Hiiraan Online
Sunday, July 24, 2016
TORONTO (HOL) – Dixon road, a main artery of Etobicoke was blocked off on Saturday afternoon to commemorate the beginning of ‘Somali Week ‘, the first time a major road was closed to celebrate the event since its inception. The event which is put on annually by the Toronto Development Association of Youth (TODAY) was held at Dixon Park in Etobicoke.
The launch event was attended by officials representing both the Somali and Canadian government and is a celebration of Somali culture. ‘Somali Week’ includes a soccer tournament fielding teams from Europe and North America. The games begin tomorrow at Centennial Park.
Several high profile government officials attended the event including Speaker of the Somali Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari; the first Somali Canadian Member of Parliament Ahmed Hussen, MP for York South Weston; Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP for Etobicoke Centre; former city councilor for Etobicoke North, Doug Ford. All of whom took a moment to address the crowd. Ali Mohamed Ali who is vying for a seat on TDSB leadership as a trustee in Etobicoke North was also present.
Borys Wrzesnewsky told the crowd a heart wrenching story about the struggle and poverty he witnessed firsthand in Somalia, the thought of a little girl that he met still lingers in his mind as he wonders what became of her. He pledged that with the Liberal Party back as the governing party of Canada, he will try to put together a donor conference to assist Somalia and assured Somali Canadians of his continued support.
Doug Ford, who is no longer a city councilor attended the event saying that the “Somali community has supported my family for 25 years, I wanted to come by and show my support for the community. Michael Ford, the nephew of Rob and Doug Ford was in attendance ahead of Monday’s by-election where he hopes to win Rob Ford’s former council seat.
The keynote speaker, Mohamed Osman Jawari addressed an enthusiastic crowd telling them Somali Canadians should be proud that they have achieved a remarkable feat by electing on of their own to the Canadian Parliament. He added that there is more to be done to integrate Somali’s into Canadian society and have more representation in Canadian institutions.
‘Somali Week’ was first held in Toronto back in the early 90’s by a group of Somali sportsmen who fled the civil war, including Somali soccer players Mukhtar Ute, Antar Jenyo and many others.
Hiiraan Online will provide continued coverage of the Somali Week tournament.