OTTAWA, ONTARIO, February 1, 2008 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced the following appointments to the National Council of Welfare: Ms. Brenda Hall of the Northwest Territories, Mr. John Guyon Richards of British Columbia, Mr. Mark Chamberlain of Ontario, Ms. Mildred A. Dover of Prince Edward Island, Reverend Richard Bragdon of New Brunswick and Mr. Zulfikarali R. Kassamali of Ontario.
“I am pleased to announce the appointments of these individuals to the National Council of Welfare,” said Minister Solberg. “Their combined experience in various areas will be a valuable asset to the Council.”
Mr. Zulfikarali R. Kassamali began his career in East Africa, where he worked primarily in business. He was vice-president of the Lake Victoria Bottling Company Inc. (Pepsi-Cola) and regional sales manager for Schweppes East Africa. Mr. Kassamali came to Canada in 1972 as a refugee. Upon his arrival, he joined the Welcome House, Manpower and Immigration Center, committed to helping Ugandan refugees integrate into society. That same year, he created Seniors Fling, the first multicultural program for the Don Mills Foundation for Seniors.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kassamali has acquired considerable expertise in a number of areas, particularly with respect to the elderly and cultural diversity. From 2000 to 2004, he was a member of the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse board and of the Toronto Seniors’ Assembly for Toronto City Council. Mr. Kassamali also founded a number of organizations and programs for seniors including the Hospital Visitation Program, the Senior Resource Team, the Federation of Jambo Seniors and the Ismaili Seniors Action Team. In addition, since 1991, Mr. Kassamali has chaired the North York Seniors’ Health Centre Family Advisory Committee, which serves caregivers by providing advice and raising awareness of ethno-cultural differences and how to deal with them. Mr. Kassamali’s community involvement has garnered him a number of awards such as the Toronto Police Services Community Services Award in 1998 and the Premier’s Award for Community Service in 1996.
The National Council of Welfare, which was created in 1969, advises the Minister on the needs and problems of low-income Canadians, and on social and related programs and policies that affect their welfare. To this end, the Council communicates directly with the Minister, informs and influences public opinion through widely-disseminated reports, and provides a vehicle through which people concerned with the problems of low-income Canadians can make their views known to the Government.
Ismailimail 