Join us on Saturday May 14, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. for our presentation of A Tamil Experience – Black July 1983, as we explore the lived experiences and stories of four Tamil Canadians from Sri Lanka living in Mississauga.

Ontario has one of the largest concentrations of Tamils outside of Southeast Asia. As of 2016, 80% of Tamils reside in the Greater Toronto Area.

In 1948, Sri Lanka gained its independence from Britain as the Dominion of Ceylon. It kept its Dominion Status within the British Commonwealth until becoming the Republic of Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972.

During those times, many Tamils would experience discrimination. This would lead to the anti-Tamil pogrom of July 24, 1983, known as Black July.

On May 12, 2021, Bill 104 was enacted as Chapter 11 of the Statutes of Ontario. This Bill proclaims the seven-day period in each year ending on May 18 as Tamil Genocide Education Week. It encourages Ontarians to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history.