C.A.T.O
- A.C.T.O
Cultural Association of Togolese
of Ontario.
In the middle of the 1990s, some
Togolese Brothers and Sisters, already members of the Ewe-Canadian Cultural Organization
of Ontario, (ECCOO) realized the need to bring the few but growing Togolese community in
the GTA together to cater for certain needs of the community as well as exposing Togo to
Canadians.
The need for this call became necessary when
it was realized that certain Togolese in the Diaspora, despite being close to members of
ECCOO and attended most functions with them even after being asked to join, were not
showing interest.
All known Togolese in the GTA (members as
well as non members of any known Ewe organizations) were then informed about this
intention. It started as a social function, initially being held at Sewa Wilson’s
apartment in Toronto. Some members did not agree with the social aspects of the group so
they called it a quit. After a few meetings, however it was later learnt that those
members did not just quit because of the socialization but rather it was due to the fact
that they had a hidden agenda that could not be accepted by the other members.
As things began to take better shape, the idea
of giving the group a name and getting it registered came up; names were suggested, but it
was agreed to be called Association of Togolese of Ontario: During registration at the
Ministry of Consumers, the need to add the word "Culture" considering the
nature of the group and its objectives was addressed. Thus the name Cultural Association
of Togolese of Ontario was registered.
After a group had been registered, it had to
be inaugurated to expose itself to other communities with similar objectives as well as
the government and its agencies that take care of such groups. A date (30th
April 2000) was set for that, which coincided with the fortieth independence
celebration of the Togolese Republic. (27th April)
All the active members put a lot of hard work
into making it a successful event at the time, but most of the credits will have to go to
the then executive, spearheaded by Kuesi Amegah-Wovoe; the others were Sewa Wilson,
Domenou Akakpo, Jean Tete Benissan.
Currently, we have about fifty registered
members; some belong to other organizations while rest just belong here.
Since the establishment of the association, it
has through the collective efforts of its membership and the executive committees, sent
some educational materials, like computers, books, and some other necessities, including
money to a deaf school in Togo.
Here in the GTA, we have helped Togolese
nationals who just migrated to Canada find a stay, through education on how the system
works here as well as letting them know what their responsibilities are if they really
want to be part of the Canadian Multicultural Family.
The current executive committee is made up of
Olga Lambert, (president) Fogah Amegah, (Vice President) Santos V.
Avowlanou, (Secretary) Emmanuel Noudoukou, (Treasurer) Raphael K. Agbodjan,
(Assistant Treasurer) and Edoh Wilson (Porter).
As the saying goes "all work and no play
makes Jack a dull boy" we ease off our stress at least trice a year; Independence
celebration, summer picnic, and Christmas get-together, where all members and their
families come to socialize.
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