Many members of our community have been celebrating the season for a couple of months already. Our Hindu members celebrated Divali, the festival of lights, our Muslim members celebrated Eid, following the holy month of Ramadan, and CCOM continued the pleasures of the season with its annual Caribbean Family Day on November 24 (2004). Let the good time roll!

We in Winnipeg, are especially fortunate that we can celebrate and participate in the rich cultural and religious backgrounds we share collectively. We must never take these opporunuties for granted as nations around the world continue to fight for similar rights and freedoms.

As we celebrate this joyous season, many of our people are preoccupied with the daily demands placed upon them as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Frances and Ivan. Our prayers and best wishes go out to them, in addition to our fundraising efforts.

More recently, Trinidad and Tobago has been experienceing severe flooding and landsides. These natural disasters are all taking their toll on our sister islands.

At times like these we realize how small our world has become and how much we need to support and defend our collective interests. As CCOM moves ahead with plans to obtain a building, let us continue to work together, to make our mark in this province, our adopted home. Our future depends upon it!