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By Joe Azzouggagh
Toronto- The 59th Moroccan Independence Day marks a special occasion for the Moroccan community residing in Toronto, the capital of Ontario in Canada. At the request of the AMDT, the Moroccan Association of Toronto, the Moroccan flag was raised at Toronto’s City Hall, in the downtown core.
The presence of city councilors and representatives of the Moroccan community assured us that our community has come together to support one another and to show our patriotism. The singing of the Moroccan national anthem for the first time in the city of Toronto was nothing short of a historical and memorable event.
When I came to Canada twenty years ago there was no Moroccan community. A handful of families got together to celebrate local holidays and have an occasional barbeque in the summer time. It is indeed a very hard adjustment coming to a new country with different values that often conflict with those from home.
I have often felt like I am in danger of losing my Moroccan identify while adjusting to my new Canadian life. It worries me that my children might not feel connected to their cultural heritage and I am happy to see that the Moroccan community has come together to support each other and keep our rooted Moroccan-Canadian heritage alive.
Events like these strengthen culture ties between Canada and Morocco and also allow us to share our culture with the rest of Canada.
I am proud to be a citizen of a country that embraces all the colorful cultures of its diverse population in a beautiful mosaic that allows them to keep their unique pattern and shape while being part of the whole as opposed to other nations which do not encourage cultural expression. I feel confident that I can be part of the greater community while still being able to maintain my Moroccan identity and will be able to pass it the new generation of Moroccan-Canadians.
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