Article | July 4, 2013 The City of Toronto today congratulated the 12 Toronto youth selected for the sixth annual Cricket Across the Pond program. Dignitaries participating in today's ceremonial event at R.V. Burgess Park included Councillor John Parker (Ward 26 Don Valley West); Jonathan Dart, United Kingdom Consul General; Martin Saxton, Chair of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA); Zanita DiSalle, RBC Regional Vice-President, Greater Toronto Area; and team supporter Tom Mihalik, owner of Tom's Place.
"All those selected today to represent the CIMA Toronto Mayor's Cricket Team in England should be proud of their hard work, training and sportsmanship," said Mayor Rob Ford. "It is an accomplishment and an honour to be part of the team that will represent Toronto in London."
"I congratulate all those who were announced today to take part in the Cricket Across the Pond program, to travel to England and represent Toronto," said Councillor Parker. "You are now an esteemed member of the CIMA Mayor's Cricket Team and should take great pride in being selected."
The City of Toronto is CIMA's partner in promoting the Cricket Across the Pond (CAP) scholarship program. CAP uses cricket as a vehicle to reach out to youth from Toronto's diverse neighbourhoods by giving them a sense of hope, increased self-esteem and opportunities to become positive role models in their communities.
"Now in its sixth year, Cricket Across the Pond scholarships have inspired young children towards positive pursuits in life" said Saxton."We are truly appreciative of the support from our partners RBC Royal Bank, Tom's Place and the City of Toronto in this unique Toronto youth initiative.
“We’re proud to be part of helping send these young cricketers to the birthplace of the sport,” said DiSalle. “It’s part of our commitment to build healthy and vibrant communities, where we can pass along cherished traditions to our children.”
Working in partnership with the British Consulate General in Toronto and the Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, United Kingdom, CAP provides young Toronto cricketers with the opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom to represent Toronto and learn leadership skills as ambassadors. The aim of the annual U.K. tour of the CIMA Mayor's Team is to develop these young Toronto ambassadors into role models in their communities.
The 2013 CIMA Mayor’s Team: Abraash Khan, St. Marcellinus Secondary School Aniket Joshi, North Park Secondary School Bilal Khan, Stephen Lewis Secondary School Darshil Munshi, Ryerson University Darshil Patel, Woburn Collegiate Institute Gayan Ferdinands, Blessed Cardinal Newman High School Madvin Shah, Louise Arbour Secondary School Neil Ramdath, St. Francis Xavier Secondary School Rizwan Khan, Middlefield Collegiate Institute Saajan Patel, North Albion Collegiate Institute Sabes Rasanayagam, North Park Secondary School Siddhanth Shekhar, Bur Oak Secondary School Lisa Antezza, Manager, Staff Peel District School Board, Stephen Lewis Secondary School Phillip Mowlah-Baksh, Coach, Staff Toronto District School Board, George Harvey Collegiate Institute
The tour itinerary includes the team meeting London's Deputy Mayor, Lady Victoria Borwick, on July 24.
CIMA is a leading membership body that offers an internationally recognized professional qualification in management accountancy with over 200,000 students and members in 173 countries. CIMA members and students the world over are involved in community activities. A significant majority of CIMA members in Toronto have roots in cricket playing nations around the world.
More information is available from Michael Lam, CIMA Canada, at 905-553-0346, and online at www.cimacanada.org. |