Archive for the ‘News’ Category
CTYA’s Elections & Annual General Meeting 2013By Admin - October 20th, 2013 |
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Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) is seeking dynamic individuals who are responsible, enthusiastic and creative to join our Board of Directors. We are seeking for candidates that can utilize their experience, skills, and passion to empower youth to provide new innovative ideas and enhance the delivery of our services. CTYA will be holding elections for Board of Directors at our next Annual General Meeting that will be held on November 17th 2013. Please contact us for more details. The following positions are available for nomination: |
Tamileelam Challenge Cup Results – Cricket 2013By Admin - October 9th, 2013 |
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Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance’s Athletic Committee (CTYA) successfully held its fourth annual Tamileelam Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament. This Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament took place Saturday October 5 and finals took place on Sunday October 6th. This year’s finals showcased a great match between Atlas A CC and Toronto Devils CC. After an extremely tight game, the Toronto Devils CC prevailed as the winners while the runners up were Atlas A CC. Awards for best players were presented; each one being representative of Tamil Eelam’s National symbols: Vaahai being the national Tree; Siruththai being the national animal; and Chenbagam being the national bird. The man of the match was Kamal from Toronto Devils. The Vaahai award was presented to the bowler of the series, Cheliyan from Young Stars CC. The Chenbagam award was presented to the batsman of the series, Luxman from Atlass A CC. Finally the Siruthai was presented to Kamal from the Toronto Devils CC for being the All Rounder player of the series. CTYA held its first Tamileelam Challenge Cup Soccer Tournament in early August 2009. It was a great success, and with the support of the Canadian Tamil community, CTYA has subsequently hosted several other sports tournaments. These events were aimed at encouraging Tamil youth in sports, including various other sports tournaments and women’s sports training. The Athletics Council of CTYA seeks to provide Canadian Tamil youth with an avenue to develop their leadership skills through athletics and recreational programs. The aim of this council is to educate through athletics, promote outstanding sportsmanship and build team spirit. |
The Far Reaches of Systematic GenocideBy Admin - October 5th, 2013 |
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Written By: Athithan Kurukulasingam When one thinks about genocide, they look at the very root of the word. Genocide consists of the systematic eradication of a group within a region. Oftentimes, the group is the noticeable minority and face hardships far beyond the reaches of our comfortable way of life here in the west. There is a problem however, when you look at genocide in its most singular form, many of the other atrocities that are committed goes unnoticed. Within Sri Lanka, the Sri-Lankan Government would like the world to believe that the ‘war’ is over and that sense of normalcy is returning to the “nation”. However, it must be emphasized that this is far from the truth. It only takes a brief glance to notice the serious cases of genocide that are still taking place within this so called nation. In late August of 2013, in the Kilinochchi villages of Tamil Eelam, Tamil women were faced with coercive and underhanded tactics by Sinhalese doctors for ‘voluntary’ population control. At the outset, the terminology must be clarified. For purposes of this piece, the term “birth control,” also known as “family planning” and “planned parenthood” will be used in sync and refers to the voluntary planning and action by individuals to have the number of children they want, when and if they want them. In contrast “population control” is used to reiterate the belief that for the betterment of society in light of overpopulation, individuals should reduce the number of children they have (Robert, 1973). The women of the Kilinochchi villages were approached by hospital staff and volunteers and were informed that any woman with a child under the age of five should come to the hospital the following day to weigh their children and to receive a vaccination. Many of these women put their faith in the hands of an authority figure out of good faith. It must be noted that these women felt that they would get the best service from these big doctors from the city. Once there the problems started to arise. “Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctors and nurses used coercive language and manipulated medical information to convince the women to take Progestogen-only sub dermal implants (POSDIs), a long-term hormonal birth control inserted under the skin of a woman’s upper arm” (Social Architects, 2013). |
TE Cup 2013 Draw!By Admin - October 4th, 2013 |
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Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance’s (CTYA) Athletic Council is proud to announce that CTYA will be holding its annual Tamileelam Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament. This Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament will take place on Saturday October 05th and Sunday October 06th. Cricket is a sport that many Tamils have grown up with, and thus feel a personal attachment and passion for. This event will serve as a forefront to further strengthen that attachment. To further encourage the Tamil identity, the awards for best players of the tournament will be given under the names of national symbols of Tamil Eelam;Vaahai being the national Tree; Siruththai being the national animal; and Chenbagam being the national bird. Many of the players of last year’s Challenge Cups expressed much pride in partaking in a tournament that not only provided them with an avenue to showcase their talents, but celebrated the Tamil identity through the naming of the awards after the national symbols Tamil Eelam. CTYA held its first Tamileelam Challenge Cup Soccer Tournament in early August 2009. It was a great success, and with the support of the Canadian Tamil community, CTYA has subsequently hosted many other sports tournaments aimed at encouraging Tamil youth in sports. CTYA’s Athletics Council seeks to provide Canadian Tamil youth with an avenue to develop their leadership skills through athletics and recreational programs. The aim of this council is to educate through athletics, promote outstanding sportsmanship and build team spirit. For more information, you can contact us via: Phone: (647) 865- CTYA (2892) E-mail: info@ctya.org Web: www.ctya.org |
Tamileelam Challenge Cup – Cricket (October 05 and October 06)By Admin - September 30th, 2013 |
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Tamileelam Challenge Cup – Cricket Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance’s (CTYA) Athletic Council is proud to announce that CTYA will be holding its annual Tamileelam Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament. This Challenge Cup Cricket Tournament will take place on Saturday October 05th and Sunday October 06th. Cricket is a sport that many Tamils have grown up with, and thus feel a personal attachment and passion for. This event will serve as a forefront to further strengthen that attachment. To further encourage the Tamil identity, the awards for best players of the tournament will be given under the names of national symbols of Tamil Eelam;Vaahai being the national Tree; Siruththai being the national animal; and Chenbagam being the national bird. Many of the players of last year’s Challenge Cups expressed much pride in partaking in a tournament that not only provided them with an avenue to showcase their talents, but celebrated the Tamil identity through the naming of the awards after the national symbols Tamil Eelam. CTYA held its first Tamileelam Challenge Cup Soccer Tournament in early August 2009. It was a great success, and with the support of the Canadian Tamil community, CTYA has subsequently hosted many other sports tournaments aimed at encouraging Tamil youth in sports. CTYA’s Athletics Council seeks to provide Canadian Tamil youth with an avenue to develop their leadership skills through athletics and recreational programs. The aim of this council is to educate through athletics, promote outstanding sportsmanship and build team spirit. For more information, you can contact us via: Phone: (647) 865- CTYA (2892) E-mail: info@ctya.org Web: www.ctya.org |
Liberals Support United Nations Human Rights Report on Sri LankaBy Admin - September 26th, 2013 |
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For Immediate Release September 26, 2013 Liberals Support United Nations Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka MONTRÉAL– The Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic, Marc Garneau, made the following statement today in response to the oral report delivered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on the situation in Sri Lanka: “The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report in Geneva reaffirms our long-held concerns about the Rajapaksa regime, and restates the need for an independent, international investigation of human rights violations and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka. Neither truth nor reconciliation has been achieved since the civil war. Discrimination and violence – particularly against ethnic and religious minorities – are growing unabated. The Rajapaksa regime’s abuse of human rights and democracy continues, and the Sri Lankan government has taken no concrete steps to resolve this persistent state of affairs. The Liberal Party of Canada continues to advocate for a boycott of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this November in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and insists that the venue be changed. The Rajapaksa regime has not earned the right to chair the Commonwealth for the next two years, and we call on the Government of Canada to work with other member states to ensure this does not occur. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs must engage fellow members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to immediately address Sri Lanka’s persistent and serious democratic and human rights violations, and insist on an independent, international investigation.” -30- Contact: Press Office |
Gun and Ring Movie PremiereBy Editor - September 26th, 2013 |
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Eyecatch Multimedia invites you to the Toronto Premiere of “A Gun & A Ring.” One of the most anticipated films of the year, “A Gun & A Ring” will have its Toronto Premiere on September 28th at York Cinemas. The event will start at 7:00PM with the reception followed by the screening of the film, a press conference and an after party. Agenda: Tickets will not be sold at the door and buy yours now as only a limited number of tickets are available. You can purchase tickets at: http://event.pingg.com/GRTorontoPremiere Tickets are $50 per person. |
Statement from NDP on Report Regarding Sri-LankaBy Editor - September 26th, 2013 |
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2013 STATEMENT FROM NDP ON UN REPORT REGARDING SRI LANKA Following today’s report regarding Sri Lanka by Dr. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, New Democrats reiterate their call for a full boycott of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo. Dr. Pillay reported that she had seen no evidence of efforts by the Sri Lankan government to credibly investigate allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses. She expressed particular concern about a recent surge in violence, harassment, and intimidation against women and girls, religious minorities, human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists. New Democrats believe that Canada must take a principled position against Sri Lanka’s lack of accountability for alleged war crimes during the civil war. Establishing the truth of these events through an independent and impartial investigation is a crucial step towards reconciliation. We urge Minister Baird to use tomorrow’s Commonwealth Ministerial meeting to announce a full boycott by Canada of November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Paul Dewar, NDP Foreign Affairs CriticWayne Marston, NDP Human Rights Critic |
Remembering Thileepan AnnaBy Editor - September 26th, 2013 |
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Written By: Geanany Rasanathan When we hear the names of historical figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, we think, peace, non-violence, liberation struggles. These individuals remind us of the injustice that surrounds us and the sufferings experienced by many in such an unjust world. Thileepan Anna. This is not just another name to add to the list above. He’s not just a soul who stood for the rights and freedom of his people. Thileepan Anna. When Tamils hear his name, they feel a wave of pride flush over them. Their hairs stand at ends, as they think in awe, how it was possible for an individual to be so selfless in such a selfish world. Although history has taught us many lessons and given us new perspectives, Thileepan Anna’s selfless sacrifice, his determination to achieve a resolution for the Tamils, and his commitment have inspired all Tamils and taught us much more than history can ever teach us. What Happened? To obtain the freedom and rights that his people were deprived of, Thileepan Anna deprived himself of basic necessities. He starved himself, and refused to intake water, ensuring that not even a drop of water touched his tongue during the hunger strike. Never in history has an individual undergone a hunger strike such as Thileepan Anna did. Hunger strikers refuse food during their strike. Thileepan Anna, refused liquids as well, surpassing the non-violent actions of even Mahatma Gandhi. The Sri Lankan and Indian governments ignored Thileepan Anna’s peaceful protest and carelessly watched him make the ultimate sacrifice for his people and land on September 26, 1987. For Thileepan Anna, death was not a matter of seconds; it was a matter of weeks. He lived through a hell of 12 days, as he watched his body expire. Death is a permanent end to life. But Thileepan Anna put himself through 12 days of death, as he experienced the tortures of his organs slowly losing their function and his body becoming weaker with every minute that passed. All of this for what? To safeguard the freedom and honour of the people he loved so that his people could live with dignity in a country of their own, Tamileelam. Although he was part of a guerilla movement, Thileepan Anna chose the path of ahimsa to demand the freedom of his people. His actions serve as a symbol of peace, and his belief in a non-violent struggle. Thileepan Anna’s death reveals the determination of our Tamil freedom fighters and the heights that they will go to for the people and land that they love, for they believe that “A life is very, very precious. But even more precious is our freedom, our honour, our rights.” Thileepan Anna, through his sacrifice, reminds us that the freedom of Tamils is in only our hands. The country and people for which he gave his life for continue to have their rights deprived and voices silenced. His hunger for peace, thirst for freedom, for a country of our own has yet to be fulfilled. His selfless sacrifice shall guide us in our journey for Tamileelam, so that one day, we can be assured that Thileepan Anna and all our Maveerar, rest in peace. “I am confident that our people will, one day, achieve their freedom. It gives me great satisfaction and contentment that I am fulfilling a national responsibility to the nation.” |
Calling All Athletes!By Editor - September 21st, 2013 |
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The Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) will be holding its 4th annual Top Talents Awards Gala in December 2013. We are now accepting nominations for our 2013 awards. Nomination packages can be downloaded below. A $500 reward will also be awarded to further encourage youth to continue to pursue their talents. Furthermore, these youth will be exceptional role models for the younger generations. At Top Talents Awards Gala, the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance recognizes athletes in the fields of Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field and Cricket. The Athletic Awards purpose is to provide assistance to young Tamils in their pursuit of professional sports. CTYA is confident that this award will provide young athletes from the Tamil community the momentum to continue into the world of professional sports. CTYA’s ultimate objective is to increase the representation of the Tamil community in professional sports. |
