Sunday 28 June
The annual Community Cup of soccer competition drew hundreds of fans to Ottawa’s Brewer Park on Saturday. Despite the drizzle that went on all day, fans were treated to a soccer festival with a difference. New immigrants joined with long-time residents to play a game in which fair play and cooperation took precedence over goals scored as in the regular game. The event also featured a citizenship swearing in ceremony for newly-minted Canadians; displays by various community social and health services organizations; demonstrations sports; children’s play ground; music and dance from various ethnic communities and for the first time, aboriginal singers and performers. Popular and effervescent Ottawa MPP and Minister of Correctional Services and Community Safety, Yasir Naqvi was there in his capacity as event-Co-chair.
The 11th annual Community Cup was a great event again this year! Me and my two boys, aged 13 and 11, volunteered for the first time and got much more out of the day than we put it in. Despite a forecast calling for pouring rain all day, it turned out to be perfect soccer weather and the day was full of smiling faces, on and off the field. A moment that epitomized the spirit of the event was the opening ceremonies powwow where a huge group of people joined hands to move to the drums in a massive, rotating dance circle. Thanks for the Catholic Centre for Immigration and all the great volunteers that helped to make it a great day!