Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined over 200,000 people here at the biggest Tamil diaspora festival that showcased Tamil culture, heritage and cuisine.
Toronto's Markham Road turned into a little Tamil nation on the occasion as hundreds of vends came up to treat visitors to rare tropical Tamil cuisine, displaying cultural items and offering rare glimpses into Tamil way of life.
Some rare forms of Tamil dances were also performed.
"People generally associate Tamil dance with bharatnatyam. But there are over 50 old forms of Tamil dance which very few know. These were showcased here for our future Tamil generation and Canadians," said Canadian Tamil Congress spokesperson David Poopalapillai.
It's an honour to be back at #Tamilfest, this time as Prime Minister, alongside @gary_srp. Vanakkam! pic.twitter.com/ahnine2zMp
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 27, 2017
A big attraction at the festival was one the two lifeboats in which first Tamil refugees (numbering 155) fleeing the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict had reached Canadian shores in August 1986.
It was the first time after 1912 that Canada accepted boat refugees who happened to be Tamils, Poopalapillai said.
.@JustinTrudeau is the first sitting prime minister to attend a Tamil event. #TamilFest pic.twitter.com/H4U0SMyZTI
— Miranda Anthistle (@Mirandanthistle) August 26, 2017
"These refugees had reached Germany from Sri Lanka. From Germany, they took a ship, but were dumped in the ocean in two lifeboats to fend for themselves. Luckily, they drifted into Canadian waters off Newfoundland and were saved by Canadian fishermen," said the Tamil spokesperson.
The Canadian Prime Minister posed with some of those who were on the two lifeboats.
Trudeau said Canada consistently raised its voice in support of Tamils during the ethnic war in Sri Lanka. Though the conflict has ended, he said, the long-term solution to Tamil grievances is yet to be reached.
Fun times at #TamilFest today Congrats to @tamilfestTO for bringing people together with @TorontoPolice for community building & celebration pic.twitter.com/QU814hz912
— Mark Saunders (@marksaunderstps) August 26, 2017
He said the Tamil community has enriched Canadian multicultural society in a short period since its first arrival in large numbers in the 1980s.
In recognition of this contribution, Trudeau said amid applause, his government has declared January as Tamil Heritage Month in Canada.
#Diversity is not a liability its our strength thought full words from @JustinTrudeau @CanadianPM @ #TamilFest # #PositivePolitics #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/S2pnaSJGXU
— Qasir Dar (@QasirDar) August 27, 2017
Numbering about 350,000, Tamils are one of the youngest and fastest growing communities in Canada, with their major concentration centred around the Greater Toronto Area.
.@JohnTory addressing #TamilFest crowd in Tamil & talking about his memorable trip to Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/4pZXvkTdVl
— Miranda Anthistle (@Mirandanthistle) August 26, 2017
