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| THE MONTREAL GREEK TIMES GOPHER NEWS SERVICE |
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August 2025
NEPMCC Marks 38th year at the Canadian National Exhibition with renewed
commitment to ethnic media
(GIF) article photo
By Dimitri Papadopoulos
Mr. Thomas Saras and Mrs. Maria Saras at the NEPMCC booth during the
CNE, August 16, 2025. (Photo: Dimitri Papadopoulos/The Greek Times)
The Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto once again became a meeting
place for culture, heritage, and public life as the National Ethnic
Press and Media Council of Canada inaugurated its pavilion on August 16,
2025. The event marked the thirty-eighth consecutive year that the
organization has participated in the country’s largest annual fair,
demonstrating the council’s consistent commitment to representing
Canada’s multicultural identity through the work of ethnic media.
The pavilion, located in the International Building directly in front of
the International Stage, presented an impressive display of ethnic
newspapers from across Canada. Visitors were invited to browse and take
copies of publications in more than 120 languages, representing
immigrant and cultural communities from coast to coast. The collection
served not only as an archive of community voices but also as a living
testimony to the linguistic and cultural mosaic of the country. The
guest book invited attendees to sign and connect with the work of the
council, which has operated for decades as an umbrella organization
supporting ethnic journalists and publishers.
The formal opening began with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. President and
founder Thomas Saras stood alongside current and former politicians from
Ontario, representatives of the Canadian National Exhibition, and
dignitaries from various sectors. The symbolic act underscored the long-
standing role of the NEPMCC as a unifying platform that amplifies voices
from communities often overlooked in mainstream discourse.
Tony Ruprecht, serving as master of ceremonies and drawing on his long
experience as Ontario’s former Minister of Multiculturalism, emphasized
that the council has consistently stood for Canadian unity, recalling
its role during politically tense moments in the 1980s and 1990s when
questions of national cohesion were at stake. He reminded the audience
that Canada came within less than two percentage points of breaking
apart during the 1995 Quebec referendum, and praised the NEPMCC for
working to keep the country strong. “We want to make sure that Canada
stays united,” Ruprecht said, “so that we can have the strong force we
need to ensure that Canada is independent and sovereign.” His words drew
applause from dignitaries and members of the ethnic press alike.
The official presentation on the International Stage drew a large
audience. Among the first speakers was Aris Babikian, Member of
Provincial Parliament for Scarborough–Agincourt, who conveyed messages
of support from Premier Doug Ford and the Minister of Citizenship and
Multiculturalism, Graham MacGregor. Premier Ford’s message praised the
council for its work in fostering socio-economic growth and enriching
Ontario’s diverse communities, noting that organizations like NEPMCC
help newcomers thrive and feel at home. MacGregor added that ethnic
journalists ensure that all voices, experiences, and stories are shared
and reflected in public life, while thanking the council for its
leadership and dedication.
Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga–Erin Mills, also spoke, emphasizing
that ethnic media are often the primary sources of news and information
for immigrant communities. He stated that in his constituency more than
half of the residents were born outside of Canada, and many follow
ethnic newspapers rather than mainstream outlets. He praised Saras and
his team for giving voice to immigrants and minorities, and presented a
token of appreciation on behalf of the provincial government. City
Councillor Brad Bradford of Toronto–East York recalled his own memories
of visiting the Canadian National Exhibition as a child and connected
them to the importance of institutions such as NEPMCC in today’s
multicultural Toronto. He recognized that with 51 percent of the city’s
population born outside of Canada, organizations that preserve cultural
ties through media are indispensable. Councillor Nick Mantas echoed
those remarks while also calling for increased funding for ethnic media
not only at the federal and provincial level but also municipally,
stressing that ethnic journalism is underfunded despite its vital role.
The council also received formal recognition from the Canadian National
Exhibition itself. Helen Wyszynski, vice president of the CNE board of
directors, presented Saras with a commemorative medallion marking the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Friends of the CNE. She thanked the
council for its continued contribution and participation in the fair,
noting that the pavilion has become a fixture in the International
Building over the decades.
Former federal cabinet minister Joe Volpe addressed the gathering
and underlined the importance of ethnic media in telling the
Canadian story. With his characteristic humor, he reminded the
audience that Canada’s diversity is not theoretical but visible in
every community. He noted that in cities such as Mississauga, where
more than half of the residents were born abroad, ethnic media are
indispensable in informing citizens and maintaining cultural
continuity. Volpe praised Saras for his leadership and insisted that
governments at all levels recognize that ethnic press is part of
Canada’s mainstream media, not separate from it.
At the pavilion itself, the atmosphere was lively and engaging. Families
stopped to collect newspapers in their own languages, students leafed
through unfamiliar publications, and community members reconnected with
familiar titles. Rows of newspapers represented virtually every
continent, and for many visitors the sight of publications in their
mother tongue was a reminder of cultural roots and belonging. Thomas
Saras and his daughter Maria, who serves as executive director of the
council, personally welcomed guests and explained the importance of
sustaining ethnic media for future generations. Maria was repeatedly
acknowledged during the ceremonies as a driving force of the
organization, ensuring continuity and expanding the council’s outreach.
The Canadian National Exhibition, founded in 1879, is the largest fair
in Canada and one of the largest in North America, attracting nearly one
and a half million visitors each year. Its International Pavilion has
long been a showcase for cultural diversity through music, dance, food,
and craft. Within this environment, the presence of the National Ethnic
Press and Media Council is particularly symbolic, placing the printed
voices of immigrant communities at the center of Canada’s national fair.
As the fair continues through its two-week run, the pavilion of the
NEPMCC remains open to the public, inviting thousands of visitors to
encounter the multilingual press of Canada. The recurring challenge,
emphasized by several speakers, remains sustainability. Ethnic media
outlets often operate with limited resources, facing financial and
technological barriers, yet their role is essential for democracy and
cultural identity. Calls for greater financial support, combined with
the recognition expressed during the opening, reflected a broad
consensus that the future of ethnic media must be safeguarded.
Closing the presentation, Saras thanked the community, political
representatives, and volunteers who made the event possible. “We are
here to keep Canada united, to ensure all voices are heard, and to tell
the Canadian story in every language,” he said. His words encapsulated
the mission of an organization that, after thirty-eight years at the
CNE, continues to demonstrate the vitality of ethnic journalism and its
central place in Canadian public life.
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