Centenary
Hospital/Rouge Valley Health System Foundation - Car Wash
As part promotion of volunteerism among youths, ASGC has been organizing Car Wash as an annual event for many years. Funds collected are donated to the Centenary Hospital/Rouge Valley Health System Foundation. This year’s Car Wash took place on August 09, 2003, at the parking lot opposite the Food Basics Store at the Neilson-Ellesmere intersection. We had the support of a number of volunteer students who, along with many of our own members, helped make the event a great success. All the student participants will be issued with certificates of appreciation, which are recognized by the Ontario School Boards for the volunteer work. The ASGC wishes to thank all volunteers and others.
A benefit film show was organized for collecting funds in support of ASGC’s charity programs, especially in the areas of education and training, was held on May 11, 2003. Thanks to the support of the community and the owners, we were able to add $1250 to the charity funds.
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Projects & Programs
A request received from the University of Jaffna is appearing in our website. This request was conveyed to Mr S. Sivanesan, a senior member of ASGC, by Professor Kumarvadivelu, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, at a meeting held in Jaffna late last year. It will be recalled that in 2002, ASGC extended financial assistance and helped those concerned to organize and conduct series of workshops and seminars for training of teachers in the North to prepare them to teach the recently revised GCE (A/L) syllabus. We continue to communicate with Prof Kumaravadivelu of the Jaffna University for coordinating such projects. The ASGC wishes to thank Prof Kumaravadivelu for his assistance in this regard. ASGC wishes to solicit the support and assistance of members and well- wishers to get actively involved in organizing and delivering of such assistance.
Computer Program Contest and Seminar
The first Computer Program Contest and Seminar on Computer Technology, aimed at promoting computer skills and creativity among the youths, was organized by ASGC in 2002. This event proved to be both successful and popular among the students and the community at large. In response to the commendation and encouragement received from the community, it has been decided to make this an annual event. This year the Information Technology and Computer Programming Seminar was held on September 27, 2003 at Scarborough Civic Center with the participation of 75 Students. A Computer Programming Competition for the high school students was conducted by the ASGC in July 2003, due to the holidays students participation was not higher as we expected. The participants in the Programming Competition will be recognized, and awards will be presented to the winners at the annual dinner.
Career Counseling Workshop for High School
Students and Parents
The Career Counseling Workshop for High School Students and Parents, which is recognized as the most productive annual event being organized by ASGC, was held at Winston Churchill CI on October 25, 2003. As in the past, keynote speakers included high -ranking officials from the Toronto District School Board, and professionals from Information Technology, Life Sciences, Applied Sciences, Humanities, including law, journalism and financial services. More than 230 students participated in the event. The success of the workshop and its usefulness to the students in choosing their career path was confirmed by the very high rating and overwhelming positive response feedback received from the participants.
Seminar for Graduates
Immigrants
ASGC continues to provide assistance to new graduate immigrants to settle down in Canada by helping them to get their educational certifications evaluated by the relevant authorities, job referrals and job search programs. ASGC organized a Workshop on August 24, 2003 at Scarborough Civic Centre for graduate immigrant for counseling them in finding jobs in Canada. More than 25 immigrant graduates participated this seminar where officials from ACCESS also provided useful tips to the participants.
Since the year 2001, ASGC has maintained a website www.asgc.ca where valuable information about the Association, including current activities are available. We have already started developing a Directory of Graduates of Sri Lankan origin living in Canada using the website- www.asgc.ca -and membership contacts. All Sri Lankan graduates are welcome to log in to the site, learn about our activities, and enter the details of their educational qualification and professional experiences in the Directory. It is our expectation that such a Directory will serve as a valuable source of reference for establishing and fostering contacts and networking among fellow graduates.
During the year 2003, ASGC’s Newsletter “Focus” was published in May and August. The Association appreciates the efforts of Pan Kanagaretnam, of our committee for his efforts in producing the newsletter. We encourage the members to send in articles for inclusion in the future editions.
An experienced Guru V. Sathiyaraj from 9am to 10 am conducts yoga Classes under the auspices of ASGC every Sunday morning, in the hall adjoining the grocery shop “Daily Needs” near the Finch and Pharmacy Avenue intersection. Those who wish to join the classes are invited to call 416 291 5853 for the details. Our sincere thanks go to Raja Mahendran, a former member of our Executive Committee, for coordinating these classes.
Currently there are 225 members including 16 life members in the Association. We request the members to contact us and update their addresses and phone numbers. Furthermore, please bring in your university batch mates/friends who haven’t yet joined the Association.
The executive committee met at least once a month during the (calendar) year, mostly at the Scarborough Civic Centre.
We express our gratitude to the committee members for their untiring efforts and the support rendered in all the activities of the Association. Also, we thank the members of the Association and the Tamil community for supporting our events. Our special thanks go to the Tamil newspapers, Tamil TV stations and the radio stations for supporting our programs.