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On September 18, the T&T Association of Ottawa (TTAO) will host a virtual cultural event to celebrate T&T’s 45th Republic Day.
TTAO president Ingrid Barclay John-Baptiste said the event will be a true representation of the diversity of T&T with guests treated to flavours of tassa, Afro-Caribbean, calypso, opera and steelpan by Canada’s Pan Fantasy Steelband and T&T’s bp Renegades Steel Orchestra.
Dennis Moses, T&T’s High Commissioner to Canada, will deliver greetings and the feature address will be by T&T-born Dr Alfredo Walker, an eminent Ottawa-based forensic pathologist.
The presentation of the annual TTAO scholarship awards will be a high point of the evening.
Barclay John-Baptiste explained: “The shroud of COVID-19 meant that the TTAO has been unable to host its normal 2020-2021 fundraising activities, so there has been a heavy dependence on the donation model.”
She said in spite of this, in 2020 the association was able to spearhead projects which benefited students of the Mon Repos RC School, and the Mason Hall Government School. In addition, the Nazru Deen Scholarship was awarded to a student of the Vistabella Primary School.
“As you can tell from the accomplishment of some of our projects mentioned, despite the pandemic our enthusiasm to give back to those in need has not wavered,” she said.
The TTAO is a community-based organisation, registered and operating in Ottawa/National Capital Region, Canada since 1983. It engages in many activities, including the showcasing and promoting of the culture of our homeland, as well as the annual recognition and celebration of T&T’s Independence and Republic Days.
Barclay John-Baptiste said the TTAO’s success is due to the excellent team with which she works—the executive and the committees.
Part proceeds from the upcoming event will go towards Haitian Earthquake Relief.