NABC Newsletter - 2023 Q1

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NABC News

NABCNewsistheofficialnewsletterfortheNationalAssociationofBahamiansin Canada(NABC).IfyouareaBahamianlivinginCanadaorifyou'reconcernedabout Bahamianissues,thisistheplacetostayinformed

NABCNewsisanewsletterintendedtokeepyouinformedabouttheactivitiesofthe NABCandissuesaffectingtheBahamiancommunityinCanada,fromalocal perspective.Wehopethisnewsletterwillserveasaninformativeandvaluable resourceforourreaders

Inthisissue,weintroduceyoutoournewBoardofDirectors,electedOctober2022 anddiscussupcomingevents,waysyoucangetinvolvedwithNABCandsome helpfultaxandholidayinformation Readonandenjoy!

Formoreinformationonanyofthesetopicsortogetintouchwithus,sendusan emailtoinfo@nabcandfriends com

Tax Season is Coming - 8 Holiday Calendar - 9 In this issue: New Year, New Board - 2 NABC NEWS Read about the latest news and updates from NABC! 2023 Q1
Our Events - 4 Become A Member - 5 Get Involved, Get Involved! - 7
NABClogo-createdbyMelissaWilkinson

New Year, New Board

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, NABC held it's Annual General Meeting and elected a new Board of Directors. Since being elected, the Board members have been hard at work planning the renewal and revamping of the NABC, brainstorming ideas for building awareness and engagement, fundraising and events, as well as how to better serve the Bahamian diaspora in Canada You'll learn more about some of our ideas as you read the pagesofthisnewsletterandfutureissuesofthenewsletter

The new board would like to extend thanks to the outgoing board members and a number of advisors who have been instrumental in helping to keep the NABC running over the last several years, through Hurricane Dorian and the global Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to say thank you especially to the outgoing president Montez Knowles, outgoing Director of Memberships Prescott Davis and outgoing Director of FinanceMichaelReckley.Inaddition,severalothersworkedwiththeboardinanadvisorycapacity,including ZhorrahGrantandBarryHall Lastly,we'dliketoextendaveryspecialthankyoutoDevonniaMiller,whohas put in significant effort in the background to prepare our publications - flyers, announcements and even this newsletter! Thank you for all your efforts over the past several years and we look forward to continuing to workwithyouandthelargerBahamiancommunitytogrowandexpandtheNABC.

President-JasminW.Dorsett

JasminisaproudBahamianwhogrewupinNassau,New Providence,BahamaspriortomovingtoCanada,whereshehas livedforthepast20years.SheattendedStAnne'sPrimaryand HighSchools(Nassau),followedbyLesterBPearsonCollegeof thePacific(PedderBay,BC),andlaterattendedMcMaster University(Hamilton,Ontario)

ShecurrentlylivesinHamilton,Ontarioandworksatasoftware company,basedinMississauga,Ontario.Jasminisadesignated CharteredProfessionalAccountantwithexperienceinexternal audit,FinancialPlanning,Reporting,SoftwareImplementation andProductMarketing.

Inherpersonalandprofessionallives,Jasminispassionate aboutDiversity,EquityandInclusion(DEI),genderequity,and increasingblackrepresentationinSTEM Thesepassions promptedhertorunforPresidentoftheNABCafterbeing approachedbyfellowBahamianswhoencouragedhertorun.

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DirectorofMemberships-JoshuaMoss

Josh is a Bahamian-Canadian who was born in Canada,butspentmuchofhischildhoodinNassau Since moving back to Canada in his teens, he has sought to find ways to connect the Bahamas and Canada

Now, as a realtor in the Greater Toronto Area, Josh seeks to help Bahamians establish a sense of community and find ways to maintain and share theircultureinCanada

Secretary-NikishaEvans

NikishaisaBahamian-Canadianinspirational speaker,author,podcasthost,entrepreneur andlicensedParalegalwhocurrentlylivesin London,Ontario.Inadditiontobeing SecretaryoftheNABC,NikishaistheInterim PresidentoftheCongressofBlackWomenof Canada,LondonChapter.Sheholdsa BachelorofScienceinProfessional Management,aswellasgraduatediplomasin HumanResourceManagementandParalegal studies.

Our Events

PastEvents

OurfirsteventoftheyearwasavirtualgamesnightthatwasheldonFriday,January27th Wehad over20personsinattendance,withrepresentativesfromatleastthreeprovincesandanumberof differentcities.Itwasatonoffun!Weplayedanonline,Bahamianizedversionofapopularboard gamecalledCodenamesandtherewasabigrivalrybetweenthetwoteamsandwegottoeducate someofthegameparticipantsonsomeelementsofBahamianfolkculture Doyouknowwhata chickcharneyis?

ThechickcharneyisalegendarycreatureinthefolkloreofAndrosIslandintheBahamaIslands Itissaidtoliveinthe forests,isfurryorfeathered,andabout3feet(0.91metres)tall,withanuglyappearanceresemblinganowl.Incommon legend,ifatravelermeetsachickcharneyandtreatsitwell,theywillberewardedwithgoodluck,whiletreatinga chickcharneybadlywillresultinbadluckandhardtimes.

50thIndependenceAnniversaryCelebrations

2023marksthe50thanniversaryofBahamianindependence,sowewillofcoursebehavingafew independence-themedevents. Thesearestillintheplanningstagesandyou'llstarthearingabout theminourupcomingcommunications.

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THENATIONALASSOCIATIONOFBAHAMIANSINCANADAPRESENTS Tuesday,December27 Fromthecomfortofyourhome Doorsopenat:6:00pm

ForwardUpwardOnwardTogetherWebinarSeries

Wehaveseveraleventsplannedoverthenextfewmonths,includingaseriesofinformational/service basedwebinarstohelpyou,yourkidsandfamilymembersbetteradapttolifeinCanadawhilelearning usefultipsandpractices,sothatwecanmoveforward,upwardandonwardtogetherasaBahamian community Ourgoalistohavethesewebinarsonatleastaquarterlybasisandtocoveravarietyof topicsthatareimportanttotheBahamiandiasporainCanada.

ThefirstwebinarintheserieswillbecominguponMarch19,2023andwillfocusonthetopicof ImmigrationforBahamianslivinginCanada.Youcanfindmoreinformationonthiseventonthenext pageandclickheretoregister Toattendthiswebinarfreeofcharge,firstregisterformembershipwith NABCandthenemailusatinfo@nabcandfriends.comwithyournameandmembershipnumbertoask foryouruniquememberonlydiscountcode.

ThesecondwebinarintheserieswillbeheldduringthemonthofAprilandwillcoverthetopicsof housing&rentals Staytunedformoreinformationonthatwebinarcomingsoon

Ifyouhaveideasforotherevents,orwouldliketoparticipateinplanningorhostinganevent(inpersonor virtually,anywhereinCanada),besuretogetintouchwithusatinfo@nabcandfriends com

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Become a Member and Make a Difference

BybecomingamemberoftheNationalAssociationofBahamiansinCanada,youbecomeasupporterofourgoals andobjectives,whilesupportingthewiderBahamiancommunityinCanadathroughouractivitiesandinitiatives Readmoreaboutthebenefitsofmembership,aswellasthetypesofmembershipandthefeesassociatedbelow. Clickheretobecomeamember

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Get Involved! Get Involved!

RunningtheNABCsuccessfully,providingbenefitsandkeepingmembersengagedtakeslotsofeffortandplanning. Ifyou,orsomeoneyouknowisinterestedinbeingmoreinvolvedwiththeNABC,youcanletusknowhere.For businessesorbusinessowners,signuphereBelowarejustsomeofthemanywaysforyoutogetinvolvedwith NABC

BecomeaBoardMember:Therearestillanumberofpositionsstillavailableontheboard(Vice-President, DirectorofFinance,DirectorofCommunications,SpecialEventsCommitteeChair)

BecomeaCommitteeMember:TheNABCboardislookingtoformanumberofcommittees,includingofcoursea 50thIndependenceCelebrationcommitteeandaFundraisingCommittee.

Volunteerforaspecificevent/webinar:Ifyouhaveaspecialareaofinterestofexpertise,orifyoujustwantto helpout,volunteerforoneofourevents,orsuggestaneventthatwecanplan

Giveusyourideas,yourskillsandyourtime:Therearemanyotherareasinwhichyoucancontributetohelping theNABCrunsmoothly,efficientlyandhelpustofulfilourmissionandvision.Whetherit'shelpingoutwithweb designorsocialmediaandpromotions,helpingustoapplyfornot-for-profitfundingandgrants,oranyother areasyoumaybeabletocontributeto,welookforwardtoworkingwithyou!

ConnectyourBahamianGroupswithours:AreyouapartofanotherBahamiangroupinCanadaonWhatsApp, Facebook,orelsewhere?ConnectyouradminswithNABCsothatwecanallworktogethertoimproveand coordinateevents,activitiesandinitiativestogether.Emailusatinfo@nabcandfriends.com.

Spreadtheword:IfyouknowotherBahamians,letthemknowaboutNABC.TheycanjoinourWhatsAppor FacebookGroups,becomeapayingmember,oralloftheabove.

Ownabusiness?JoinourBusinessDirectory:Ifyouorafamilymemberownsabusinessthatyouwouldliketo promotewithNABCmembers,youcanapplytojoinourBusinessDirectoryTheBusinessDirectorywillbe promotedwithinallourgroupsandonoursocialmediaplatforms,providingyourbusinesswithadditional exposure,andyouwillbeabletoprovideaspecialpromotionaldiscounttovalidmemberstoencouragethem tosupportyourbusiness.

ClickheretolistentoaBahamianclassicre-envisioned!
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Tax Season is Coming!

Theendof2022meansanothertaxyeariscompletedforpersonaltaxreturns!Youcanspendthenextfewmonths gatheringyourtaxformsandweighingyouroptionsforhowyouwanttofileyourtaxes(manuallythroughthemail, usingataxpreparationsoftware,orusingataxaccountant)-butnomatterwhichmethodyouchoose,makesureyou getyourtaxesinontime!

BelowaresomeusefultaxtipsandadvicefromIndiraMajor,CPA,CGA,afellowBahamian,whoisalsoatax accountantinOntario.Specialbonus!Thefirst5personstocontactNABC(info@nabcandfriends.com)foraspecial discountcodewillgeta20%discountonpersonaltaxpreparationserviceswithMajorTax&Accounting.Actfastto getyourdiscountcode!

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2023 HOLIDAY CALENDAR

ThefollowinglistofholidaysmaybehelpfulforthosewishingtotrackholidaysinTheBahamasandCanada. Thisisnotanofficiallistandassuch,youshouldconsultotherofficialsourcestoverifytheaccuracyofthe listedholidaysandobservances

Observed:ThisholidayfallsonaweekendandisobservedthefollowingMonday Optional:ThisholidaymaynotbeobservedinallCanadianProvinces Inprovinceswhereitisobserved,it maybeoptional,suchthatitisnotrecognizedbyallbusinessesandorganizations

New Year's Day

Majority Rule Day

Family Day

Monday, January 2, 2023 (Observed)

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Bahamas and Canada

Bahamas

Monday, February 20, 2023

Canada (Alberta, British Columbia,New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan)

Louis Riel Day Monday, February 20, 2023

Heritage Day Monday, February 20, 2023

Islander Day Monday, February 20, 2023

Yukon Heritage Day Friday, February 24, 2023

St Patrick's Day

Monday, March 20, 2023 (Observed)

Good Friday Friday, April 7, 2023

Easter Monday Monday, April 10, 2023

Canada (Manitoba)

Canada (Nova Scotia)

Canada (Prince Edward Island)

Canada (Yukon)

Canada (Newfoundland & Labrador)

Bahamas and Canada

Bahamas and Canada (Optional)

St George's Day

Monday, April 24, 2023 (Observed)

Canada (Newfoundland & Labrador)

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Holiday Name

Date Observed

Country Observed

National Patriots' Day

Monday, May 22, 2023

Canada (Quebec)

Victoria Day

Monday, May 22, 2023

Canada (All except Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)

Whit Monday

Monday, May 29, 2023

Bahamas

Labour Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day

St. Jean Baptiste Day

Discovery Day

Friday, June 2, 2023

Bahamas

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Monday, June 26, 2023 (Observed)

Monday, June 26, 2023 (Observed)

Canada Day Monday, July 3, 2023 (Observed)

Independence Day

Nunavut Day

Orangemen's Day

Monday, July 10, 2023

Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon)

Canada (Quebec)

Canada (Newfoundland & Labrador)

Canada

Bahamas

Monday, July 10, 2023

Canada (Nunavut)

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Regatta Day

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Emancipation Day

Monday, August 7, 2023

Bahamas

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Holiday Name

Date Observed

Country Observed

Civic Holiday

Monday, August 7, 2023

Canada (New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan)

Heritage Day

Monday, August 7, 2023

Canada (Alberta)

British Columbia Day

Monday, August 7, 2023

Canada (British Columbia)

Terry Fox Day

Monday, August 7, 2023

Canada (Manitoba)

New Brunswick Day

Monday, August 7, 2023

Saskatchewan Day Monday, August 7, 2023

Discovery Day

Labour Day

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation(Orange Shirt Day)

Thanksgiving

National Heroes Day

Remembrance Day

Monday, August 21, 2023

Monday, September 4, 2023

Monday, October 2, 2023 (Observed)

Monday, October 9, 2023

Monday, October 9, 2023

Monday, November 13, 2023 (Observed)

Christmas Day Monday, December 25, 2023

Boxing Day Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Canada (New Brunswick)

Canada (Saskatchewan)

Canada (Yukon)

Canada

Canada (Optional)

Canada (Optional)

Bahamas

Canada (Optional)

Bahamas and Canada

Bahamas and Canada (Optional)

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NABC

Contact your Association

The National Association of Bahamians in Canada (formerly "ABC) is a non-profit organization comprised of Bahamians, Bahamian-Canadians, their families and friends, and other supporters. We host Bahamian social events, fundraisers, promote Bahamian culture in Canada to further a prosperous relationship between The Bahamas and Canada The Association has specific charitable purposes that it supports Most notably, disaster resiliency efforts through our hurricane relief fund and educational sponsorship

Admin Office

E-mail: Website: www nabcandfriends com

info@nabcandfriends.com

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