GTA celebrates 1st official International Day of Yoga on Father’s Day

Sunday, June 21, 2015 Mississauga (ON) – As the summer solstice day started (first day of summer), nearly 2,000 came out on a beautiful Father’s Day Sunday at Mississauga’s Celebration Square to celebrate the 1st ever International Day of Yoga. Hosted as a free event by Art of Living, International Yoga Day Canada (IYDC), Overseas Volunteers for a Better India (OVBI) Canada, Patanjali Yoga Peeth Canada and the Consulate General of India, Toronto, many other like-minded organizations also partnered in this inaugural event which was completely organized by a group of dedicated community volunteers.

All sponsors are to be acknowledged for their support towards this historic initiative including the media at all levels. Television Media ATN provided comprehensive live coverage of the event to Canadians nationally on four of their channels, a first to broadcast yoga live across this vast country.

The day began with registration starting at 9:00 a.m. onwards, followed by an opening prayer, a special video greeting from India’s Prime Minister Narender Modi, and official presentations by elected officials including Honourable Bal Gosal – Minister of State – Sport, MPs Bob Dechert, Wladyslaw Lizon, and Brad Butt, Honourable Dipika Damerla – Associate Minister for Health and Long Term Care for the Province of Ontario, Honourable Patrick Brown – Leader of the official opposition for the Province of Ontario, Ron Starr – City of Mississauga Councillor for Ward 6 along with Akhilesh Mishra – Consulate General of India – Toronto. The day then was followed with yoga sessions and demonstrations led by qualified yoga instructors and ending with a cultural performance. Many vendors were on hand to showcase their programs, various services and products.

This year marks the first ever International Yoga Day celebrations across the world as United Nations declared annually June 21st as International Day of Yoga, this year taking place on Father’s Day. The resolution, proposed on September 27, 2014, by India’s Prime Minister, Narender Modi, during his maiden UN speech, had 177 nations (including United States and Canada) joining as co-sponsors, the highest number ever for any General Assembly resolution.
Secretary-General of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, said the International Day of Yoga would bring attention to yoga’s holistic benefits. “Yoga can contribute to resilience against non-communicable diseases. Yoga can bring communities together in an inclusive manner that generates respect,” Ban had then said in a statement.