Canadian Tamil Congress Announces 2021 Tamil Canadian Walk to Support the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund

September 2, 2021 – (Toronto) The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) is proud to announce the 13th Annual Tamil Canadian Walk, to be held on September 12, 2021, at Thomson Memorial Park in the east end of the city. This year’s walk will be held with limited in-person presence, and the CTC is encouraging remote participation across Canada.

Proceeds from this year’s walk will go towards supporting the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). DWF is encouraging the journey toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, providing access to education on the true history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and the true history and legacy of residential schools.

“As an immigrant community, we have to recognize that we all benefited from the stewardship of the land by Indigenous Peoples. It is our privilege to hold out a hand of friendship to the Indigenous Peoples in Canada,” says Sivan Ilangko, President of the Canadian Tamil Congress.

The Co-chairs of this year’s walk, Vithusayni Paramanathan and Ramya Amuthan, are two young women who are incredibly excited for the prospects of an ongoing, respectful relationship amongst the Tamil Community and the Indigenous communities in Canada. “We hope that the country, and the Tamil community within it, will come together to build a much-needed, trusting partnership. We have a responsibility to listen to our neighbours, and the people who’ve let us into their country. It’s difficult to re-open past wounds and realize that we’ve been hearing only one side of the story, but we have to start somewhere, so let’s start here.”

By holding this walk, and through the continued partnership with DWF, the CTC is aiming to educate Tamil Canadian settlers to recognize and acknowledge the dark, dreadful history Canada was built on, and learn about the sustained struggles and injustices experienced by the Indigenous people of this land. Given the recent recoveries of unmarked graves at former residential school sites within Canada, the CTC strongly urges Tamil Canadians to identify the collective responsibility to increase our awareness of Canada’s history and peoples, and take tangible action in partnership with Indigenous communities towards reconciliation.

Over the last twelve years, CTC’s Tamil Canadian Walk has raised funds to support several Canadian initiatives, including the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Sampur Housing Project. This year, the

CTC is strong in its goal to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples, by building awareness of Canada’s past, encouraging Canadians to build a kinder future together, and embracing positive connections amongst all Canadians.

“We are grateful for the support of the Canadian Tamil Congress,” said Sarah Midanik, President & CEO, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. “They are helping more people learn Canada’s true history so we can all move reconciliation forward and build a better Canada.”

Event: Canadian Tamil Congress Announces the 13th Annual Tamil Canadian Walk
Date: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Venue: Thomson Memorial Park, near Brimley Rd. and Lawrence Avenue East in Scarborough

Registration opens: 8:30 a.m.
Opening ceremonies: 9:30 a.m.
Walk commences: 10 a.m.

Tamil Canadian Walk Website: www.tamilcanadianwalk.ca

Pledge forms and further details about the event are available at:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/tamil-canadian-walk-2021/

Follow #TamilCDNWalk21 to track our campaign.

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctconline

For Media Inquiries, please contact:

Ramya Amuthan, Co-chair, 2021 Tamil Canadian Walk
647 680 4814
info@canadiantamilcongress.ca