Stouffville celebrates 12th Annual Tamil Heritage Month with cultural festivities
The Stouffville Tamils’ Association and the Stouffville Multicultural Association jointly hosted the 12th annual Tamil Heritage Month Celebration on January 26 at Stouffville District Secondary School.
A number of dignitaries and special guests, including Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Gary Anandasangaree, MP Helena Jaczek, MPP Paul Calandra, Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt, and Stouffville councillors Rick Upton, Sue Sherban, and Maurice Smith attended the event. Representatives from the York Region Police, York Region District School Board, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, Stouffville Fire Department, Stouffville Food Bank, and Stouffville Chamber of Commerce also joined the festivities.
The celebration featured vibrant cultural performances by over 150 artists, celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the Tamil community. Special guest James Vasanthan—Tamil television host, film music composer, filmmaker, and motivational —addressed the audience.
In 2016, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed a motion to recognize January as Tamil Heritage Month, a move that was preceded by proclamations from the Ontario government and several municipalities, including the Town of Stouffville. The month of January is also a time when the global Tamil community comes together to celebrate Thai Pongal, a secular harvest festival that transcends religious backgrounds.
As one of the oldest living languages in the world, Tamil is spoken by over 80 million people and boasts a vast and rich body of literature.
“As we mark this occasion, we reflect on the significant contributions the Tamil community has made to the world over 2,000 years in fields like science, medicine, architecture, and literature,” said Sivan Ilangko, president of the Stouffville Tamils’ Association, who pioneered the town’s Tamil Heritage Month celebrations 12 years ago. He further noted that the Tamil literature is vast, rich, and ancient, with classics like the Thirukural, written 2000 years ago and translated into over 40 languages, widely regarded as “one of the greatest works ever written on ethics and morality.” The Thirukural has inspired many writers and world leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, to adopt the path of non-violence, which has had a profound impact on the world.
The event stood as a testament to the enduring legacy and contributions of the Tamil community to Canadian society and beyond.