New Year 2024 message from the President of the Congolese Community of Hamilton and Area
Dear fellow compatriots and members of the Congolese community of Hamilton and Area,
Happy New Year! May this new year 2024 bring you and your loved ones peace, serenity and good health — as well as many exciting and memorable moments, great joys and happy surprises.
During this time of reflection, evaluation and planning, I urge you to keep your Congolese Community of Hamilton (CCH) and Area close to your heart. Make good resolutions to serve your community with your talents, your financial contributions and your active participation in community activities.
Our bilingual identity (English and French) is a major asset for the development of our community, its affirmation and its contribution to Canadian society, according to the Board of Directors that I lead. According to a recent census, the main source of francophone immigration to Hamilton is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Canada has the right and the duty to always strive for excellence in contributing to the bilingualism and multiculturalism that reflect its unique approach to inclusion.
Dear compatriots, we are in a new era. Through community funding, together we will develop our wonderful community, decide what kind of homes our families will live in and decide what kind of education our children will receive for the development of our community. Ultimately, we will build a Congolese cultural centre in downtown Hamilton that will represent our cultural values and national identity within Canadian society. As a community and as a people, we will be able to ensure the lasting future of our Congolese culture for years to come.
I leave you with this thought: “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”
Long live the DRC and long live the CCH. Thank you.
Jean-Jacques Somwe
President
