11th Annual Tamil Canadian Walk Raises $79,000 for Tamil Chair at the University of Toronto Scarborough

On September 8th, 2019, the Canadian Tamil Congress hosted Tamil Canadian Walk at Thomson Memorial Park in Scarborough. The recipient for this 11th annual walk was University of Toronto and the entire donations and pledges received from this walk totaling $79,000 will be used to support the establishment of Tamil chair at it’s Scarborough Campus. The University of Toronto is Canada’s leading post-secondary institution and located in a city where the largest number of Tamils live, outside the Indian Sub-Continent.

The Tamil Chair once established at the University of Toronto will be the first of its kind in Canada and is expected to collaborate with other institutions in advancing Tamil, and in doing so leverage the collective knowledge of the Tamil diaspora in its research efforts.

Hundreds of Canadians from diverse backgrounds and age groups turned out to support this event. Speakers addressing the gathering included Sivan Ilangko, President of Canadian Tamil Congress, Wisdom Tettey, Principal, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Lisa Lemon Executive Director Alumni Relations, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, local member of Parliament Salma Zahid and City of Toronto Councillor Jennifer McKelvie. Donatus Doss, President, Canadian College for Higher Studies, Ponniah Vivekananthan, Tamil Language Lecturer University of Toronto, Jeevitha Puvirajasingham, Chair, Tamil Canadian Walk 2019 delivered the vote of thanks and Abissheka Loydson emceed the event. Representatives from many community organizations and media were also present at the walk. These organizations, sponsor and significant donors to walk were acknowledged at the event.

Since 2009, Tamil Canadian Walk has raised over $600,000 for deserving charities in Canada and around the world – Sick Kids Foundation (2009), Canadian Cancer Society (2010), Amnesty International (2011), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2012), Holland Bloorview Foundation (2013), Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation (2014), Sampur Resettlement (2015), Canada Batticaloa Friendship Farm (2016), Thennamarawady Resettlement (2017) and Northern Province Palliative Care Initiative (2018).

Event Sponsor: Canadian College for Higher Studies

Photo Credit: Canada Uthayan