A safe and fun 153rd Canada Day at Park-Ex – 2020!

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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Council of Bangladeshi-Canadians (NBCC) organized the 153rd Canada Day in Park-Extension while respecting the restrictions and measures of government authorities. For the organization, it was essential to organize a safe event to bring joy to the neighborhood for many residents.

It’s Canada’s biggest party with multicultural Canadian communities in Parc-Extension, Montreal. People attended with their children on the lawns of the Place de Jean-Talon Station in front of Provigo, a supermarket near station Parc, on Saturday, September 5th to celebrate the 153rd Canada Day.

The NBCC distributed samosas and single-use masks (masks courtesy of VSMPE) to residents of the neighborhood on July 1 to let them know the event has been postponed.

Flags of Canada floated as the local community sang the Canadian national anthem with the presence of many children.

For the 18th time organized by the National Council of Bangladeshi-Canadians (NBCC), Canada Day at Gare de la Jean Talon Parc on Parc station began around noon until 10 pm. There was music with free halal barbecue and 2 Canada Day themed cakes provided and made by Provigo’s bakers. The cake was cut by the workers on the front line: Mr. Sasha Dyck, head nurse the screening clinic’s team in Parc-Extension, Mr. Wissam el-Chayeb, pharmacist, Mr. Jason and Ms. Nathalie from Provigo Jean-Talon, and Miss Samiha Hossain, NBCC’s Youth Ambassador. All activities took place with social distancing measures and single-use masks were distributed to participants.

It is a chance for us to show our pride and the origins of Canadian history to our generation of Canadians and the bridge link from the present to the future to unite multicultural and Canadian communities.

Host organization of Parc-Extension Canada Day Celebration-2020, the National Bangladeshi-Canadian Council was honored to receive a message from the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and Member of Parliament for Papineau, to congratulate the organization’s efforts to the local community in Parc-Extension and to highlight Parc-Extension Canada Day Celebration-2020 despite the context of the pandemic.

The shows were South Asian dance performances by Sriti and Priti Alexsin and a musical performance by Saolo and Christoph on the sitar. A volunteer plaque was given to Mr. John Marshall, a key volunteer of Parc-Extension’s organizations. Young participants were “happy to celebrate Canada Day” with their friends and families, creating fun memories while enjoying the event in a safe manner.

Following the short speech by local councilor Mary Deros Monir Hossain, President of NBCC and Coordinator of Canada Day Celebration at Parc-Ex – 2020, told the audience, “The event wants to integrate Canadian and multicultural communities into Canada’s social and cultural systems. “

The National Bangladeshi-Canadian Council wishes to thank its sponsors and administration. This would not have been possible without the help of our sponsors and especially the help of our community. We would like to thank our sponsors: the Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage, Ville de Montréal, Villeray – Saint-Michel – Parc Extension, Provigo, Pharmacy Dimitra Alevetsovitis and Wissam el-Chayeb Inc. We want to thank our artists and volunteers. Our special and final thanks to the local community of Parc-Extension who supported the realization of this event and will continue to do so in the future for our upcoming events. The coordinator says their goal is to make a bigger celebration next year while respecting the measures from the government.