Mr. Yaser Kherdaji speech in our October 12th, 2003 event

President of The Syrian Community Centre of Canada

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all, on my behalf and on behalf of The Board of Directors of The Syrian Community Centre of Canada, to this historic event.  It is a privilege indeed to have all of you with us tonight :

The Honorable Lincoln Alexander, the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario;

The Honorable Carl DeFaria, Minister of Citizenship;

Mr. Ahmad Arnous, The Syrian Ambassador in Ottawa:

Mr. Sarkis Assadourian Parliamentary Assistance to the Minister of Immigration ;

David Beer, GTA Commander Superintendent (RCMP)

Friends and colleagues of the Consular Corp.

Mr. Bob Delaney MPP

Mr. Habib Saloum

Community leaders

Members of the Syrian Community Centre of Canada.

Our Special guests

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Tonight we celebrate the official birth of the Syrian Community Centre of Canada, here in Toronto.  This milestone is a landmark of hope for ourselves, our children, and for generations to come.  It is a tribute to Syrians who have been contributing to the Canadian cultural landscape since the eighteen hundreds.  They worked in the coalmines of Sydney, Nova Scotia; they labored alongside other nationalities in the construction of the Canadian Railroad; they fought and preserved international peace in major regional conflicts, while representing the Canadian flag.  Syrian Canadians developed businesses; they participated in research and development; they imparted knowledge in the lecture halls and laboratories of Canadian academic institutions at all levels.  Above all, Syrian Canadians contributed to the Canadian cultural mosaic, with their history, their ancient heritage, culture, their wisdom and knowledge.

There is no other country like Canada, a country that has opened its gates, heart and soul to peoples from all around the globe.  Canada is a country which identifies, respects and nourishes the beauty and the diversity of all cultures, histories, languages and beliefs.  Such a uniquely warm welcoming attitude has made us feel at home again.

Our journey has long since begun, and it will continue in this great new home of ours.  Now, another chapter begins in the history of the Syrian community’s future.  Our dreams of life in this bountiful land include a cultural centre that represents our pride in our heritage and partnership in Canada.  We see it holding an educational resource for people from all walks of life.  We envision people of all ages - from seniors to children - socializing, while proudly displaying and sharing their cultural heritage.

This gathering, which earmarks a milestone in the evolution of our community, happily coincides with this unique and significant holiday.  It is a fitting occasion for us to be thankful for the generosity of our new home, and to be grateful that our Canada accommodates us both as individuals and as a group with a distinct cultural identity.  We are truly blessed to enjoy peaceful coexistence in harmony alongside others, and at the same time, being able to preserve the beauty of our heritage and ethnicity.

Tonight we celebrate the founding of our Community Centre amongst our friends and members.  Our aspiration is to celebrate many times again in the future in the banquet hall of our own Community Centre.  This dream is achievable, but can be realized only through our persistent efforts and contributions.  After all, the responsibility of preserving our cultural identity, our language and our heritage, is twofold in nature.  On the one hand, it is up to us to prove to others that we have the will and determination to establish and nourish the “grass roots” of our community here.  And, it is up to the Canadian government to facilitate the growth of our venture, and to allow it to flourish under the umbrella of freedom and democracy.

Our future holds a vision of a cultural oasis in the largest Canadian metropolis.  This oasis will happily open its doors to all; where one can pass through the gates of time, and be transported into another world.  People can admire the distinctive Syrian architectural style of the reception hall; they will join in a conversation among seniors, reminiscing about their early days in Canada; and hear the faint music from another hall of a soft Syrian melody that will stir the wonder in their souls.  They will enter yet another hall, and see children learning Arabic, and chanting in a unified voice the lyrics of ancient hymns.  They will savor the seductive aroma of Syrian cooking, and be lured into the lower level of the building, to find women preparing food for a cultural festival.  The Syrian Canadian person will view the scenes in disbelief, and wonder if he is still in Syria.  With our personal endeavors and the support and encouragement of all levels of government we will transform these dreams into reality soon.

Once again, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our special guests, and to all our members,  their families and friends for attending this “once in a lifetime” special occasion.  You have helped in making  this a memorable event happen. 

We are proud Arab Canadians.

Please enjoy our hospitality. 

Once again, thank you all for being with us..

Yaser Kherdaji

October 12th event