TORONTO, Canada - Are you Canadian-Bahamian, or a Bahamian living in Canada?
The
Association of Bahamians in Canada (ABC) is a non-profit organization
comprised of Bahamians, Bahamian-Canadians, their families and friends,
and other supporters. The Association, based in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, was established in 1980.
Noted
among our activities in years past, ABC has played host to dignitaries
and other senior officers in the Bahamas government, performing artists
from home, and has showcased Bahamian culture and traditions in Canadian
cultural events such as Toronto's annual CARIBANA festival, the Bread
and Honey Festival in Streetsville, Mississauga’s Carassauga Festival
and the Village Festival in Unionville.
ABC
is always looking for Bahamians and Friends living in our community.
We’re eager to engage those who would like to become involved with the
Association and lend their creative energies to our efforts at keeping
the Bahamian spirit alive in Canada.
Please contact us at our e-mail address, bahamiansandfriends@yahoo.com. We’d love to hear from you!
AND join our Facebook Page
Our Mission is simply to bring The Bahamas to Canada and Canada to the
Bahamas. Tourism, trade, culture or commerce, we facilitate an
understanding and the betterment of both cultures
.
We carry out our mission through programs and events, we rely on various fundraising activities,
the financial support of Bahamians and Friends of The Bahamas. Help us
carry out our mission and everything we have planned for this year by
making a donation!
The Association participates in the annual Caribana Festival
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Here are some of the groups activities:
Junkanoo at de Caribana Lime:
10 Junkanoo performers from various groups in The Bahamas performed at de Caribana Lime at Ontario Place in August.
In 2010 the annual party was hosted by The Bahamas High Commission and was held in Toronto at The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel on Saturday July 10th. This annual event is always well attended and gives Bahamians and those with ties to the Bahamas, a chance to reconnect with old friends, enjoy each others company and celebrate our country’s 37th Independence Day.
Bahamian Poet, Christian Campbell, released his first book, Running The Dusk. He is
a professor at the University of Toronto.
Celebrating Bahamas Independence
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Fritter Fest: Three years running! The tentative date is set for October
and it promises to be bigger and better and feature a Peas n’ Rice cook off as well. Stay tuned for more details.
ABC turned 30 in 2010: In 1980, The Association of Bahamians in Canada was founded as an organization whose objectives included, projecting a positive Bahamian image, assisting Bahamians wherever necessary, and taking an active interest in cultural, social and civic activities that would benefit the people of the Bahamas and resident Bahamians in Canada. Highlights of the organization’s events included planning a banquet to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Bahamian Independence. The special guest speaker was The Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham, who was also Prime Minister at that time. We have made donations to:
The Hospital for Sick Children (The Herbie Fund).
The Grand Bahama Children’s Hostel.
St. Margaret Anglican Church’s Day Care Centre, in Nassau, Bahamas.
Junkanoo in Canada
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In May 2010 a group of students and teachers from St.Mathew’s Catholic High school in Kingston, On, made a nine day visit to Nassau. They paired up with host students & families from St. Andrew’s school in Nassau who organized many cultural and educational activities. A reciprocal visit is being planned by the St.Andrew’s students for the winter of 2011.
Check out our new website at www.bahamiancanadian.org or contact us at bahamiansandfriends@yahoo.com