Singer-composer Adnan Sami will be honoured with an Award of Recognition in Canada for his contribution in the field of arts, culture and music. He feels “blessed”. He will receive the award March 21 by the speaker at the Legislature at Queen’s Park, the Ontario Parliament, Canada.
A special reception for him will also be organised by Shafiq Qaadri, member of Provincial Parliament, Etobicoke North, and he will be given a guided tour on the floors of the Parliament.
“I bow my head in humility for receiving this honour from such an esteemed house,” Adnan said in a statement.
The ability to make people smile through his music, is what makes Adnan happiest.
“God has blessed me with the in-born talent for which I pour my heart out in the form of music. I can never stop thanking god because my music influences people in their respective lives. If my life and music brings a smile or makes a difference in any individual’s life, then there is nothing beyond for me as a god’s gift,” he added.
Adnan, who recently launched his new album ‘Press Play’, will also take to the stage at the Roy Thomson Hall at Toronto, Canada, for a performance March 22.
As a classical pianist, he has rendered solo performances before heads of state. He also carved a niche for himself as a successful Indi-pop artist with songs like Tera chehra and Lift kara de.
Mr. Sutherland’s senior government and private sector experience an asset as free trade negotiations between Canada & India (CEPA) near completion.
The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) is pleased to announce that as of April 1, 2013, Peter Sutherland, the current Vice-Chairman of C-IBC and former High Commissioner to India will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council.
Mr. Sutherland is taking over from Rana Sarkar, the outgoing President and CEO. Mr. Sarkar held this role for four years and is joining KPMG in a strategic advisory capacity. He will continue to serve on C-IBC’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Sutherland has a long history with the Council, having spent five years as its Vice-Chairman. He comes to this role following a distinguished diplomatic career that included service as Canada’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, High Commissioner to India and as a senior executive dealing with international business and investment in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Most recently, Mr. Sutherland has been a Senior Advisor at Aird & Berlis LLP where he counseled Canadian companies on doing business in India, the Middle East and other parts of Asia.
“I applaud Peter’s broad and extensive knowledge of India and I know he will do a first class job as the incoming Chief Executive of the C-IBC”, said Don Stewart, Chair of the Council, “I thank Rana for his many contributions to C-IBC and look forward to having his continuing contribution to the Board.”
“Under the leadership of Roy MacLaren and Rana Sarkar the C-IBC has grown in size, stature and leadership since my days as High Commissioner in New Delhi. With the support of the Council’s many stakeholders, I look forward to strengthening its position as the pre-eminent voice of business in Canada-India relations,” said C-IBC’s incoming President and CEO, Peter Sutherland.
Contact & Interviews:
To arrange to speak with Peter Sutherland about his leadership vision for the Canada-India Business Council, the state of Canada-India relations and/or the opportunities ahead, please contact:
The Canada-India Business Council
Emily Hamilton, Communications & Research Coordinator
T: 416-214-5947 x26
E: ehamilton(at)canada-indiabusiness(dot)ca
About the Canada-India Business Council:
The Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) was founded in 1982 by the Bank of Nova Scotia, Bombardier and the late Thomas Bata. For almost 30 years, C-IBC has been the leading, bi-national member driven association dedicated to the sustained growth of trade, investment and services between Canada and India. C-IBC works to assist Canadian organizations by offering knowledge, experience and insight on bilateral trade and investment opportunities. With over 100 members, the C-IBC represents the leading companies in the Canada-India business corridor.
The C-IBC is governed nationally by a Board of Directors which is comprised of senior executives from Canada’s leading organizations as well as leaders from both small and medium-sized enterprises. C-IBC is headquartered in Toronto with operations in Delhi, Vancouver and Montreal.
Malda, West Bengal, Mar 16 (IBNS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said without qualitative education India will not be able to maintain its economic growth rate.
“The truth is that without education we will not be able to propel the growth of our economy. Our UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government understands this well. That’s why we have to focus on education,” Singh said in his address at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology in West Bengal’s Malda district.
“To fulfill India’s growing economic requirements our UPA government has given special attention to the education sector,” he said.
“Public expenditure on education have been increased from 3.3 percent to 4 percent of GDP we have. We have many new institutes for higher education, including 16 Central Universities, 7 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 8 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 10 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and 5 Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs).
“We launched the National Skill Development in the 12th Plan that aims to create 5 million skilled people,” Singh said.
The PM said India needs to focus on quality of higher education.
“In higher education, we are paying little attention to quality,” he said.
LONDON: India is a compelling example for the Commonwealth nations on issues of human rights and democracy, Canada’s special envoy for the 54-member grouping has said.
Describing India as a “powerful, significant and important player in the Commonwealth,” Senator Hugh Segal, Canada’s special envoy for Commonwealth renewal, said, “We believe that both on issues of human rights and democracy India is a compelling example for the rest of the Commonwealth.”
He said “India’s presence is fundamental. India’s influence around the world is increasing because of the power of its economy, remarkable exports in terms of trade and technology and skills sets. It is one of the fundamental pyramids of the Commonwealth and fundamental to its survival and success.”
“Canada has always viewed India as an important bilateral ally and we see them as partners in efforts to modernize the Commonwealth and make it as effective in people’s lives as humanly possible.
“India has been a partner of growing significance. It has invested in the Commonwealth. It has been very active on issues like Commonwealth scholarships and technical assistance.”
He said aid from India to other Commonwealth countries has been a great value and importance and “we believe that the interest India has taken for championing human rights and other issues as it relates to Sri Lanka is a very constructive force.”
“A constructive force of engagement and we respect Indian participation and contribution. We also feel India can do even more.”
KOLKATA: Canada is keen on investing in joint projects with India especially in tourism, agriculture, IT and education sectors.
At a meeting with a multi-sectoral gathering organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here today, a delegation of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), which included some senators and MPs of Canadian Parliament, said the size of trade between the two countries had grown to 5.2 billion dollars last year from 1.75 billion dollars in 2010.
“By 2015, this (trade between the two countries) is expected to touch 15 billion dollars, a target set by the Canadian Prime Minister,” Russel Hiebert, MP, said.
There was immense scope of widening ties in education and agriculture sectors between India and Canada, he said.
The opportunity in education sector lay in the fact that in India 500 million people are under 25 years of age and to cope up with the added demand of quality education it needs another 1,000 universities for which the two countries could collaborate.
There was scope of partnership between the two countries in the agriculture sector as 24 per cent of pulses consumed in India are grown in Canada.
Canada, he said, would like to offer technological collaboration in the area of exploration natural gas for which India has got abundant resources.
Academic relations between Canada and India are at an all time high and yet education linkages remain well below potential. This is despite the trailblazing work being done against the backdrop of cordial relations between our two countries; the size and growing importance of the Indian ‘Diaspora’ in Canada and significant efforts devoted in recent years to strengthening academic linkages in this exciting sector. After observing India’s keen interest in reaching out ‘Internationally’ and the capacity gap ‘widening’, Canada India Education Council (CIEC) was founded in 2010 by bringing together 15 academic & non-academic organizations in Canada.
Since our creation, CIEC has gradually evolved into a valuable bridge between Canada & India and is poised to soon become the “go to” organization for Canada-India academic relations. CIEC is one of only a few organizations offering critical ‘on the ground’ presence in both countries and helps Institutions position themselves advantageously in an increasingly competitive environment. CIEC combines corporate governance with the benefits of a public-private partnership balanced with an entrepreneurial methodology to remain independent and yet be financially sustainable.
CIEC has invested countless hours and resources in paving the way for academics, organizations, governments and other stakeholders to collectively work with each other and have helped lay the foundation for smooth academic relationships and exchanges. We are proud of our accomplishments in this short span but also realize that we have only just begun to scratch the surface. Besides planning delegations, organizing missions (recruiting & otherwise) and hosting our flagship annual ‘Synergy’ Conference for over 6 years, there remains much more to do and many opportunities to be seized.
As CIEC opens its Membership ranks to Institutions across Canada and India we invite select Colleges | Universities and interested Corporations to join us as we enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries. Members will have an opportunity to network with each other and showcase themselves and their institutions in this vibrant and burgeoning Canada-India education corridor.
Your CIEC Membership will also serve as yet another way to profile your Institutions programs, commitments and initiatives in this vibrant ‘corridor’ and with thought provoking discussions led by experts from both countries via our weekly newsletter (reaching over 19,000 academics and thought leaders from both countries), members can highlight recent developments, new programs, dialogue on emerging opportunities, stimulate thought and discuss new initiatives and ideas. CIEC’s highly penetrative and potent network reaches academic champions from both countries, high level government representatives and policy makers besides key Canadian & Indian Colleges and Universities.
Being mindful of shrinking budgets, CIEC’s ‘Membership fee’ is a nominal $200/month which we hope will allow for broader participation and create a greater value proposition for Members.
CIEC members will enjoy*:
• ‘Rep’ office(s) in India and Canada
• Tile or logo (clickable link) & a banner on CIEC’s website (if available) in Media campaigns in both countries
• Access to CARE (Canadian Academic Advisors Representing Excellence) – CIEC’s exclusive ‘Agent’ Membership category
• Discounted Registration fee at CIEC signature events (Annual Synergy Networking Conference in Canada & on delegations to India)
• One-call telephone number for Members & ‘On the ground’ presence in both countries
• Access to CIEC’s vast and expanding corporate and academic network
• Access to market intelligence and identifying leads in ‘market development’
• Advice on logistics and support in planning visits and meetings in either country
CIEC invites you to join us as we work together to create a win-win situation and by building on past successes, we look forward to a promising future. The budget friendly Membership fee of $100/month will not only demonstrate your interest in reaching out to key academic leaders from other institutions but also afford access to exclusive ‘Member only’ events and enable hosting visiting delegations on your campus.
CIEC is a bi-national, bi-partisan, independent, event-driven, membership-based organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.
To become a Member and be counted as a leader and be visible in this dynamic and growing sector, click here to get started. We look forward to working with you.
Kind regards,
Hon. Pierre S Pettigrew, PC Prof Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President & Vice Chancellor, Chair-CIEC Carleton University Academic Advisor-CIEC
Mr. Anaroop Kerketta from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) IIT Bombay won the third Indo-Canada Student Innovation Award for 2013. The short animation Inside My Mind was selected by the jury and the public from 15 finalists. The Consul General for Canada in Mumbai, Mr. Richard Bale presented award to Mr. Anaroop Kerketta during the Best Animation Film (BAF) Awards Ceremony at the FICCI Frames Conference 2013 in Mumbai. The winning short film can be viewed online.
The Government of Canada and Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology (Seneca) in Toronto, Canada in association with Mumbai’s Frameboxx Animation & Visual Effects are excited to have sponsored this award for the third edition of the Indo-Canada Student Innovation Award 2013 (ICSIA 2013). Seneca and Frameboxx will provide Mr. Kerketta with a one-week training session in animation and visual effects at Seneca, a return economy class ticket from Mumbai to Toronto, as well as accommodation and living expenses for the week. Each year this competition provides an opportunity to Indian students to showcase their artistic creativity, animation technique and innovation.
On presenting the award, Richard Bale said “Canada is home to leading animation firms and technology and has a lot to offer through its innovative training institutions. Anaroop Kerketta will now have the exciting opportunity to work with leading technology and an exceptional talent pool in Canada.”
The jury consisted of Mark Jones from Toronto’s Seneca College, Steve Kahwati from Toronto’s 728 Digital Pictures, Munjal Shroff from Mumbai’s Graphiti Multimedia, Kireet Khurana from Mumbai’s Climb Media, and Richard Bale Consul General for Canada in Mumbai. The winner was selected based on a combination of technical marks from the jury and votes from the general public at the online poll portal.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Québec non-governmental organisation (NGO) SOPAR are working with Indian NGO Bala Vikasa on a unique project to provide safe drinking water, in a cost-effective manner, in many villages in Andhra Pradesh, India. With the first plant installed two decades ago in Gangadevipally, Canada has supported Bala Vikasa in setting-up over 250 such water systems. A noteworthy recent development on the project has been the use of Any Time Water machines, which dispense 20 litres of water by swiping a card at the machine, similar to the principle of an automated teller machine (ATM).
Representatives from Canada’s Athabasca University and the University of British Columbia and participants from across India shared perspectives on the developing field of distance learning at an India-Canada International Conference on Open and Flexible Distance Learning, from February 20-22, at the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women’s University, Mumbai, University Grants Commission Area Studies’ Centre for Canadian Studies. Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayana, and Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra’s Minister of Higher and Technical education, opened the conference which included a roundtable on Higher Education in Canada.
Taking over as the new Consul General for Canada in Mumbai on March 5, Richard Bale said, “Canada has great potential for collaboration in the Indian market in the areas of education, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. I look forward to working with Canadian and Indian organizations and people to increase the linkages between our two countries.” As Head of Canada’s mission in Mumbai, Consul General Richard Bale leads the charge in promoting relations between Canada and Western India, including the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Madhya Pradesh.
Welcoming the new appointment, Stewart Beck, High Commissioner for Canada to India, said, “Canada and India are working together towards achieving the ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2015. We are happy to welcome Richard to India and are confident that he will play a significant role in helping us not only to meet our objectives but to surpass them.”
Communities in Canada and India will be the first to try out new technologies related to water quality, infrastructure and public health, owing to the new India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS). The centre was announced in November as the winner of the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence competition, an NCE initiative introduced in the 2011 federal budget. “Canada needs to be connected to an international supply of ideas, research, talent and technologies in order to prosper in an increasingly competitive global environment,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in announcing the competition results. “This new Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence will build stronger bilateral research ties and create valuable learning opportunities while generating positive economic and social benefits for both countries.” Major Canadian and Indian universities, as well as various private and public sector partners in Canada and India, will pool their expertise in IC- IMPACTS’ efforts to develop and implement better ways of providing safe drinking water, building sustainable and affordable infrastructure, and preventing and treating diseases in the two countries.
