About Us
Afghan Association of Ontario (AAO) was established in 1982 and incorporated in 1984 as a non-profit charity organization, providing settlement, integration and adaptation services to the Afghan community. Since then the organization has been assisting newcomers from different backgrounds to better integrate, adapt and enable them to fully participate into the Canadian society.
AAO achievements:
- Since 1985 AAO has sponsored more than 12000 Afghan refugees from around the world and they have successfully established in Canada
- In June of 1990 AAO has purchased its first ever premises for the community to be served based on their needs
- AAO has launched its first Radio Program in November of 1990 for the Afghan community in Ontario
- In 1995 AAO has purchased its second premises to expand its services to the community for better servicing
- In 1990 AAO established the Council of Afghan Associations in Canada (CAAC) and organized its first conference for three days in Ontario and invited representatives of all Afghan associations across Canada for participation on the issues of integration, adaptation, multiculturalism, youths and seniors
- AAO celebrated its 25 years of services to the community on June 9, 2006 and received letters and complement certificates from the Prime Minister of Canada, Premier of Ontario, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Minister of Multiculturalism, York Region Chief of Police and other dignitaries
- AAO moved to new site as of Feb 2008 located at 100 Tempo Ave. to serve newcomers better and efficiently as the needs of community have been grown
- AAO has been serving different clients from different backgrounds such as Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs, and recently AAO has hired a settlement worker for Chinese newcomers to be served. AAO has been diversified to serve the diverse community in Toronto
- AAO has been organizing Afghan Day Celebration every year in the August; in 2007 and 2008 AAO held the event in Scarborough Civic Centre up to 3000 people participated. Hon. Bev J. Oda, Minister of Community and International Development was the keynote speaker amongst dignitaries
- In May 2008 AAO launched its TV show for the community to provide information on settlement, cultural, integration issues and local news in different languages
