John Zerucelli’s Canada Day Bbq brings all communities together
TORONTO – The proverbial “BBQ Circuit” for Members of Parliament has become a de riguer component of a Member of Parliament’s routine to reach out and confirm his/her presence in the community from which their Party derives support. Etobicoke North, the riding of Secretary of State John Zerucelli, is an example of that dynamic in practice. The Hon. Zerucelli must have have been the “first out of the gate” with his BBQ on Canada Day.
“We thought we would highlight the community in the Thistletown Collegiate area who support our community-building initiatives this time around”, said the Minister when I asked why this part of the constituency and not another, ”besides we will highlight other areas with other events, going forward”. He pointed to local organizations like the soccer teams that came to display their skill for the enjoyment of those in attendance; the Humber College Band providing the Music; Chef TedReader who offered tastes of his products and sauces; school groups promoting cross-cultural programs; community- health organizations putting on display the services on offer when the community is in need and the inimitable “jumping castle” for younger children to enjoy under the watchful eye of their parents.
The crowd reveal the changing nature of Toronto/Etobicoke – it is no longer a predominantly Caucasian enclave in northwestern Toronto, distant and unreachable for those of us whose Canadian experience emanated from the Old Toronto neighborhoods. When an uncle of mine moved his family and shoe shop to the Thistletown Plaza in the late fifties the distance and unavailability of accessible public transit signaled an eventual separation of family ties. It was that far away! No longer.
In the mid-seventies, the Catholic school system, following up on the Catholic Church’s mission to serve “its flock” as it moved into new subdivisions, began an aggressive campaign to establish elementary and high to meet the purpose. Today, Hindi, Punjabi and Muslim dominate the broader demographic landscape.
Zerucelli says “We we welcomed new people then and made the changes work, we are doing the same today”. Amen.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (photos: Corriere Canadese)
