Thaalam wishes from City Councillor Josh Matlow!

March 17th, 2014

Dear Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance,

As an active advocate of our city’s arts and culture community, I am pleased to support your upcoming event Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition. In its third year Thaalam continues to inspire and empower youth to express themselves and their culture creatively.

The Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) plays an important role in our society, and I deeply appreciate the hard work your members have done and continue to do. As Torontonians, we are privileged to live in a city where cultures and traditions from around the world are embraced. Having organizations like the CTYA that drive this pride in our diversity is paramount, and Thaalam is a testament to the positive impact you have on our youth.

Please accept my best wishes for a successful, enjoyable, and unforgettable day!

Sincerely,

Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul’s
www.joshmatlow.ca

Thaalam Wishes from Ontario NDP President, Neethan Shan!

It is my pleasure to extend my best wishes to all members of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) for an incredibly successful Thaalam Ultimate Gaana Dance Competition Show. As someone who has directly witnessed the amazing levels of commitment, passion and hard work of the CTYA’s directors, I am confident that the event will be simply phenomenal. I am delighted to know that the focus this year is on Gaana music. My high school years were heavily intertwined with Gaana music, which I continue to enjoy even today. So I am very excited, as many of you are, to witness our own exceptionally talented dancers perform at the prestigious John Bassett Theatre in Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the directors and volunteers of CTYA for their remarkable work in the field of arts, sports, culture, education and human rights. You have been great role models for our younger generation through your volunteerism and community service. In conclusion, I am pleased to offer my strong support to CTYA’s journey to build a youth recreation and innovation centre as well as the genocide memorial museum, as these are two much-needed initiatives for the Tamil Canadian community.

I wish all the performers best of luck in the competition.

In Solidarity,

Neethan Shan

President – Ontario NDP

Greetings from Councillor Logan Kanapathi!

GREETINGS FROM MARKHAM COUNCILLOR

On behalf of Members of Council and the Town of Markham, I am very pleased to extend our best wishes and greetings to Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) and its Arts & Culture Council on the occasion of the Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition .

Our great country is known for its Diversity. It is through the empowerment mission of organizations such as the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance that we can build a stronger, better and more inclusive Canada. I applaud your efforts in promoting the goodwill among the Canadian Tamil Youth and in contributing to the betterment of Canada by educating Canadian Tamil youth to become strong and outstanding leaders in our society.

Dance and Music are integral part of creative, expressive and vibrant communities. Events like Thaalam 2014 serve to engage youth in meaningful entertainment. I’m confident through events like Thaalam 2014, our Tamil heritage will successfully pass on to the next generation.

As Councillor, I am proud of your efforts to empower our youth. I wish you continued success in all your future endeavours as your organization continues to grow and contribute to the community.

Sincerely,

Logan Kanapathi

Councillor – City of Markham

Councillor Mike Layton’s Greetings for Thalaam 2014!

Dear Friends,

Re: Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition

As City Councillor for Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina, it gives me great pleasure to offer my support for Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition hosted by Canadian Tamil Youth Association (CYTA).

Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition both reflects and contributes to Toronto’s position as one of the world’s most eclectic and multicultural cities. This event is an amazing opportunity for youth to get involved and showcase their love for dance while showcasing their culture.

The CYTA is committed to empowering Canadian Tamil through participation in events such as Thaalam and the involvement of Tamil youth in such showcases allows the younger generations to uphold cultural values and heritage through artistic interpretations.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding work being done by the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance. Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable festival and continued success for years to come.

Yours in community,

Mike Layton
City Councillor
Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina

Greetings from Member of Parliament, Mr. Patrick Brown on Thaalam 2014

Greetings from Member of Parliament, Mr. Patrick Brown on Thaalam 2014
I would like to extend my warmest regards to all attendees and talented teams participating in Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition. I commend the Arts and Culture Council of CTYA for organizing this tremendously successful annual event.
This event continues to build recognition and support each year as it displays the creative abilities of many Tamil students who remain truly passionate about dance. I applaud the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance for continuing to foster the art of dance among our youth.
Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable evening.
Kindest Regards,
Patrick Brown
Member of Parliament

Wishes from MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek!

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, it is my privilege to welcome you to Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition hosted by the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance.

This event brings together talented young people and is a wonderful way for youths to express themselves. Dance is a captivating art form and is an excellent way to bring together the community.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many generous and wonderful volunteers from the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance for putting this event together. Without your tireless commitment, the event would not be a success.

I would like to wish the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance, and all who participate, a very successful event.

Sincerely,

Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP Oak Ridges-Markham

Wishes from Councillor Mary Fragedakis!

Dear Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance,

It is my pleasure to extend greetings to the guests, organizers and nominees of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance’s Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition.

This event provides Tamil youth with well-deserved recognition for their talent and drive, and encourages them to continue to strive for success in the future. I congratulate all the nominees being showcased at this year’s competition for the hard work each of them has done. Beyond having demonstrated excellence in their respective fields, I also applaud each of them for serving as exceptional role models for Canada’s younger generation.

I hope that everyone behind CTYA feels a sense of pride in their commitment to youth development and empowerment. In facilitating the participation of Tamil youth in broader Canadian society, Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance is making a significant contribution to the social and economic development of this country. Your work provides the tools and resources that our youth need to take advantage of the range of opportunities available to them. Furthermore, in hosting other events, such as soccer tournaments, a robotics competition, poetry slams and leadership workshops, CTYA is also motivating the youth community to overcome the obstacles and challenges they commonly face in pursuing their aspirations.

I know that there is still much work to be done to ensure that all of Canada’s youth have the opportunity to realize their full potential in society, but I am confident that the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance is playing an important role in making that happen.

Please accept my best wishes for a most enjoyable and inspirational evening.

Sincerely,

Mary Fragedakis

City Councillor

Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth

Thaalam Wishes from Bas Balkissoon, MPP!

Bas Balkissoon, MPP

Scarborough-Rouge River

A Personal Message from MPP Bas Balkissoon

I am pleased to offer my greetings to everyone attending Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition on March 22, 2014.

The Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) provides Canadian Tamil youth with the forum to become outstanding leaders and citizens in our society. It is important to help youth build a strong foundation which is paramount to leading a productive, fulfilling life. I would like to thank CTYA for the work they do in helping to develop future leaders in the arts and culture.

This evening’s performance allows individuals to express themselves and their views through dance, allowing them to use their creativity and skills. I want to congratulate the youth taking part in this competition for their confidence and enthusiasm in displaying their talent to their supporters and members of the community. I wish each performer the best of luck and hope they surpass their expectations and goals.

On behalf of the Legislature of Ontario, please accept my best wishes for a successful and memorable celebration.

Sincerely,

Bas Balkissoon, MPP Queen’s Park, Toronto Scarborough-Rouge River

Greetings from MP Paul Calandra

March 22, 2014

Greetings,

It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest greetings to all the participants in the Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition. Hosted by the Arts & Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA), this is a brilliant opportunity for our youth to showcase their many talents.

As Canadians, we are very blessed to live in a country that takes so much pride in our diverse culture, the CTYA is committed to empowering Canadian Tamil youth on their journey to becoming outstanding leaders and citizens in our society.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and as Member of Parliament for Oak Ridges-Markham I would like to wish you a fun and memorable day!

Sincerely,

Paul Calandra
Member of Parliament for Oak Ridges-Markham