About ABDUL

     Abdul Patel is a well known community worker throughout the City, Province and Canada . He has earned a reputation as a dynamic community leader and a passionate volunteer. He has provided advice and counsel to numerous organizations, led many initiatives and inspired young people from many diverse communities. Abdul Patel has been a regular speaker on issues surrounding human rights, community development and community safety at various conferences, forums, and community events.
     Abdul Patel was born and received his primary education in India . He joined his family in Barbados where he finished his high school education.
     In 1969, Abdul came to Canada to study Electronics Engineering and later studied Business Administration from York University. He continued his studies in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor . Abdul Patel worked for 25 years as a Systems Analyst with Ontario Hydro, Ontario Power Generation and New Horizon System Solutions. .
     Abdul, his wife and 2 children have lived in the Seven Oaks neighborhood of Ward 43 for the past 12 years.

Record of Achievements:
-human rights
-homelessness
-international activism
-community safety
-tenant’s rights
-education
-interfaith and diversity
-appearances for Legislative Committees
-employment equity
-human rights
-youth
-hospitals
-legal access
-Community Service Awards

Human Rights

• Ontario Human Rights Commissioner, 1999 – 2005

• Prepared and appeared before the Metro Council's Committee on issue of racism in Housing and Police - 1990;

• Delivered papers at number of forums on promoting harmony and pluralism.

-Homelessness

• Founder, Ansaar Foundation for the Homeless

• Past Chair  Walk for the Homeless- 2005

-International Activism

• Served as a member of the Board of Directors ‑ International Development and Relief Foundation - 1990-1992;

• Conducted training for Muslims and Christians on Hospital Chaplaincy in Nairobi, Kenya on behalf of  Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto in 2005;

• Member of the Advisory Council of Canadian International Peace Project (CIPP);

• Participated in organizing the World Youth Day for Pope John Paul II and delivered speech on Inter faith relations in the program; 

• 1991 – Mobilized leading organizations and launched United Appeal for the war victims in Iraq.

• 1992 –Headed Canadian NGO’s Relief Mission with medical Aid to Iraq.

• Officiated at number of Multi faith services, including official ceremonies in the post 9-11 and post Tsunami periods.

• Presented papers and workshops at International Conferences of Campus Chaplains in Brisbane, Australia, 2004, Vancouver, 2000.

-Community Safety

• Member, Advisory Council of Toronto Police Chief

• Member of the South Asian Consultative Committee of Toronto Police Service

• Served as a member and Past Chairman of East York Safety Council, appointed by East York Council - 1986-95;

• Served as a member of the Recruitment Advisory Committee of Toronto Police - 1990-92;

• Served as member of the Race Relations Consultative Committee of Toronto Police since 1987;

• Delivered Keynote address at Ontario Police College Conference on Diversity and Policing, 2004;

• Prepared and appeared before the Metro Council's Committee on issue of racism in Housing and Police - 1990;

• Prepared and presented a brief on improving Police relations with ethnic communities to Toronto Police Services Board - 1992;

• 1991 – Founding member of the Crime Prevention Ontario – a project launched by OPP in 1990.

• Delivered Keynote address at Toronto Police Conference on Dealing with Violence in the City,  2003

• Prepared and presented a submission to the Justice Committee of House Commons on the revision of CSIS Act ‑ May, 90;

-Tenant’s Rights

• Founding Member, East York Tenants Association

• Founder and Past Chairman of the Thorncliffe Park. Tenants Council;

• 1986 – Submitted report on Safety on rental properties as a member of the East York Safety Council, which produced complete set of new By-laws for Property Standards Act in East York.

• Prepared and appeared before the Metro Council's Committee on issue of racism in Housing and Police - 1990;

-Education

• Facilitated and provided consultancy for producing Guidelines on Faith accommodation for the Toronto District School Board;

• Delivered Key note address on Diversity in Ontario School System to Metamode Institute – a Think Tank on social policy, 2004;

-Interfaith and Diversity

• Member, Campus Chaplin Association, University of Toronto

• Conducted training for Muslims and Christians on Hospital Chaplaincy in Nairobi, Kenya on behalf of  Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto in 2005;

• Served as a member of the Board of Directors of Canadian Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), 1996-99;

• Served as a member of the Increasing Awareness Group of City of Toronto's Community Access Services - 1991-96;

• Member of World Religions Canada/Canadian Council of Faiths;

• Founding member of Toronto Multifaith initiative;

• Facilitated and provided consultancy for producing Guidelines on Faith accommodation for the Toronto District School Board;

• Participated in organizing the World Youth Day for Pope John Paul II and delivered speech on Inter faith relations in the program; 

• Officiated at number of Multi faith services, including official ceremonies in the post 9-11 and post Tsunami periods.

• Officiated at Multi faith service for the opening of Ontario Courts for the year 2005.

• Presented papers and workshops at International Conferences of Campus Chaplains in Brisbane, Australia, 2004, Vancouver, 2000.

• Invited to attended 39th General Council’s meeting of United Church of Canada, as a delegate of Global partners.

-Appearances for Legislative Committees

• Prepared and presented a submission to the Justice Committee of House Commons on the revision of CSIS Act ‑ May, 90;

• Prepared and presented a submission to the Select Committee on Ontario's Role in Confederation - February, 91;

• Prepared and presented a submission to the to the Select Committee on Racism in the criminal justice system;

• Prepared and appeared before the Metro Council's Committee on issue of racism in Housing and Police - 1990;

• Prepared and presented a brief on improving Police relations with ethnic communities to Toronto Police Services Board - 1992;

• 2005 – Request by House of Commons Committee on Bill C-38 to submit Amendments following appearance as a Witness

• Presented workshop at National Conference of Canadian Hospice Association on Spiritual and Religious Diversity in Health Care, 2004;

-Employment Equity

• Served as Founding Member and Vice Chair of the Association of Employees for Employment Equity in Ontario Hydro & Ontario Power Generation
• Served as Member of the Provincial Committee of Power Workers Union on Employment Equity/Diversity
• Served as a member of the Tri-Partite Committee in Ontario Hydro & Ontario Power Generation on Diversity 1995-2001;

-Youth

• Member, Board of Governors, Scouts Canada

• Served as a member of the Steering Committee for the proposed establishment of Jenner Jean Marie Community Centre in Toronto - 1986-89;

-Hospitals

• Conducted training for Muslims and Christians on Hospital Chaplaincy in Nairobi, Kenya on behalf of  Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto in 2005;

• Past Member Board of Governors, Riverdale Hospital

• Presented workshop at National Conference of Canadian Hospice Association on Spiritual and Religious Diversity in Health Care, 2004;

-Legal Access

• Past Member, Flemingdon Community Legal Clinic

• Appointed as Mediator in number of community and commercial disputes for conflict resolution

-Community Development

• Served as a member of the Board of Directors of East York Community Development Council-1988-92. Chairman 1990-91, Vice Chairman 1989-90;

• Volunteer for a number of years with Thorncliffe Park Neighborhood Office  (TNO)

• Served as a member of the Increasing Awareness Group of City of Toronto's Community Access Services - 1991-96;

-Community Service Awards

• Recipient, Governor General Award for Community Service

• Recipient of Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture's award for Community Service

• Recipient of Community Member Award from Toronto Police Services Association

• Recognition Award from Borough of East York for Volunteer Service to the East York Community

• Recipient of number of awards from organizations in recognition of service to the community.