On April 24, 2023, Chetna Association led, in partnership with the Ambedkarite International Coordination Society (AICS) with support of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Libraries, David Lam Center at SFU, and the President’s Office of SFU hosted Dr. Ambedkar Equality Day and awarded City of Burnaby for being the first city to proclaim Dr. Ambedkar Equality Day in Burnaby. On behalf of the City of Burnaby, Councillor Pietro Calendino accepted the award and paid respects by garlanding the bust of Dr. Ambedkar in the WAC Bennett Library of Simon Fraser University on the Burnaby Mountain. campus.
The celebrations were made livelier with singing performance by a well known singer, Ms. Jyotika Jasuja. In addition, a skit highlighting women empowerment through education was performed by International student, Ms. Simran Kranti, who flew from Toronto to specifically perform in this event and attend the symposium on emancipation.
On April 23 Equality Day was also observed at the Guru Ravidass Community Center in Burnaby; on April 24 at the Fraser view Banquet Hall in Vancouver; on April 25 at University of Victoria’s law library, and on April 26, at University of the Fraser Valley.
