ONTARIO, Canada: The Ontario Legislature recently passed a bill proclaiming November as “Hindu Heritage Month.” Hindus are urging the Canadian Parliament, other nine provinces and three territories of Canada to do the same.
Ontario is home to a large and vibrant Hindu community. Since the first Hindu immigrants arrived in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century, they have made significant contributions across all fields: science, education, medicine, law, politics, business, culture and sports. They have helped to build this province into the best place to live, work and raise families. They continue to help foster growth, prosperity and innovation throughout Ontario.
By proclaiming the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month, the Province of Ontario recognizes the important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric. Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.
Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Hindu Heritage MonthThe month of November in each year is proclaimed as Hindu Heritage Month.
Commending this move on the part of Ontario Assembly, Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, urged that the Parliament of Canada; provincial legislatures of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan; and territorial legislatures of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon; also to proclaim a Hindu Heritage Month to honor their Hindu residents.
Bill 56, Hindu Heritage Month Act, 2016, introduced by Joe Dickson in the 41st Ontario legislature, received the Royal Assent on December eight. Its preamble states: “By proclaiming the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month, the Province of Ontario recognizes the important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric.
Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.”
Dave Levac is the Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Ontario has more number of Hindus as compared to other provinces and territories of Canada. According to 2011 National Household Survey at Statistics Canada, there were 497,960 Hindus in Canada.
India Post News Service
