JPAA Canada will be presenting its annual dinner dance on Saturday, November 28, 2015. With a tagline of "An Evening of Nostalgia", the dance will attract a cross section of the Sri Lankan expatriate community as the Guest Artiste for the evening is none other than – ALSTON KOCH! An international award winning performer, born in Sri Lanka but living in Australia, Alston has gone from strength to strength in his musical career. He is also into acting and plays the lead role in a popular movie with 2006 Miss. Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez.
DJ-Pradeep Thomas considered to be the most popular DJ in town will be providing the music. Tickets are priced at $50 per person and will be available for purchase starting October 10, 2015. Please visit our website www.jpaacanada.com or e-mail jpaacanada@rogers.com or phone 416-445-5390 for more details.
We are delighted to inform you that the 31st Josephian-Peterite Encounter (Canada Series) has been re-scheduled for Monday, September 7, 2015, at Ajax Cricket Club grounds. Two games will be worked out on this day starting with the Masters Game (20 or 25 overs) and the Main Game. Prize distribution will take place soon after the end of the two games.
Following is the Message from JPAA Canada President Upali Obeyesekere in the 30th Anniversary Dance Souvenir.
A warm welcome to all – Josephians, Peterites, families and well wishers from Canada & USA who have graced this occasion. This evening marks the final segment in the ongoing celebrations of our 30th anniversary of which we are modestly proud. While enjoying the unique position as the first ever alumni association in Canada amongst Sri Lanka Schools, we must thank god for keeping us together. We are celebrating 30 years since the rise of the Ad-Hoc Committee in 1984, that guided the Josephians & Peterites to what is known today as “Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association of Canada”.
The road was not always straight – we had a few a road blocks, bumps and bends along the way but we made it to our destination. When Christ said ‘Do not judge’ he meant not only do not judge others, but also do not judge yourself. When you fall, simply get up again. This is exactly what we did and today here we are celebrating 30 years with you.
Please click on 30th Anniversary image on right hand of the Main Page that leads you to the photographs taken at the dance.
JPAA Canada has been a rewarding journey for me, personally. Having first come up with the concept of starting the association, my Josephian counterpart Benito de Silva helped me assemble a cohesive group. Members of the Ad-Hoc Committee are collectively the founders of our great organization. All this happened in 1984 and here we are today – thirty years later basking in the glory of successfully keeping a joint association together for three decades. Kudos to the eighteen Past Presidents of JPAA Canada – many of whom are still actively involved with the organization. What really makes us stand out is that we survived and made it this far. We kept the Blue & White – Blue, White & Gold flags flying high. The tag line of “Two true brothers of one family” was our guiding light.
Like you, the Josephians and Peterites have come a long way from our motherland. We miss our surroundings, family and friends back home. This void was filled in our adopted land by the emergence of one great association for both schools. Every summer, we have a Fellowship Nite. Then we battle it out for supremacy in the Canada series of the Josephian-Peterite Cricket encounter. Then again we meet the Antonians and Bens in the “Saints Quadrangular” T20 cricket tournament. In the fall, we battle it out with other schools in Rugby and come October it is our annual dinner dance. JPAA Canada is doing its best for you.
The Josephian-Peterite Annual Dinner Dance was held last Saturday (October 5th) at the brand new Markham Convention Centre. The task of arranging the interior decor was left entirely in the hands of the creative mind of our Chair, Dance Committee/Social Secretary Anslem Perera. He came up with this backdrop curtain or screen of the two school colours – Blue, White & Gold and Blue & White. The backdrop was exceptional and the digital effect of the spots falling on the screen gave the decor to the hall an amazing look and feeling. With this backdrop, the JPAA Dance kicked off its Annual Dinner Dance for 2013. Popular local band ZEROX started the music sharp on time – 8:00 pm and within minutes the dance hall was half packed. Within an hour it was fully packed. The momentum picked up signalling another splendid dinner dance presented by JPAA Canada. Door prizes were drawn on time with gifts of overnight stays at Hilton Hotel, LCBO Vouchers and other gifts over $100 worth won by a few lucky patrons. A sumptuous buffet dinner prepared by veteran caterer Giri was enjoyed by all.
Then started the fireworks. Ray Pereira, Old Joe living in Richmond, Virginia, USA also came down for the dance and made a guest appearance by getting the crowd engaged with MATILDA – popularised by Harry Belafonte. He made a cameo appearance that was enjoyed by all. To cap it all, another visitor from the U.S. Winston Visser teamed up with the band to sing a few "baila" songs. These surprise performances added to the enjoyment as they were all done very tastefully. However, ZEROX and DJ-Shiwanka kept the floor crowded from start to end.
One of the highlights of the evening was the splendid recital of the two school anthems – sung with such passion never seen and heard in recent times. Larry Landers for the Peterites and Benito de Silva for the Josephians led the anthems for the two schools.
The dance went on till 2:00 am and the guests enjoyed with the saints as they went marching in! Vice Chair, Dance Committee Jerome Fernandez produced a super Souvenir that captured the year's social and sports events.
Popular monthly tabloid – The SriLankan Anchorman has captured the following photo gallery at the dance. Many thanks to its editor Dirk Tissera (Old Boy of St. Mary's College, Dehiwala).
The 29-year old Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association of Canada (JPAA Canada) presents its "Joe-Pete Annual Dinner Dance 2013" on Saturday, October 5th at the Platinum Room, Markham Convention Centre (Markham Road & McNicoll Ave). Tickets are priced at $60 per person with a sumptuous buffet, Music by ZEROX & DJ-Shiwanka and a few surprises and prizes thrown in to make the evening lively and enjoyable. The Josephians and Peterites are a formidable group here in Canada with over 500 alumni from both Colombo schools domiciled in this country. JPAA Canada was the first amongst Sri Lankan schools to plan, organize and execute a Dinner Dance way back in 1988. The dance always attracts old boys not only from many provinces within Canada but also from neighbouring States of the U.S. This year is no exception. Advance tickets have been reserved for a contingent of 30 Old Boys from the U.S., Germany and Australia who are holidaying in this part of the world at this time. JPAA Canada welcomes the alumni from both schools, their families and well wishers to the dance. Fellowship and camaraderie is foremost in the minds of all in putting an event like this together. A fun evening is planned for all!
