What was established more than 30 years ago in Canada - the Shangri-la of the West - as the Indo-Pakistani Association, is today the Canorient Christian Association, spreading its wings with chapters in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and here in Montreal who have already celebrated more than 30 rewarding years themselves.

First generation Canadians ….

In the mid-forties/early fifties, the first wave of young adults came mainly for higher education and made good. A steady stream of migrants followed. Few immigrants came with financial resources, enough to bolster a family for months. The newcomer willingly accepted whatever job came his/her way. There were times when ethnic background and colour were a handicap, yet fluency in English, diligence and work ethics earned awe and admiration. Life was not "easy". Sacrifice and courage were the standards they set which eventually paid off.

In the mid-fifties, the greatest achievement of these "first" generation Canadians was the formation of a community based Club - The Indo-Pakistani Association. The launching of this Club was a landmark which gave the immigrants a sense of belonging. From 1958, Montreal saw the biggest concentration of Christians from Pakistan and India settle in the West Island, Pierrefonds, the South Shore, La Salle and St. Laurent.

In the mid-seventies, a name change was sought, a constitution drafted to comply with government regulations and Charter mumbo-jumbo. A National Chapter was also established to liaison between the two Chapters - Montreal and Toronto. The Canorient Christian Association rose from the ashes of the old Club.

We, in Montreal are now the second generation Canadians who have grown up in a semi-affluent environment, having our own expectations and dreams. Having been in existence for more than 25 rewarding years, the Montreal Chapter has come a long way under the leadership of several organizing committees who have devoted much of their time and given their best to the community in every sense of the word.

Prayer, faith and understanding, hand in hand with hard work and a feeling of togetherness has been very rewarding for us all - individually and as a family. This has not just come about with the cultural revival of music and art or the several social activities that are planned each year (i.e. Christmas parties, New Year's Eve dances, Halloween parties, summer picnics, Member's day, Sports day, Valentine's Day etc. etc. - for the adults, teenagers and the little ones) but also with our growing membership whose basic human need is to attain a sense of this belonging. No doubt, this has played a role in "giving Canadians of our second, third and subsequent generations, a feeling that they are connected with the traditions of other areas of the world and different periods of time".

In a few decades, the third and fourth generation will want to rewrite the pages of history for the Community Log Book. Why not start right now so we may continue to prosper and flourish in the many years ahead!

Our Future can be Fortified by our Glorious Past!

CANORIENT BY-LAWS