At the recently held 2022 Konkani Sammelan, Suvarna & Sadanand Mankikar were honored with the ‘Outstanding Public Service’ award in recognition of their over forty five years of service to the Konkani community in North America and abroad, contributions to blood banking with Canadian Blood services and consulting expertise to Institutions in Canada, Europe and India. Sadanand and Suvarna  profusely thank Ashok & Amita Bhatt for nominating them for this award.

In January of this year Sadanand was nominated by the Ontario Konkani Association for the ‘Ontario Volunteer Service award’. This award recognizes volunteers for providing committed and dedicated service to an organization ranging from five to 65 years of continuous service.

For Suvarna &Sadanand Mankikar, the call for community service in Canada came about forty-five years ago. On a fine Sunday morning in 1977, Sadanand got a call from a long-standing member of the Marathi Bhashik Mandal, Toronto telling him that he had volunteered Sadanand’s name for the Mandal’s Executive Committee. Since then, Suvarna & Sadanand have been dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers in various organizations involving not only Canadians of South Asian origin, but also the larger Canadian community in and around GTA, and the Gloucester/Ottawa areas. They have been closely associated with Ontario Konkani Association for over 30 years and have been leading the OKA Seniors Forum for the past several years.

After working for six years at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto as Virology Research Technologist, Sadanand joined Canadian Blood Services in 1979 and retired as Executive Director, Quality Assurance in 2006. He worked as a consultant in Canada, Europe and India and developed Quality Management Systems for Stem Cell Program, International Plasma Fractionation Plant and National Blood Program. Suvarna started her career at Canara Bank, Davangere, and after 38 years with the Ontario Government, she retired as Supervisor in Corporate Finance at the Ontario Securities Commission.

ONTARIO KONKANI ASSOCIATION (OKA) SINCE 1990

• Member since 1990
• Vice President (2003 – 2004)   
• President (2004 – 2005)
• Established OKA Scholarship during Association’s 15^th Anniversary (2004)
• OKA Scholarship Committee (2004-2008, 2011-2014)
• Chair, KAO Vision 2020 (2013-2014)
• OKA Senior’s Forum (Since 2016)
• OKA.SVBF Health Awareness Program (Since 2018)

ONTARIO KONKANI ASSOCIATION SENIOR’S FORUM (Since 2016)

• Initiated the Forum to develop and implement socio-cultural programs with a focus on seniors and soon to be seniors in the community to help prepare for and adapt to the changes. It has developed teams of volunteers to provide support and assistance to the seniors.

PROJECTS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED:

• Emergency Preparedness Program comprising of
  • Emergency Preparedness Kits
  • End of Life Planning
  • Estate Planning, Wills and Power of Attorney
  • Support during personal emergencies, including death
  • Information about services provided by Government and Non-Government Agencies
• Interactive forum “OKA Aadhaar Chat”
• Carpooling for seniors for attending OKA programs

INFORMATION SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS:

• Five Brain Storming sessions and Focus Group Meetings
• Two Seniors’ Lunches and Get-Togethers
• Seven seniors’ Information Sessions covering Wills and Power of Attorney, End of Life Planning, Emergency Preparedness
• Six Technical Support Workshops (assistance in handling emerging technology provided by youth in the OKA Community)

ONTARIO KONKANI ASSOCIATION AND SRINGERI VIDYA BHARATI FOUNDATION HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAM (Since 2018)

• Seminars/webinars in collaboration with Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (SVBF), Canada India Foundation, South Asian Diabetes Chapter and other relevant organizations
• Eleven seminars/webinars covering various health related topics including Diabetes, Heart, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Mental Health, Digestive System and COVID 19.
• One webinar on Wills and Power of Attorney
• One webinar on Seniors/ Retirement Community
• One webinar on Assisted Living, Home Care and Long Term Care
• Three Technical Support Workshops (conducted by youth)

OTHER RELATED SENIORS’ ACTIVITIES (2017-2019)

• Aging with Confidence: Ontario’s Action Plan for Seniors February 2018
• Member, Seniors’ Community Housing Project, Indus Community Services 2018
• Member, RetCom/Nirvana – a Seniors’ Residence Project (2018-2019)
• Scattering of Ashes/Asti Visarjan Project by Ontario Government – Town Hall Meeting and Brainstorming sessions 2017-2018
• Ontario Liberal Caucus –Indian Friendship Group Meeting March 2017

OKA COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS (2010 – 2015) 

• Developed and conducted five Annual Communication and Leadership Workshops comprising of practicing Communication and Leadership skills, Career Booths and presentations on mentoring, Preparing for University Life, Interview Skills etc.

NORTH AMERICAN KONKANI ASSOCIATION – NAKA (2004-2021)

• Executive Vice President, NAKA Convention in Hamilton, Ontario, (2004-2006)
• Director, NAKA Board of Directors (2006 – 2012)         
• White paper on NAKA Reorganization 2012
• Vice President, NAKA Board of Directors (2012 – 2016)
• Conducted Workshop “Now I am a Senior, What Next” at NAKA Convention, Atlanta, 2016
• Coordinator, “Seniors’ Corner” on NAKA website 2017-
• Chair, NAKA Board of Director’s Election Committee 2021

JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION (2022)

• Member, Curriculum Development Committee

SRINGERI VIDYA BHARATI FOUNDATION (SVBF) (SINCE 2009)

• Volunteer since 2009
• Member, Maha  Kumbhabhishekam  Organizing Committee 2010
• Member, Maharudra Organizing Committee 2016
• Coordinator, Health Awareness Program since 2018

CITY OF BURLINGTON CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE (2008-2010)

• Volunteer, Organizing Committee
• Master of Ceremonies on the West Stage

JOSEPH BRANT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BURLINGTON, ONTARIO (2006-2009)

• Member, Board of Governors’ Quality Assurance Committee

MARATHI BHASHIK MANDAL, OTTAWA (1995-1996)

• Founding Secretary

CANADIAN KIDNEY FOUNDATION (1991 -1995)

• Campaign Volunteer in Orleans, Ontario       

GLOUCESTER, ONTARIO (1991-1992)

• Organized and moderated Candidates Debate, Gloucester Civic Election 1991
• Facilitated public consultation on structural reform to municipal government in Ottawa-Carleton (G. M. Kirby Commission) 1992
• Member, Gloucester Leisure Recreation Board 1992
• Community Policing Brainstorming Session 1992

CHAPEL HILL CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS (1990-1992)

• Founder 1990
• Coordinator 1990-1992

CHAPEL HILL RESIDENT’S ASSOCIATION, ORLEANS, ONTARIO (1988-1992)

• President, Chapel Hill Residents Association
• Editor, CHRA Newsletter
• Initiated Neighborhood Watch Program
• Organized Community Health Fair

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL (1980-2006)

• Held Club to District level Leadership positions in two different Districts
• Conducted District Conferences, Speechcrafts, Youth Leadership Programs, Officer Training Sessions, Seminars, Workshops in two different Districts
• Started a number of Clubs including a Gavel Club for Youth in two Districts

METRO INTERNATIONAL CARAVAN, TORONTO (1978-1982)

• Member of the Organizing Committee that initiated and organized the New Delhi Pavilion at the Metro International Caravan – a multicultural nine-day festival with over 60 pavilions in and around GTA.
• Award winning Entertainment Coordinator 1978
• Award winning Pavilion Host 1979
• Chairman 1980-1982

INDIAN IMMIGRANT AID SERVICES (1977-1982)

• Volunteer
• Planning Committee, of the first “Indians in Canada” Conference 
• Member of IIAS Board to select author of Report on concerns of the South Asian Canadian Community regarding their place in the Canadian Mosaic.
• Member of IIAS Race Relations Committee that presented a report to Attorney General, Government of Ontario.
• Member of IIAS Race Relations Committee that presented a report to Toronto Police Commissioner.

FEDERATION OF INDO-CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS, TORONTO (1977 -1978)

• Founding Member
• Vice President
• Chair, Education and Social Services Committee

MARATHI BHASHIK MANDAL, TORONTO (1977-2011)

• Secretary 1976 -1977
• President 1978 -1979
• Member, MBM Think Tank Group 2011
• Member, MBM Think Tank Core Group 2011

For animal lovers, this place is great to see Alpacas of different hues and colors strutting their stuff. The Shed Chetwyn farm is located at 500 Closson Rd, Hillier, Ontario. There are a few parking spots and I found the parking sign amusing. It read” For Alpaca Lovers only”. Only a few yards further on this road is the Prince Edward County Lavender Farm. The best time to visit is late June through July. Our visit in August was a bit too late to see the colorful lavender flowers. Other sites in the vicinity are the Trent Severn Waterway and the Laundry’s farm market.  

Tyendinaga Caves and Caverns

Ontario’s Oldest Natural Cavern, Tyendinaga Cavern and caves is a private network of natural caves and is thought to be the oldest such in Ontario. It is approximately 150 feet long and 45 feet deep. While you won’t see Stalactites and stalagmites, this cave is solid rocks with narrow passages and several levels. Located at 2623 Harmony Road, Belleville this place is worth visiting during summer when you feel like getting out of your city.

At this year’s 51st Annual Juno Awards Ceremony, Toronto-based world-jazz ensemble Avataar won the award for vocal jazz album of the year (group) for their album WORLDVIEW. Led by Sundar Viswanathan a multiple-JUNO nominated jazz saxophonist, vocalist and composer, the sextet features vocalist Felicity Williams, guitarist Michael Occhipinti, bassist Justin Gray, tabla player Ravi Naimpally and drummer Max Senitt. The record also has contributions from Aaron Lightstone on oud and Todd Pentney on keys.

Ravi Naimpally and his parents Sudha and Late Somashekhar Naimpally have been long standing members of OKA. Most of us know the Naimpally family very well.

Born in Kanpur, Uttarpradesh, Ravi Naimapally lived in Thunder Bay and Ottawa before settling in Toronto.  He completed his High School in Thunder Bay, got his B.A. from Carleton University, Ottawa, and Master’s degree from York University, Toronto.

His father Late Somashekhar Naimpally was a mathematician and his mother was an occupational therapist and both were music aficionados. They moved to Canada in the 1970s, at which point his parents started organizing concerts of Hindustani classical music. His brother Shiv is also a learned tabla player and works as a patent lawyer, his sister Anuradha is a professional Bharatnatyam dancer. 

Ravi gives full credit to his parents for his interest and involvement in music. In his own words “…. music was being played in our house from morning to night every day. His parents would also arrange concerts in Kanpur and then in Thunder Bay, thus Ravi was able to listen to and meet masters like Bismillah Khan, Begum Akhtar, Amjad Ali Khan, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Buddaditya Mukherjee, Ashwini Bhide and many more.”

Ravi’s main Gurus were Pandit Nikhil Ghosh and Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. He has also learned a lot from Pandit Sadanand Nayampalli and Pandit Sushil Kumar Jain. 

Avataar is a world-jazz group based in Toronto. Their album Worldview was released in October 2021 “which was inspired by the deep musical traditions of India, Africa, and Brazil, rooted within the framework of modern jazz. In an innovative marriage of ancient and modern, driving grooves intersect with cinematic atmospheres and soaring melodies, creating a fresh, emotive sonic experience. Bandmembers share an eclectic range of musical expertise – hardbop, pop, rock, electronica, free improvisation, world, and R&B/Soul filter into the interpretations of the tunes.”

“While Avataar’s debut album, Petal, explored the evanescence of human life and was a call for a return to spiritual connectedness, Worldview attempts to also present a musical commentary on the state of our world, on the pandemic, and on the inability of our leaders to lead with integrity, honesty, and compassion. While the actions of our leaders affected so many, some of the songs started as gut responses to the treatment of children, our most valuable and vulnerable citizens, and act as vehicles of catharsis for the composer.”

The ensemble is a recipient of the 2016 Toronto Jazz Festival Special Projects Initiative award, The group has appeared at the Markham Jazz Festival, Small World Festival, the Sudbury Jazz Festival, and the Brampton Global Jazz Festival as well as at the Lula Lounge, known for playing international salsa, jazz, and world music.

To my question What are your goals? Ravi simply responded, “my goals are to keep learning and getting better and bringing joy to listeners”. Wishing Ravi all the very best in his musical journey.

Compiled by Sadanand Mankikar

Source: Personal communication with Ravi Naimpally and Avaatar website.

Surekha Shenoy is an accomplished business professional, a strategic thinker; and a leader in motivating community members.  Surekha is a strong believer in an inclusive society and is  passionate about our healthcare, environment, housing affordability, education, and the economy. She has been actively supporting visible minority groups and Indigenous Peoples issues for close to 2 decades. She mentors youth, entrepreneurs and professionals to help set them up for success.

 Surekha has a passion for volunteering with a track record of supporting social causes and community initiatives, such as mentoring ‘Youth on Board’, Trinity Community Table (Soup  Kitchen), and the Self Help Food Bank to name a few. As the past Chair & Director of the  Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation (CMHF), Surekha championed many initiatives for the  Foundation including its $50M Capital Campaign and the CMH Diversity Outreach Dinners by engaging with over 60 diverse community groups in the Waterloo Region.

Surekha currently sits on the Board of Directors for Hospice of Waterloo Region and is Co-Chair of the East Indian Community Walkathon of Waterloo Region which has raised over $400K for local hospitals. She also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Cooksville BIA of Mississauga, Ontario, and is an advisor/consultant to many small businesses. Surekha was also the Ontario  Liberal Party candidate for the Riding of Kitchener South Hespeler for the 2018 Ontario  Provincial Election.  

As a professional, Surekha spent most of her career as an executive in the banking sector managing the small business portfolio for a leading financial institution. Surekha has her M.Sc.  in Industrial Systems Engineering from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, and an MBA in  Finance and Operations from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. She lives in  Cambridge with her husband Revi Kizhatil and their two daughters Ankita & Anoosha Kizhatil.

We are extremely happy that Dr. V. I. (Lucky) Lakshmanan, has been conferred with the highly prestigious Order of Canada by the Office of the Governor General of Canada “For his philanthropy and for his expertise in hydrometallurgy and business, which have greatly benefited his profession, community and Canada-India relations”.

Dr. Lakshmanan is one of the Founders of Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation Canada and currently he is Chairman of SVBF Canada. For nearly 50 years, he has helped and mentored countless newcomers to Canada to settle, find jobs and become contributing members of the community. 

Dr. Lakshmanan has always shown great interest in the OKA activities and wholeheartedly supported OKA Senior’s Forum and Health Awareness Program.  His active participation in and financial support to the Health Seminars will never be forgotten.

Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan is an internationally renowned teacher, scientist, and innovator in the area of sustainable development. He has more than 40 years of experience in technology commercialization and skills development initiatives with both private and public sectors including the United Nations. He has successfully guided process technologies from concept through development and demonstration to commercialization for resource, energy and chemical industries.

Dr. Lakshmanan moved to Canada in 1974 after serving as Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, UK. His corporate experience includes positions at Noranda, Eldorado Nuclear, ORTECH Corporation and Process Research ORTECH, the last of which he founded and guided to become a global leader in sustainable process technologies through its laboratory and pilot plant.

While congratulating Dr.  Lucky Lakshmanan for this great achievement, we take this opportunity to thank him for his support to the OKA activities.

*Some of the information was obtained from the announcement by Canada India Foundation on Wednesday, December 29, 2021

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR SENIORS: “Super Tech Savvy Seniors” is the brainchild of Ria Koppikar a 11^th grade student from Minneapolis to help seniors feel confident and comfortable in the use of the emerging Technology. Ria with her team members Aditya Pai, Ananya Pai and Kiran Swan, all from Canada, is ready to help seniors online. Those who need any assistance in handling emails, phones and computers/programs may email their questions to supertechsavvyseniors@gmail.com. Ria is also looking for youth to help her on the Team. Those who want to volunteer should send an email to the same address. This program is mutually beneficial. We thank Ria for this initiative and wish her all the very best.

OKA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM: Estate, Will and Power of Attorney and End of Life Planning are two major elements of this OKA Seniors Forum Program.

For preparing Wills and Powers of Attorney you may contact Marvin Talksy (905) 405-0199 ext.  257 or Mary Bojkovski (905) 405-0199 ext. 276 of Nanda & Associate Lawyers. For additional information or assistance, you may also contact Raghunath Kamath or Ashok Bhatt.

For End of Life Planning one may contact Harjinder Bilku of Chapel Ridge Funeral Home at (905) 305-8128 or (647) 966-0093.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS: If you have not received complimentary kits, for a limited time, you may obtain them by sending an email to sadanand.mankikar@gmail.com. Additional small, medium and large size kits at cost may be obtained by sending an email to the same address.

Additional information about OKA Seniors’ Forum is posted on www.ontario-konkanis.com

Feature image source