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The Tamil Community

 

In 1983, there were fewer than 5,000 Tamils living in Toronto. Today, the community is one of the city’s largest with 150,000 members. Serving the needs of Tamils are 19 publications, four business directories, more than 100 restaurants and caterers, and five Canadian Tamil Broadcasting Corporations, which provides 24 hours a day of radio programming.

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Back in the early 1960s, there were only a few Tamil families living in Canada. Large-scale immigration began in the early 1980s, when thousands fled Sri Lanka after riots in the capital city. By 1988, there were more Tamils living in Canada than in Australia, New Zealand, or any country in Europe.

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The community formed its first organization in 1976. It is now the Tamil Eelam Society, an organization that helps members adjust to life in Canada. Tamil restaurants and businesses are located at most major intersections in Toronto’s east end.

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Places to Go

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  •   Hopper Hut Restaurant, (Tel. 416-299-4311, 880 Ellesmere Rd). Serves hoppers (French crabs), rice, rotis, curries, and string hoppers (crab noodles).

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Other restaurants in the city include Can-Cey Restaurant, (Tel. 416-265-5555, 2817 Eglinton Ave. E); Rashnaa Restaurant, (Tel. 416-929-2099, 307 Wellesley St. E);Royal Palace Banquet Hall, (Tel. 416-265-3360, 3150 Eglinton Ave. E); Tastay Restaurant, (Tel. 416-538-7912, 1222 King St.W); Masala Bites Restaurant, (Tel. 416-743-5400, 827 Albion Rd); Madras Mahal Restaurant, (Tel. 416-269-3666, 286 Markham Rd); Vinushun Restaurant, (Tel. 416-752-5760, 2398 Eglinton Ave. E).

 

 

Religious Centres, Schools and other Institutions

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Among Tamils, Hinduism is the predominant religion. During European rule, some converted to Christianity. Some Tamils became Muslims when Islam spread across Asia.

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  •   CANADA SRI AYYAPPAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-321-6104, 635 Middlefield Rd).

  •   HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-922-5415, 243 Avenue Rd).

  •   HINDU MISSION OF MISSISSAUGA, (Tel. 905-612-1856, 1808 Drew Rd., Mississauga).

  •   OUR LADY OF LOURDES, (Tel. 416-924-6257, 41 Earl St), Tamil Services, Sunday 5 p.m.

  •   PERIYA SIVAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-907-7434, 1960 Ellesmere Rd., Unit 10).

  •   SRIDURKA HINDU TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-759-9648, 30 Carnforth Rd).

  •   SRI VARASITHI VINAYAGAR TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-291-8500, 3025 Kennedy Rd., Unit #10).

  •   SRI MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-535-6560, 3354 Kingston Rd).

  •   SRI SHAKTHI DURGA DEVI TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-439-9483, 750 Markham Rd).

  •   SRI NAGAPOOSHANI AMMAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-412-1289, 5637 Finch Ave. E., Unit 5A).

  •   ST. MARIA GORETTI CHURCH, (717 Kennedy Rd), Tamil Services (Catholic). Sunday and Monday at 4:30 p.m.

  •   SRI MUTHU MAARI AMAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 905-602-2068, 3057 Universal Dr., Mississauga).

  •   SRI MUTHU VINAYAGAR TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-413-7747, 435 Parliament St).

  •   SIVAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-742-8484, 80 Brydon Dr).

  •   TAMIL CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF CANADA, (Tel. 416-449-4802, 37 Marchington Circ).

  •   THE HINDU TEMPLE OF CANADA, (Tel. 905-883-9109, 10865 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill).

  •   TAMIL CO-OP HOMES, (Tel. 416-538-6015, 20 Wade Ave), offers Saturday language classes. Tamil language classes are offered during the school year by the Toronto Board of Education.

  •   THIRUCHENTHUR MURUGAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-744-9568, 2500 Finch Ave. W., Unit 10).

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Holidays and Celebrations

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Christian and Muslim religious days are celebrated by some Tamils.

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  •   NEW YEAR’S, January 1, is celebrated with midnight prayers in Hindu temples. However, Tamil New Year falls on April 14 each year and their first obligation is to visit temples and renew their vows and make New Year resolutions which guide them to achieve their goals in life.

  •   HINDU FESTIVAL DAYS are Thai-Pongal, Tamil New Year, and Deepavali.

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See Holidays and Celebrations.

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Media

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  •   CANADIAN TAMIL BROADCASTING CORPORATION, (Tel. 416-429-2822, www.ctbc.com, 86 Laird Dr). Provides 24 hours of radio programming. Contact: Kandi Sivasothy.

  •   CANADIAN TAMIL RADIO, (CTR-24hrs)(Tel. 416-264-0699, 2401 Eglinton Ave. E).

  •   CANADIAN THAMIL OSAI RADIO, (Tel. 416-292-2262, 30 Loggerhead Grv).

  •   POTHIKAI, (Tel. 416-961-4691, 2347 Eglinton Ave. E). Editor: Nirupa Thangavetpillai.

  •   TAMILS’ GUIDE, (Tel. 416-615-4646, www.tamilguide.com, 2390 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 203).

  •   TVI TAMIL TELEVISION, (Tel. 416-593-9300, 501 Passmore Ave., Unit 34).

  •   WORLD TAMIL, CJMR 1320, (Tel. 416-461-5991, 64 Eaton Ave). Everyday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

  •   VOICE OF TAMILS, c/o World Tamil Movement, (Tel. 416-335-0622, 39 Cosentino Dr). A bi-weekly newspaper published by the World Tamil Movement. Editor: Kamal Vasan.

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Organizations

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  •   ACADEMY OF TAMIL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, (Tel. 416-757-9601, 2130 Lawrence Ave. E., Suite 200B).

  •   CANADIAN MOVEMENT FOR TAMIL CULTURE, (Tel. 905-848-5633).

  •   FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF CANADIAN TAMILS, (Tel. 416-498-3228, 2191 Warden Ave., No. 202).

  •   SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN’S CENTRE, (Tel. 416-537-2276, 1332 Bloor St. W). Provides counselling to South Asian women.

  •   TAMIL EELAM SOCIETY OF CANADA, (Tel. 416-265-0514, 3150 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit 6; and Tel. 416-536-5678, 1212 Bloor St. W). An organization helping Tamils with immigration, the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program, counselling workshops, seminars, and other matters. President: Mr. Thambipillai Puvananathan.

  •   TORONTO TAMIL SENIORS ASSOCIATION, (Tel. 416-323-9086, 275 Bleecker St).

  •   WORLD TAMIL MOVEMENT, (Tel. 416-335-0622, 39 Cosentino Dr).

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Consulates, Trade Commissions and Tourist Bureaus

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  •   CANADIAN TAMILS’ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, (Tel. 416-335-9791, www.ctcc.ca, 5200 Finch Ave. E., Suite 301). President: Mr. Mano Thillainathan.

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