Happy October, Centennial!
It’s great to be back in Ottawa serving the community of Scarborough- Rouge Park.
Parliamentary Secretary
On August 31, I was incredibly humbled and honoured to be appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez.
August 31 is a very important day for my family and me, as 35 years ago on August 31, 1983, my mother and I took our first steps on Canadian soil at Montreal’s Mirabel International Airport. That day has been etched in my heart forever, and the experience of arriving to Canada as a refugee has guided my work all these years. It is very hard to imagine that that refugee would one day be asked to serve Canada in such a profound and meaningful way. This can only happen in Canada.
To all the people who have played an important part in my life, including my family, my friends, my staff and my constituents, I could not have done this without you. The people of Scarborough-Rouge Park entrusted me to be their Member of Parliament and to represent them and I will continue to work day and night to ensure their interests are represented in Ottawa.
As I accept this new role, I am guided by the values this country has taught me: inclusiveness, diversity, multiculturalism and equality. This new role will enable me to bring my experience and perspective to defend these important values and to ensure that our country remains an open country where we look at people’s differences as a source of strength and not as a weakness. I will defend these values each and every day, and work hard towards strengthening our country, and building a more just society.
Fall Walk in the Rouge
As the warm weather winds down and we begin to welcome the fall season, I would like to invite you and your family to join my team for some quality time in the Rouge National Urban Park. Our Fall Walk in the Rouge is a terrific way to take advantage of the beautiful fall colours, and learn from Parks Canada staff about our local urban oasis. This year’s walk will take place on Sunday, November 4 at 9:30 a.m. The walk will begin at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre (1749 Meadowavale Road) and is open to walkers of all skill levels. Please do not hesitate to contact my constituency office staff if you have any questions about our fall walk. We hope to see you there!
Annual Fall Open House
For those of you who would rather spend their fall indoors, I encourage you to drop by our Constituency Office at 3600 Ellesmere Road on Saturday, November 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon for some good coffee and great conversation.
During our annual Fall Open House, my staff and I will be on hand to answer any questions you have about federal government services, federal policy or to just simply say hello! All are welcome to attend.
For those of you who would like to connect with my team, I encourage you to contact my office at 416-283-1414 or Gary.Anand@parl.gc.ca. We are always happy to hear your ideas, assist you with various federal services or answer any questions you may have!