Hindu festival officials scramble as school labour strife scuttles plans
There’s still hope for parents that children won’t miss class next week as talks between the province and the union representing 55,000 education support workers resumed Friday.
But the looming strike has already derailed several community events planned inside schools, including one organized by London’s Hindu community. It’s been forced to relocate a large fundraising dance normally held at A.B. Lucas secondary school.
“We were told Thursday by (the school board) they had cancelled the event at the school because of the strike,” said Bhavin Patel, president of the Hindu Centre of Western Ontario.
“It was a little bit about safety and without the custodian, they can’t provide me with the keys.”
Patel said his organization had booked the school for the event a year ago.
Though they managed to find a new venue, the Sanatan Hindu Centre, the last-minute change has left organizers scrambling to notify hundreds of expected attendees about the new location, Patel said.
“It’s been a little bit stressful,” he said.
“People know that every year we are doing it at the A.B. Lucas secondary school, so we have been working around the clock to convey the message the event won’t be happening there.”
Money raised during the Grand Navratri Garba dance, as the event is called, helps support services provided to international students in London, Patel said. It’s part of the nine-night festival of Navaratri, which symbolizes the victory of positivity over negativity, and is open to the community at large.
Patel said Lucas was chosen for its large size and its location in the city’s east end, where many international students from India live.
Patel said they are also working to accommodate all their guests by extending how long the event lasts, because the new location is smaller than the school.
The Ontario government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have been negotiating new contracts for about 55,000 members after contracts expired earlier this year.
Locally, more than 3,400 workers with the Thames Valley District school board and about 850 workers with the London District Catholic school boards are represented by CUPE.
The union gave notice Wednesday that custodians, educational assistants and office staff are prepared to walk off the job if a deal isn’t reached with the Progressive Conservative government.
Amid the uncertainty, the London region’s boards, which have a combined enrolment of 99,000 students at 212 schools in London and Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford counties, announced schools would be closed Monday if the two sides don’t reach a deal over the weekend.
“We were told Thursday by (the school board) they had cancelled the event at the school because of the strike,” said Bhavin Patel, president of the Hindu Centre of Western Ontario.
“It was a little bit about safety and without the custodian, they can’t provide me with the keys.”
Patel said his organization had booked the school for the event a year ago.
Though they managed to find a new venue, the Sanatan Hindu Centre, the last-minute change has left organizers scrambling to notify hundreds of expected attendees about the new location, Patel said.
“It’s been a little bit stressful,” he said.
“People know that every year we are doing it at the A.B. Lucas secondary school, so we have been working around the clock to convey the message the event won’t be happening there.”
Money raised during the Grand Navratri Garba dance, as the event is called, helps support services provided to international students in London, Patel said. It’s part of the nine-night festival of Navaratri, which symbolizes the victory of positivity over negativity, and is open to the community at large.
Patel said Lucas was chosen for its large size and its location in the city’s east end, where many international students from India live.
Patel said they are also working to accommodate all their guests by extending how long the event lasts, because the new location is smaller than the school.
The Ontario government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have been negotiating new contracts for about 55,000 members after contracts expired earlier this year.
Locally, more than 3,400 workers with the Thames Valley District school board and about 850 workers with the London District Catholic school boards are represented by CUPE.
The union gave notice Wednesday that custodians, educational assistants and office staff are prepared to walk off the job if a deal isn’t reached with the Progressive Conservative government.
Amid the uncertainty, the London region’s boards, which have a combined enrolment of 99,000 students at 212 schools in London and Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford counties, announced schools would be closed Monday if the two sides don’t reach a deal over the weekend.
