> SFU joins with City of Surrey to celebrate South Asian culture
SFU joins with City of Surrey to celebrate South Asian culture
Contact:
Joanne Curry, 778.782.7475; joannec@sfu.ca
Joanne Curry, 778.782.7475; joannec@sfu.ca
October 15, 2007
Music, movies, business and books—there’s something for everyone at the first annual South Asia Festival beginning Friday, Oct. 26 at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus.
The lively week-long festival, sponsored by SFU, the City of Surrey, the Surrey Board of Trade and Red FM, opens with South Asian dance and music. It includes a day-long business conference, free screenings of six popular Bollywood hits, and readings by acclaimed Indo-Canadian authors.
“SFU recognizes the significant contribution that Indo-Canadian and other South Asian populations make to our region,” says SFU president Michael Stevenson. “Strengthening our ties to these groups and to the countries of South Asia is important to the university, and the goal of our recently announced India Initiative and India Advisory Council.”
The conference, From Dragon to Tiger: Capturing Business Opportunities in India, will run Oct 30 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey. Co-sponsored by the Surrey Board of Trade, the City of Surrey Economic Development Office, the Canada Export Centre and Sun-Life Assurance, the event will focus on issues such as manufacturing, information technology, outsourcing and logistics.
Dr. John Harriss, director of SFU’s School of International Studies, will moderate a roundtable discussion of the role of culture and how businesses might better serve Indian markets. Harriss is a globally acclaimed social anthropologist and leading expert on South Asian politics and society.
The films, including popular hits such as Bride and Prejudice and Guru, will be shown at all three SFU campuses—Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey. An SFU scholar or film/television personality will introduce them.
Authors Ameen Merchant (The Silent Raga) and Ranj Dhaliwal (Daaku) will read from their novels, along with two acclaimed Urdu poets — Zahid Laeeq and Muhammad Afzal.
Royal Columbian Hospital physician Arun Garg says the festival is an ideal way to bring all of Metro Vancouver’s communities together to celebrate the richness of South Asian culture. “I’m looking forward to the growth and continuation of the festival in years to come,” says Garg who co-chairs SFU’s India Advisory Council with Stevenson.
Visit www.southasiafestival.ca for full festival details.
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The lively week-long festival, sponsored by SFU, the City of Surrey, the Surrey Board of Trade and Red FM, opens with South Asian dance and music. It includes a day-long business conference, free screenings of six popular Bollywood hits, and readings by acclaimed Indo-Canadian authors.
“SFU recognizes the significant contribution that Indo-Canadian and other South Asian populations make to our region,” says SFU president Michael Stevenson. “Strengthening our ties to these groups and to the countries of South Asia is important to the university, and the goal of our recently announced India Initiative and India Advisory Council.”
The conference, From Dragon to Tiger: Capturing Business Opportunities in India, will run Oct 30 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey. Co-sponsored by the Surrey Board of Trade, the City of Surrey Economic Development Office, the Canada Export Centre and Sun-Life Assurance, the event will focus on issues such as manufacturing, information technology, outsourcing and logistics.
Dr. John Harriss, director of SFU’s School of International Studies, will moderate a roundtable discussion of the role of culture and how businesses might better serve Indian markets. Harriss is a globally acclaimed social anthropologist and leading expert on South Asian politics and society.
The films, including popular hits such as Bride and Prejudice and Guru, will be shown at all three SFU campuses—Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey. An SFU scholar or film/television personality will introduce them.
Authors Ameen Merchant (The Silent Raga) and Ranj Dhaliwal (Daaku) will read from their novels, along with two acclaimed Urdu poets — Zahid Laeeq and Muhammad Afzal.
Royal Columbian Hospital physician Arun Garg says the festival is an ideal way to bring all of Metro Vancouver’s communities together to celebrate the richness of South Asian culture. “I’m looking forward to the growth and continuation of the festival in years to come,” says Garg who co-chairs SFU’s India Advisory Council with Stevenson.
Visit www.southasiafestival.ca for full festival details.
-30-