5th Anniversary Event

THE CUBAN CANADIAN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ITS 5th ANNIVERSARY  

Ottawa, Sep 20, 2003. The Cuban Canadian Foundation, with headquarters in Toronto, celebrated in Ottawa the 5th Anniversary of its establishment. Many select guests were present at this emotive socio-cultural event, which took place in the Sandy Hill Community Centre. Attending the ceremony were also representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ministry for International Cooperation, as well as delegates and executives of ONG's with headquarters in the capital.

The event had special significance because it is the first time that the Ottawa Delegation, with its vice-president Asdrubal Caner in charge, was chosen to this effect; and because of the participation of many members from the Foundation's Quebec Delegation and Montreal Delegation, headed by Maximo Morales and Juan Arguelles respectively. A special issue in full colour of the CCF's newsletter GET-UP was published for the event, and copies of the first issue of the weekly NUEVA PRENSA LIBRE (NEW FREE PRESS), published by the Quebec and Montreal Delegations of the Cuban Canadian Foundation for the Hispanic World, were circulated.

The program included two exhibitions, paintings by Maurice Sambra and arts and crafts by Dominique Paltre, as well as a special performance by the magician Alberto.
In his presentation speech, President Ismael Sambra said: "When we mention Cuba, we cannot forget the large number of dissenters, human rights activists and independent journalists who suffer under the Cuban regime's repression, and that many of them are now in prison serving long sentences only for expressing their democratic ideas and their love for freedom." See Speech

The event was highlighted by a lavish catering service, a free draw and gifts of books, videotapes and T-shirts with Cuban motifs. Joaquín Díaz's band played music for dancing..

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
SOME BOARD MEMBERS From Left to Right David Levy, Asdrubal Caner (Ottawa Delegation) Carlos Velazco, Ismael Sambra, Roberto Sablon (Toronto Delegation), and Juan Arguelles and Maximo Morales from Montreal and Quebec Delgations of CCF		Refreshments

Performance with Latin music by "Juaquín Díaz and his Group"		Raffles, and gifts

Music and dance		Magic Show by "El Mago Alberto"