Unfortunately, I’m out of town this weekend but I really wish I could take in a couple events happening this Saturday where my local provincial NDP candidate is hosting one of the dynamic new NDP MP’s, Rathika Sitsabaiesan.
This video of Ms. Sitsabaiesan’s inaugural speech in the House of Commons sends a tingle down my spine. Knowing an accomplished, funny, highly-educated, trilingual immigrant is one of my representatives in our national government? I don’t know about you but that’s my Canada and that’s damn cool!
Regina Coronation Park NDP Candidate Jaime Garcia is proud to host Rathika Sitsabaiesan, MP for Scarborough-Rouge River, and the federal NDP Post-Secondary Education Critic on Saturday, August 20th, 2011.
There are two exciting social events that will be part of this visit.
The first is a Community BBQ with Rathika on Saturday, August 20th, 2011 at 12 noon in the picnic area of Kiwanis Park. Burgers are just $2. Come on out for a fun-filled, informal meet and greet in the fresh and open air. Rathika will speak briefly on education and on politics and then she and Jaime will mingle with guests. Bring a football, a frisbee or a kite and stay for the afternoon!
The second event is a Wine and Cheese Social at the Copper Kettle starting at 6 PM, and running well into the evening. There will be plenty of delicious appetizers on hand, and another opportunity to mix and mingle with Rathika and Jaime. Tickets are just $15. For tickets or for more information, contact Rick at 539-2732.
Both events are an exciting opportunity to meet a new generation of leaders in the New Democratic Party, both federally and provincially.
For more information on Jaime Garcia, visit his website at www.jaimegarcia.ca.
What follows is some background information on Rathika:
” Rathika was born in Sri Lanka and came to Canada with her family at the age of five. Rathika’s political, social, and cultural consciousness took shape early on in her life as her parents have been community activists who worked towards the advancement and injection of Tamil culture into the Canadian fabric.
Rathika attended the University of Toronto for the first two years of her undergraduate studies, where she as he Vice-President of the Tamil Students’ Association. She then transferred to Carleton University, where she completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree. While attending Carleton University, Rathika served as a Vice-President of the Carleton University Students’ Association, as Caucus Chair of the New University Government, and as Operations Manager with the Rideau River Residence Association.
Rathika proceeded to obtain a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations from Queen’s University, where she worked with the Service Employees’ International Union as a researcher and helped the organization to successfully launch the “Justice 4 Janitors” Campaign.
Since the age of nine, Rathika has been making a difference at the grassroots level as a volunteer and community organizer in various capacities. Her inspiration for political participation stems from the student movement, the labour movement, and pursuit of social justice. The causes which are close to her heart include poverty reduction, affordable housing, access to education, employment equity, immigration, and the preservation of Tamil language and culture.
Rathika became involved with the New Democratic Party in 2004 by volunteering in the Ed Broadbent federal election campaign. Since then, Rathika has continued her involvement with the NDP in different capacities. In the 2008 federal election, Rathika was a canvasser and campaign manager. Rathika worked at the University of Toronto Students’ Union unwil she was elected MP for the federal constituency of Scarborough-Rouge River on May 2nd, 2011.”
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