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Governments in Canada Declare August 5, 2023 as Igbo Day of Arts and Culture

by Leading Reporters
written by Leading Reporters

At the request of the Igbo Cultural Association of Saskatchewan (ICAS) Inc., the Government of Saskatchewan has issued a proclamation designating August 5, 2023 as Igbo Day of Arts and Culture in the Canadian province.

“We invite all Igbo people, our friends and well-wishers, to join us as we celebrate our cultural heritage in Canada at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Regina Performing Arts Centre, 1077 Angus Street, Regina,” said Dr. Chidi Igwe, President of the Igbo Cultural Association of Saskatchewan.

The proclamation was issued by the Saskatchewan Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, who writes in the Certificate of Recognition that “I, Laura Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport in the Province of Saskatchewan in exercise of the powers conferred upon me, do hereby designate the day of August 5, 2023 to be ‘lgbo Day of Arts and Culture’ in Saskatchewan.”

In issuing the proclamation, Minister Ross also enjoined the citizens of the Province of Saskatchewan to recognize Igbo Day as proclaimed by their government.

In the same manner, on behalf of the municipal government of Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, Mayor Sandra Masters and the City of Regina have designated August 5, 2023 as Igbo Day of Arts and Culture. They also encouraged the residents of the Queen City (as Regina is known locally) to dedicate this day for the celebration of culture with the Igbo community of Saskatchewan.

In a goodwill message addressed to all Igbo people in Regina, Mayor Masters writes that “the diversity of our community is something that Regina takes great pride in. We believe that this blend of different cultures is what makes not only our city, but our country, unique on the world stage.”

Mayor Masters encourages the residents of Regina “to recognize August 5th, 2023, as Igbo Day of Arts and Culture here in Regina.”

She highlights that “this year’s theme of Oganihu Asusu na Omenala Igbo (Preservation of the Igbo Language and Culture) is a universal concept that numerous cultures can relate to. Language preservation is imperative for many of those that call Regina home, and we commend the work that Nigerian Canadian people of Igbo descent are engaging in to bring awareness to their language and culture.”

Below are electronic copies of the proclamation certificates:

Recall that in what became the first official designation of a day as Igbo Day of Arts and Culture by a provincial and a municipal government in the whole of Canada, both the Government of Saskatchewan and the City of Regina issued a proclamation recognizing Igbo Day in 2019. Below are electronic copies of the 2019 certificates of proclamation:

“Ndi Igbo (Igbo people) in Saskatchewan are delighted to receive this level of support from the Government of Saskatchewan and the City of Regina. By recognizing Igbo Day, the two levels of government are encouraging our people to practice our language and culture in our new country,” ICAS President Dr. Chidi Igwe said. “We invite everyone to join us for a celebration of culture, a taste of Igbo cuisine, artistic displays, dance and performances, as Igbo people in Canada,” he said.

ICAS was founded in 2002 to preserve the Igbo Canadian heritage through events, workshops, language and culture education. Every two years, we celebrate Igbo Day, dedicating the day to promoting awareness and use of the Igbo language, art, as well as the Igbo Nigerian-Canadian cultural heritage in Saskatchewan. The 2021 edition of Igbo Day was canceled due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The theme of the 2023 Igbo Day, “Oganihu Asusu na Omenala Igbo (Preservation of the Igbo Language and Culture)”, was selected to increase the awareness and use of the Igbo language, art and culture in Saskatchewan, as well as honour the contributions of the c of Igbo descent to the cultural, professional and economic development of Saskatchewan in particular and Canada as a whole.

For more information about Igbo Day and the Igbo Cultural Association of Saskatchewan, please visit: https://www.icassask.ca/.

Dr. Chidi Igwe

President, Igbo Cultural Association of Saskatchewan.

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Africa & World

Canada dropping all COVID restrictions, vax passports by end of month

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The province of Saskatchewan in Canada has become the first province to announce it will be dropping all COVID-19 restrictions, including proof of vaccination requirements.

Premier Scott Moe made the announcement during a press conference Monday evening, stating restrictions would end on Feb. 28 and recognizing Canadians’ desire “for a return to normal.”

“Our caucus MLAs are hearing this from the people that they are talking to across the province and the people that they ultimately represent, and people are asking their government for a return to normal – a removal of public health restrictions – and we most certainly are looking at how we can do that in the weeks ahead here in Saskatchewan,” said Moe.

The announcement comes after a significant shift in public opinion among Canadians against pandemic restrictions.

A new poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that 54% of Canadians agreed or strongly agreed that restrictions should be ended and for people who are at risk to self-isolate. All regions except for Atlantic Canada reported majority support.

Both Alberta and Ontario have also hinted at some signs of further opening up.

Most recently, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney stated that he hopes to see an end to the proof of vaccination program by March.

“I did say when we brought in the proof of vaccination program back in early September that I did not foresee it going past the first quarter of 2022. That would be the end of March,” Kenney said last week.

Ontario’s top doctor Kieran Moore also said last week that it was time for people to “learn to live with COVID-19,” anticipating that the threat of the virus will die down in the near future.

“I think we have to start to understand we have to learn to live with this virus,” Moore said.

As for Quebec, Premier Francois Legault has now walked back his plan to tax the province’s unvaccinated after facing wide public pushback.

“I understand that this divides Quebecers, and right now we have to build bridges,” said Legault on Tuesday “My role is to try to bring Quebecers together to stay united as a people.”

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