The Ethiopian Association in Toronto is one step closer to establishing September as Ethiopian Heritage Month in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province
Borkena
Toronto – The Ethiopian communities in Canada appear to be growing in influence, despite their modest numbers compared to other communities from Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
Earlier this year, the City of Ottawa designated March 2 as Adwa Victory Day in recognition of the Ethiopian community in the city. The day marks the historic defeat of the Italian colonial army at the Battle of Adwa, in northern Ethiopia, on March 2, 1896. Ethiopians across the country and abroad celebrate and commemorate the day.
According to the Association’s President, Nigussie Debele, it took persistent advocacy to secure the designation.
Now, the Ethiopian Association in Toronto, the GTA, and the surrounding region is moving closer to what Executive Director Selah Getahun calls a “HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT!”
“We’re thrilled to share a moment of pride for our community!” he wrote in a WhatsApp group managed by the Association.
A draft proclamation has been proposed in the provincial parliament at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The first hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2025.
Selah Getahun explained, “This is a non-partisan proclamation recognizing the rich contributions of Ethiopians to Ontario’s cultural fabric.”
If ratified, the proclamation will designate the month of September as Ethiopian Heritage Month.
Ethiopians celebrate their New Year on September 11, except during a leap year, when it falls on September 12. During the same month, they also celebrate Meskel—which literally means “The Cross”—to commemorate the finding of the True Cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, according to Orthodox Church tradition.
Meskel is celebrated throughout Ethiopia, with particularly vibrant cultural expressions observed in the southern parts of the country.
Ethnic Oromos also celebrate a traditional religious holiday called Irreecha, which was traditionally held at Lake Hora in Bishoftu (formerly Debre Zeit). Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, the holiday has also been celebrated in the capital, Addis Ababa. The government facilitates transportation for celebrants, and over the past six years, the event in the capital has attracted millions of ethnic Oromos—often said to be the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, although there are ongoing disputes about this claim.
Clearly, September is a significant month of celebration for Ethiopians in their country of origin and within diaspora communities around the world.
Selah Getahun is calling on members of the Ethiopian community living in the GTA to attend the hearing at Queen’s Park on June 2 “to be part of history.” He is also urging community members to contact their local MPPs to support the proclamation.
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