New CEC President, Oleh Romaniw urges cultural communities to strengthen our “made in Canada model” of respect and equality

Ottawa, June 8, 2004 - At the Canadian Ethnocultural Council Biennial General Assembly held on May 29, in Toronto, newly elected Oleh Romaniw urged all racial and ethnic communities to work together towards creating a Canada which continues to be the model of respect and equality. “Our made in Canada model of multicultural diversity is a source of strength and real resource of human capital,” said Mr. Romaniw who is also a former President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Keynote speaker, The Hon. Joseph Volpe, acknowledged that the immigrant and ethnocultural communities have contributed significantly to the development of Canada and this has set us apart in the global community. “The human capital and resources which multiculturalism brings is often undervalued. As an example, one of six members of Parliament was born outside of the country, a feat that no other country in the world can claim.”  Mr. Volpe urged the Canadian Ethnocultural Council to continue its mission to remind all of us that our diversity is our strength, that we have put into place unique programs and policies to enhance this resource and that have we have much to share with the rest of the world.

The newly elected Executive of the CEC for the 2004 – 2006 term is as follows:

President, Oleh Romaniw,

(Ukrainian Canadian Congress)

Vice President, Peter Ferreira,

(Portuguese Canadian National Council)

General Secretary, Lou Sekulovski,

(United Macedonians Organization of Canada)

Treasurer, Salvador Cabugao,

(National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations)

Director Athina Charalambides,

(Cypriot Federation of Canada)

Director Dr. Yoe Sook Youn,

(Federation of Korean-Canadian Associations)

Director Hatice Pakdil,

(Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations)

Director Olive Steele,

(National Council of Jamaicans and Supportive Organizations in Canada)

Director Emmanuel Dick,

(National Council of Trinidad and Tobago Organizations in Canada)

Chairperson, Youth Forum,

(Christine Li, Chinese Canadian National Council)

Past President, Art Hagopian,

(Armenian National Federation of Canada)

 The CEC is a coalition of over 30 national ethnocultural organizations which in turn represent over 2,000 local chapters across Canada. Its mandate is to work towards the elimination of racism and to promote the understanding of the multicultural reality of Canada as defined in The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and The Canadian Multiculturalism Act.   

- 30 -

For further information please contact Anna Chiappa, 613 230-3867 x 222 or 867-1941.

Email: cec@web.ca

WEBSITE: www.ethnocultural.ca