MEDIA ADVISORY

Canada's ethnocultural coalition Elects New Executive

 Ottawa, June 6, 2006 The newly elected President of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC) Mr. Peter Ferreira strongly reaffirmed a commitment to multiculturalism as one of Canada's most prized values. "The spirit of multiculturalism is based on respect for Canada's cultural diversity and at the same time builds on our common humanity. Our Multiculturalism legislation must be supported by all levels of society", said Mr. Ferreira.

The CEC is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of national ethnocultural organizations dedicated to working together for the purpose of furthering the understanding of the multicultural reality of Canada, thus ensuring equality of opportunity, rights and dignity for all Canadians. A new executive was elected at CEC's Biennial General Assembly held in Toronto on June 4, 2006. The newly elected CEC executive members include:

Mr. Peter Ferreira - President
(Portuguese Canadian National Council) 		Olive Steele - Director
(National Council of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations of Canada)
Mr. Lou Sekulovski - Vice-President
(United Macedonians Organization of Canada)		 Dr. Yvonne Bogorya-Buczkowska - Director
(Canadian Polish Congress)
Bulent Pakdil - Treasurer
(Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations)		 Alena Melas - Director
(Slovak Canadian National Council)
Mr. Aris Babikian - Secretary
(Armenian National Federation of Canada)		 Dino Sophocleours - Director Cypriot Federation of Canada
Mr. Emmanuel J. Dick - Director
(National Council of Trinidad and Tobago Organizations in Canada)		 Senem Ekin Sen - Youth Forum Chairperson (Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations)
  Art Hagopian - Past - President
(Armenian National Federation of Canada)

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For further information: (613) 230-3867, Fax (613) 230-8051 or cec@web.ca

The Canadian Ethnocultural Council 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.