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.

Please see attached document: JOE-PETE 2015

Please visit the JPAA Website www.jpaacanada.com on a regular basis for updates on the match and other important information.

Assuring you of our best attention at all times!

May god bless you,
Upali Obeyesekere

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 30^th 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.

Have a wonderful evening and may god bless you!

Upali Obeyesekere

President, JPAA Canada

It was a night, but what a night it was!

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).

Please download the link. https://www.facebook.com/TheSriLankanAnchorman

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!

For advance reservations, please call

Anslem Perera @ 416-706-0545

Jerome Fernandez @ 416-616-7283

Upali Obeyesekere @ 416-445-5390

or e-mail jpaacanada@rogers.com

The Annual General Meeting of the Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association of Canada was held on Friday, March 22, 2013, in the Beaufort Room, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Markham. The meeting was well attended adding to a warm feeling of strength and unity among the large coterie of Old Joes & Old Peterites living in and around Toronto, the main commercial hub of Canada. A feature of the evening was the participation of a total of eleven of the seventeen Past Presidents of the 29-year old JPAA Canada. The crowd consisted of a blend of old and young members who assembled to usher in a new slate of officers to carry on the day to day activities of this great organization. Members registered at the front desk and paid their 2013 membership fees before entering the meeting room. The annual membership remains $15 per annum.

The following past presidents were present at the AGM: Upali Obeyesekere, Nihal Jayawardene, Chris Cooke, Milan Goonewardena, Ranier De Lambert, Rod Diaz, Roshan Navaratnam, Jeevan Pragasam, Rehan Goonetilleke, Valentine Balasingham, Christy Joseph.

Outgoing President, JPAA Canada Christy Joseph (SJC) presented his Annual Report of activities for year-ending 2012/2013. Treasurer Roger Payoe tabled the accounts for the fiscal year that ends on March 31.

A large crowd of old boys attended the meeting and suggested many new initiatives. A new committee was elected by unanimous vote and the president was given a two-year mandate, with the option of extending the term to three years. Co-founder of JPAA Canada and its inaugural president Upali Obeyesekere was ushered in back again as the new president of JPAA Canada with a strong committee. The association has big plans to celebrate its 30^th anniversary in 2014 and will be in touch with the parent unions in Colombo in preparation for this event.

In his acceptance speech, incoming president Upali Obeyesekere thanked the members for the confidence placed in him and his team –  “Team JPAA 2013”.

Following is an extract from his acceptance speech:

“After a break of 20-years, I have come back to lead this great organization. In all humility, I am honoured. We have remained united for twenty-nine long years as one entity and let me say we are truly blessed. Let us carry on our mission at hand in a decisive and sincere manner and always bear in mind that we received our education at two of the best Roman Catholic Educational Institutions in Sri Lanka. We must put our Alma Mater first, and respect its values. We must at all times conduct ourselves with dignity, as this is what is expected of us.

My message is for the Joe-Pete fraternity in Canada to embrace JPAA Canada as “your association“ and work towards a common objective. Our mission is to invite all Josephians and Peterites in Canada to our fold and make it one happy family. God`s blessings will be ours! JPAA Canada is a member-driven not-for-profit entity. It is obligatory for us to act with dignity and decorum in all matters related to our Alma Mater. It is a matter of pride and we should not overlook this fact. After all, we were the first (in 1984) among Sri Lankan schools` to form an Alumni Association in Canada. We are also the only combined Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association in the world. Through our humility and hard work we have achieved a lot but there is more to be done. Please help us to help you!”

Please download the link for AGM Photo Gallery

https://plus.google.com/photos/106510355705932428426/albums/5858526860107614305?banner=pwa&authkey=CJzV44yE4dXhVg

THE FOLLOWING WERE ELECTED TO OFFICE AT THE 2013 AGM

 

President                                                  Upali Obeyesekere

Vice President (SJC)                            Rajive Benedict

Vice President (SPC)                           Srinath Wijeyeratne

Social Secretary                                    Anslem Perera

Membership Secretary                      Roger Payoe

Hony. Treasurer                                   Peter Ragell

Member-at-Large                                 Savio Alexander

Member-at-Large                                Jerome Fernandez

Special Advisor to the Board           Roshan Navaratnam

Immediate Past President                Christy Joseph

 

Advisory Panel                                     Rehan Goonetilleke, Rod Diaz, Ranier de Lambert & Jeevan Pragasam

Hony. Auditor                                      Chris Serpanchy

Chris Serpanchy was elected Hony. Auditor, JPAA Canada by unanimous acclamation.

Upali Obeyesekere stepped down as Chairman, Senate Committee since he is now President, JPAA Canada. He conducted a mini-meeting with the group of Past-Presidents (11) and moved a motion to appoint Milan Gunawardana to succeed him as Chairman, Senate Committee, JPAA Canada. Roshan Navaratnam seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. Milan accepted the appointment and said he will do all within his powers to assist JPAA Canada.

JPAA Canada works very closely with the Alma Mater – specially with Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel – Rector, St. Peter`s College and Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe – Rector, St. Joseph`s College and with the parent Old Boys’ Unions of both schools in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is vital to continue this practice as effective communications is a necessary tool today in the non-profit sector.

TEAM PROFILE

Upali Obeyesekere – has a proven track record as an able leader and a strong administrator. He is currently President, Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council in addition to the new role with JPAA Canada. He brings to the table over two decades of experience dealing with and managing Not-For-Profit Corporations. Upali believes in getting the job done sans confusion, conflict and complications. His only objective is to maintain peace and decorum – thereby keeping the Joe-Pete community together in Canada. At the end of the day, a family that prays together – stays together!

In Rajive Benedict we have probably the most celebrated cricketer from both schools in our midst – who will function as Vice President-SJC. In addition, Rajive is an asset in many other areas within the Non-Profit sector which governs our articles of incorporation. Srinath Wijeyeratne, Vice President-SPC is also a strong administrator, a good sportsman and one of the best sports coordinators in the business. Both Rajive and Srinath will provide advocacy and be responsible for two of our most prized sports events in addition to Rugby.

• 29th “Battle of the Saints” and
• 4th Saints Quadrangular

Our dynamic Social Secretary is Anslem Perera, a work horse. His flair for perfection and professionalism will compliment all social activities presented by JPAA Canada. Anslem will organize a Membership Nite on Friday, May 31^s. The Annual JPAA Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, October 5th.

A friendly addition to the committee will be Peter Ragell, as Hony. Treasurer. Peter has shown remarkable strength in managing numbers and it will be a pleasure to have him in the team. Our target this year is to increase membership by 100%. Annual fees remain $15 and let me urge all to help your association by renewing your membership, sooner than later.

We also have another dynamic duo in Jerome Fernandez and Savio Alexander, a Josephian-Peterite combination. Both Jerome and Savio have served in the JPAA Committee before and will be a strong addition to the team. Jerome and Savio are multi-talented and we will use their skills for `Special Events`, Social and Administrative projects associated with the operational year.

The Advisory Panel comprise of four past-presidents Jeevan Pragasam, Rehan Goonetilleke, Ranier De Lambert and Rod Diaz who will stick handle “Special Projects“ and assist the two VPs and President to formulate guidelines for Code of Conduct + Conflict of Interest policy. We will also look at streamlining the By-laws and Constitution of JPAA Canada to conform to present day standards. (JPAA Canada by-laws & Constitution were enacted in 1993, over decades back. These controls are needed to better structure JPAA as we move forward with renewed direction. Jeevan, Rehan, Ranier and Rod are a formidable foursome and a president`s dream to have in the committee. Together we will come up with a succession plan for the next 10-years.

Rounding up the Committee is Roshan Navaratnam, another dedicated past-president of JPAA. Roshan will play the lead role as Chair, Saints Quadrangular Committee in addition to his role as Special Advisor to the Board. He brings to the table many strengths and communication skills and will liaise with the three presidents of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy; St. Benedict’s College and JPAA Canada to work out the logistics for the popular “Saints Quad” Tournament this year. Rajive Benedict will be Vice Chair, Saints Quad Committee. Srinath Wijeyeratne was appointed Tournament Secretary, Saints Quad Committee. Date for the Saints Quad tournament was announced as August 11th (Sunday).

The Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association – Canada (JPAA Canada) was formed in 1984, and based in Toronto where a majority of old boys from both schools reside. In 1984, the number of Old Joes and Old Peterites living in Toronto would have numbered less than 100 and this prompted the need to form a joint association to strengthen the purpose of building one organization for the Joe-Pete community. In the nineties, it was felt that a change was necessary in keeping with the influx of Sri Lankans to Canada. Democracy prevailed and a Special General Meeting was summoned in the mid-nineties to review the options and arrived at a uniformed decision whether to continue as a joint association or split into two individual groups – one for the Josephians and one for the Peterites. A referendum was conducted where the alumni were presented with the two options. In the final analysis, the vote produced an overwhelming consensus to continue as a "Joint Association" and the rest is history.