Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation

ABOUT CCKF

The history of the beautiful city of Kingston is as diverse as the people that now call it home. It was originally a French trading post named Cataraqui and only became known as Kingston when the British took over in the mid-eighteenth century. From those earliest days, Kingston has always been a great example of what it means to be Canadian and the cultural diversity that flows from that identity. Back then there were just three distinct cultures in the mix, but that’s been growing and evolving ever since, and the old city located at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and the mouth of the Cataraqui River is now a fine example of the cultural diversity that makes Canada so strong.

The Canadian Colours of Kingston Foundation aims to continue to encourage and promote the diversity that has made Kingston such a great place to live for all Canadians. We believe that diversity shouldn’t contradict Canadian values and true diversity is non-political, totally colour blind, and does not believe in anyone being superior to another everyone is a human being and equal. In fact, the diverse cultures and religions that make up our great city should be a source of strength. There’s no reason that we can’t encourage individual cultural differences without losing sight of our Canadian values. We created the Canadian Colours of Kingston Foundation to bring our different cultures together and to foster understanding and communication, by changing the narrative and understanding of what true diversity is.

Image: CCKF at the Kingston Canada Day Parade 2018
Image: Head Table at CCKF's Diversity Dinner 2018
Image: Serving up at CCKF's Diversity Dinner 2018
Image: Diversity Dinner 2018
Image: Project Red Rose Pizzas in 2019

MISSION & VALUES

CCKF’s goal is to create a community that understands, embraces and respects everyone’s cultural, religious and/or ethnic beliefs to ensure these are passed on for generations to come. This should be done together with accepting and following Canadian values, culture, etc. since Canada is where we now live. This will result in a community that is truly diverse with a strong connection to Canadian values.

Image: Acceptance and Understanding

Acceptance & Understanding

Acceptance and understanding of different ethnic, cultural and religious groups starts with a real conversation. By establishing open and honest channels of communication we can create a productive and ongoing dialogue. The goal here is to begin to learn about the different cultural backgrounds of our fellow Canadians.

There’s a great deal of diversity in the Kingston area. All major religions are represented in the city including: Christians, Jews, Muslims, and many others. Our people also come from all corners of the globe. They come from places such as India, South Korea, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe

While we may have very different backgrounds we’re united in the belief that Canada offers the best opportunity for us and our families. Therefore, we need to be proud Canadians and therefore follow the values that attracted us to Canada.

Learning & Growing With History

All of us have our own history and customs. The fact that we left our ancestral homes doesn’t mean we left them behind completely and we shouldn’t have to.

Our traditions and beliefs are a valuable part of who we are, and our fellow Canadians can benefit from learning about our past and we can grow by learning about theirs.

Our mission is to facilitate and encourage the various groups in our community to come together and share their experiences. Accepting and learning about the various cultures that make up our community.

Image: Learning and Growing with History
Image: A Forum for Guidance

A Forum For Guidance

When you first arrive in a new country it can be a difficult transition – even in a country as open and tolerant as Canada.

Our foundation recognizes the challenges that new Canadians are facing and we’re here to help bridge the gap. We offer a forum for guidance that will help you learn about what it means to be a Canadian in a city like Kingston.

It’s our goal to show you how to truly integrate into Canadian society and adopt its values. The road that brought us here and made us part of the Canadian family was the right path, but now that we’ve chosen Canada as our new home and country of choice it’s important to accept and follow its values.

The Path Forward

One of the great things about Canada is that we can practice our customs and traditions freely if they don’t fundamentally violate Canadian values. Canada is a country dedicated to multiculturalism and diversity in everything it represents. It was founded on a belief that new Canadians bring with them a valuable part of the Canadian puzzle. We believe that the rich and diverse cultural past of our ancestors should be celebrated and remembered.

The Colours of Kingston Foundation believes strongly in the importance of all the various groups that make up our community.  There’s no reason we can’t celebrate the customs and traditions of our ancestral homelands in our homes and communities. Those traditions can and should be handed down for generations to come. Canada is a rich mosaic of cultural diversity that makes us stronger and the envy of the world. We also have a strong Canadian value system which enables so many different cultures to live and work together without the discord found in many other places.

Image: The Path Forward

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CCKF’s mission is to create a community that is inclusive of everyone’s cultural, religious and/or ethnic beliefs. and to learn about each other’s culture, history and identity to promote the diversity of our community with a strong connection to Canadian values.
Image: Jimmy Hassan, Founder of CCKF

Jimmy Hassan

Founder and President

Franchise Owner of Pizza Pizza at 705-277 Bath Road

Producer/Host Community Voices @YourTV (Cogeco)

Originally from Pakistan, Jimmy immigrated to California in 1994, moving to Canada in 1998. After living and working for several years in Montreal and Toronto, Jimmy and his wife settled in Kingston where he started a business, his family, and the Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation.

Cell: 613-888-6760 | Email: jimmyhassan@hotmail.com

Zermaan Khan

Organizer

Branch Sales Manager at Drake International 

Director at Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce

LinkedIn

Norman Musengimana

Organizer

Business Development Manager of Small Business & Entrepreneurship at Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Founder at BizSkills Academy Inc.

LinkedIn

Debbie Fitzerman

Organizer

President at Kingston Jewish Council 

Master Operations Manager at DFC International Computing Inc.

LinkedIn

Kirk Smallridge

Organizer

Operations & Communications Manager at Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Partner at bvk Solutions 

LinkedIn

OUR COMMUNITY

The Canadian Colours Kingston Community

CCKF’s membership represents a large portion of the immigrant and new Canadian community in the Kingston area. We believe that our strengths come from our differences in cultures, beliefs and personal histories, and that sharing these stories amongst the community will help us grow and learn together while providing a path to empower and educate new and incoming Canadians. Canada is our home, and we share our experiences in order to further build out a strong, diverse community with strong connections to Canadian values. 

CCKF hosts regular events, fundraisers, and community-led programs. If you are interested in learning more, getting involved or showing your support, follow and visit our Facebook page, or check our NEWS & GALLERY section for updates.