IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival is the name given to City events that will lead up to the IIFA awards taking place June 23 to 25 in Toronto. It is the first time the prestigious awards will be held in North America.
More than 400 members from Brampton’s South Asian community were on hand to join the celebrations, which featured a presentation of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, the IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival, South Asian food, music and dance.
“I am so happy that Brampton will be playing a role in this wonderful event,” says the Honourable Preeti Saran, Consul General of India in Toronto who addressed invitees. “IIFA not only provides an opportunity to showcase Indian culture, it offers South Asians living in Canada, an opportunity to be proud and to celebrate their heritage.”
Brampton’s IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival events are presented by CIBC and supported by the Government of Ontario through the Celebrate Ontario program. “Speaking on the festival, says, Sabbas Joseph, Director, IIFA. “We are thrilled that the City of Brampton will be participating in the IIFA Celebrations this year. It further fulfils IIFA’s objective of showcasing new destinations and cultures and we hope to see people from the city participate and give us their support.”
“Our government is proud to support IIFA celebrations in local communities like Brampton so more people can share in the excitement of this spectacular weekend,” says Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Brampton and all of Ontario as a diverse and dynamic place to live, visit and do business. I encourage everyone to join the celebration and participate in the IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival this June.”
“The IIFA 2011 program and IIFA Buzz events will not only shine a spotlight on the very best of the Indian film industry from around the world, but, as importantly, it will showcase the diversity, pride and passion of Canada’s South Asian communities, and Canadians of all backgrounds,” says Raza Hasan, Senior Vice President, Retail Lending and Wealth Risk Management at CIBC. “Our sponsorship of IIFA is just another example of how CIBC, together with our employees and clients, embraces Canada’s diversity. At the same time, we are excited to honour the cultural, artistic and business contributions of the global South Asian community.”
Bollywood, Buzz and Brampton
The month of June promises to be a busy one for fans of Indian cinema. IIFA Buzz Brampton Festival events include everything from “Bollywood Under the Stars” movie nights to a South Asian-themed Farmers’ Market and Flower City Parade on Saturday, June 18.
“It is a thrill for the City of Brampton to participate in such an incredible event as IIFA,” says City Councillor Vicky Dhillon. “With more than 100 thousand South Asians living in our City, we are honoured that we will be able to celebrate this heritage and introduce the rich South Asian culture to our greater community.”
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Shiamak Davar group teaches dance moves at CIBC
As part of IIFA buzz, CIBC organized a meeting with the press at its Albion and Kipling branch to warm up its employees and the South Asian community to join CIBC in becoming part of the IIFA celebrations this year in June. CIBC is offering people a chance to perform on stage with Bollywood mega stars. People can submit a minute long video at www.cibciifa.com. CIBC is also offering people a chance to put in entries at the same website to see the Bollywood stars up close by requesting the community to participate at CIBC IIFA Golden Ticket Contest.
On the occasion were also present Raza Hasan, Senior Vice President CIBC, Venki Raman, CIBC Etobicoke Vice President, Branch Manager Marina Wahabi, Anil Ferro, IIFA marketing director and Mitul and Vaibhav from Shiamak Davar group.
