian Multiculturalism Day in the Province of Ontario. We look forward to the recognition of Canadian Multiculturalism Day in all Provinces and Territories in Canada and thereby fully celebrate our cultural diversity and the cultural, social, and economic contributions of ethnocultural communities." concludes Mr. Campione.
The Canadian Ethnocultural Council held its Biennial General Meeting of members in Toronto on December 14, 2014. Newly elected President, Dominic Campione, a national past president of the National Congress of Italian Canadians, stressed his passionate conviction that multiculturalism is a very fundamental part of the Canadian identity and serves to create a country that welcomes and builds communities through mutual respect. Mr. Campione vowed "to continue to work with and engage ethnocultural communities to foster harmony and acceptance of our diversity which is the basis of our great country". Guest speaker, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, addressed the membership and encouraged cultural communities to continue to dialogue and work together.
The CEC is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of national ethnocultural organizations dedicated to working together for the purpose of promoting intercultural dialogue and furthering the understanding of multicultural reality of Canada, thus ensuring equality of opportunity, rights and dignity for all Canadians. The newly elected members of Executive Committee include:
President, Mr. Dominic Campione (National Congress of Italian Canadians)
Vice-President, Ms. Diane Dragasevich, (Serbian National Shield of Canada)
Treasurer, Ms. Athina Charalambides, (Cypriot Federation of Canada)
Secretary, Mr. Hratch Aynedjian, (Armenian National Federation of Canada)
Youth Chairperson, Mr. Wasyl Luczkiw, (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)
Mr. Len Rudner, (Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs)
Dr. Yvonne Bogorya-Buczkowska, (Canadian Polish Congress)
Mr. Emmanuel J. Dick, (National Council of Trinidad and Tobago)
Mr. Paul Grod, (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)
Mr. George Manios, (Canadian Hellenic Congress)
Immediate Past President, Mr. Lou Sekulovski, (United Macedonians Organization of Canada)
June is Asian Heritage Month - The Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society is a non-profit organization consisting of volunteers who are concerned and passionate about sharing Asian and Asian Canadian heritage with everyone in the National capital region. It is also a non-partisan, non-political, and non-religious organization. One out of every seven people in the City of Ottawa is an Asian Canadian. Asian Canadian is the largest visible minority group. The ethnic origins of the Asian Canadians trace back to more than 40 Asian countries/regions. The great majority of the Asian Canadians in Ottawa are of Chinese, East Indian, Lebanese, Filipino, or Vietnamese descent. Approximately 8,000 Asian Canadians live in the City of Gatineau. See: http://www.asianheritagemonth.net/ and http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/asian/declaration.asp
President Lou Sekulovski, Meeting Chair Teresa Berezowski (Canadian Polish
Congress) and guest speaker MP John Carmichael
Presidents of Member organizations attended the annual Board of Presidents meeting on Sunday, December 8, 2013, 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Ave West Toronto
In recognition and celebration of Canada's official Multiculturalism Day, on Thursday June 27, 2013, the Canadian Ethnocultural Council and Quilt of Belonging held the Toronto and GTA screening of the documentary Quilt of Belonging, A Place for All - the inspiring story of the making of Quilt of Belonging, a stunning, collaborative 120 foot long fibre art project at Columbus Centre.This immense textile mosaic recognizes diversity while celebrating our common humanity, demonstrating that there is a place for all to belong! http://www.quiltofbelonging.ca
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Trident Banquet Hall (Hosted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress), 145 Evans Avenue, #200, Etobicoke, Ontario , M8Z 5X8.
Guest Speaker: Madeline Ziniak, National Vice President OMNI Television.
June 27 is Multiculturalism Day in Canada. It is a day to acknowledge Canada's rich diversity and the extensive contributions many ethnocultural communities have made to the development of our country, Canada.
"For more than a century Canada has welcomed millions of immigrants from all countries of the world. They arrived on Canada's shores and found freedom, security and a better life. They have enriched Canada's mosaic with their respective traditions and cultures which have become an inherent part of our Canadian identity", said Lou Sekulovski President.
"Canada's multiculturalism policy, established 41 years ago within the framework of Canada's bilingualism and biculturalism, has facilitated the integration of people from around the world who live in harmony in our country" added Diane Dragasevich, Vice-President.
Today generations of Canadians continue to celebrate their ethnic heritage within the context of our biculturalism and multiculturalism making Canada the best country in the world. "We encourage all Canadians of all backgrounds to join in the recognition of Canada's rich diversity by celebrating Multiculturalism Day on June 27" concluded Lou Sekulovski
