Editor:
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin, the council members and residents, who gave us the opportunity and the wholehearted support for the Festival of Lights event in our City By The Sea (Inclusive Diwali attracts huge crowd, Oct. 21).
This is the first time in the history of Canada that an event promoting the participation of the different cultures of the community has been held here in White Rock.
This successful Diwali event was organized by the task force committee in less then eight weeks! This festival would not have been possible without the tremendous help and support of Eric Stepura, Betina Albornoz, Amy Baumann, Semiahmoo First Nation councillor Joanne Charles, Douglas Smith and all the members of the task force committee.
My heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to our MLA Gordon Hogg, who, besides wearing dual hats, was a source of inspiration and guidance to hold this integration of different cultures in the community.
My honorable mention of the two key players – Vivek Vasistha and Aditya Mohan – who burnt the midnight oil in organizing this remarkable event.
Any event without the help and support of the volunteers is virtually impossible to hold.
My personal thanks to Beth Kish, the acting executive director of Hospice Society of White Rock South Surrey, and to also the student volunteers of Semiahmoo Secondary. Peace Arch News coverage enabled us to successfully fulfill our dream of holding an event of such magnitude in the City of White Rock.
Thanks a million to each one of you who participated in this festival.See you next year.
Moti Bali, Diwali organizing committee chairman