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The Afghan Community

 

Toronto’s Afghan community made its presence known on February 15, 1989, when members paraded down Yonge Street to celebrate the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The rich culture of the Afghans can be discovered during the community’s religious and cultural celebrations throughout the year.

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Most of Toronto’s Afghans are political refugees who were displaced in the late 1970s during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a republic in Central Asia. Afghans began arriving in Canada in 1982, and today there are 45,000 Afghani Canadians scattered throughout Toronto, with a concentration in the Keele and Sheppard area.

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Members of the community speak Pushto and Dari. Many Afghans have been highly educated in their homeland in such disciplines as engineering and journalism, and have established themselves in the professions. Others have started their own businesses, which range from grocery stores to carpet stores and auto repair shops.

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Afghan House, in North York, is the community’s main cultural institution, where Afghans celebrate their cultural values with festivals and political events. The organization, which publishes a newspaper and a magazine, aims to educate Canadians about the culture, history, and politics of Afghanistan.

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Places to Go

 

Afghan carpets, ceramics, gifts, and figurines are available at a number of carpet stores in the city including Mohammad Yousof Rug Co., (Tel. 416-359-1690, 163 Queen St. E). Saleem Caravan & Barakat Foods, (Tel. 416-269-6600, 565 Markham Rd).

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Religious Centres, Schools and Other Institutions

 

Ninety-nine percent of the community is Muslim and most of the rest is Hindu. The mosque frequented by Afghans is the Afghan Association Mosque and Cultural House.

  • AFGHAN ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO MOSQUE, (Tel. 416-744-9289, Fax 416-744-6671, 29 Pemican Court, Unit 6).

  • AFGHAN ASSOCIATION MOSQUE AND CULTURAL HOUSE, (29 Pemican Court, Unit 5).

 

 

Holidays and Celebrations

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  • NEW YEAR’S DAY is celebrated on March 21, when members of the community gather together for musical events and cultural activities.

  • EIDS are the major Muslim religious celebrations. The first Eid is at the end of a month of fasting, followed two months later by a second celebration. During this time Afghans visit each other, offering best wishes over a cup of tea.

 

See Holidays and Celebrations in Glossary.

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Media

 

  • NAYAB MAGAZINE, (Tel. 416-803-2353, 85 Emmett Ave, Suite 305). Newspaper for the Afgani community. Editor: Mr. Ghafar Hamid.

  • THE AFGHAN MONTHLY, (Tel. 416-744-9289, 100 Tempo Ave, Suite 305). A monthly publication by the Afghan Association of Ontario.

  • VOICE OF AFGHAN SOLIDARITY RADIO, AM 1430, (Tel. 416-937-1414, 6 Radcliffe Rd). Producer: Halim Amini.

  • ZARNEGAAR, (Tel. 416-438-7784, 2376 Eglinton Ave. E., P.O. Box 44504), is published bi-weekly. Editor: Mrs. Mahboob.

 

 

Organizations

 

  • AFGHAN ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO (CANADA), (Tel. 416-744-9289, Fax 416-744-6671, 100 Tempo Ave. Suite 305). Provides counselling services in orientation, interpretation, translation, immigration, assistance filling out forms, and employment and housing information. Heritage language classes are also held. The organization sponsors Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Iran, India, and other countries.

  • AFGHAN WOMEN’S COUNSELLING & INTEGRATION COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANIZATION, (Tel. 416-588-3585, Fax 416-588-4552, www.afghanwomen.org, 789 Don Mills Rd. Suite 312), provides free services to Afghan women such as English classes along with a daycare during classes for their children.

  • SABAWOON AFGHAN FAMILY EDUCATION AND COUNSELLING CENTRE, (Tel. 416-293-4100, www.safecc.org, 1200 Markham Rd., Suite 219), is a non-profit organization that provides counselling and awareness education. President: Wassay Shefa.

  • CONSULATE GENERAL OF AFGHANISTAN, (477 Richmond St. W. Suite 901).

  • AFGHAN CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, (Tel. 416-409-4928).

  • AFGHAN SENIOR ASSOCIATION, (Tel. 416-741-6633).

 

 

Prominent Torontonians

 

Dr. Saira Markovic, physician and surgeon; Elder M. Akram Lodin; and Elder Hadi Wafi.

Contributors: Jan Alekozai, former Executive Director, The Afghan Association of Ontario (Canada); Mr. Ghulam Ferotan, Mr. Khaled Akbar.

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Source: Nasrin Hotaki, Amini Halim.

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