Double the celebration of Hispanic heritage

Festivities to be held in both April and October this year

Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated twice this year in Toronto.

Toronto City Council passed a motion earlier this year to move the month in which the Hispanic community is honoured to October, in response to a request from some of the city’s major Hispanic community groups. The change will bring it in line with the time other Spanishspeaking communities around the world celebrate their heritage.

Because the recent change came late for some community event organizers, the Hispanic community will mark the heritage month in both April and October this time around.

“It’s good to have a double celebration.”

CESAR PALACIO WARD 17 COUNCILLOR

“This year it’s going to be celebrated twice,” said Councillor Cesar Palacio. “It’s good to have a double celebration.”

Palacio ( Ward 17, Davenport) brought the motion to council at the request of a number of groups, including the Centre for Spanish-Speaking Peoples, the Hispanic Development Council and the Canadian Hispanic Congress.

In October, community groups plan to host several events, including an art festival and a gastronomic festival.

The city declared April “Hispanic Heritage Month” at City Hall on Tuesday night. The event also celebrated the city’s friendship agreement with the Ecuadorian city of Quito, including launching an Ecuadorian art exhibit in the rotunda featuring works by Paul Garcia and Marco Serrano.