About Ottawa-Cuba Connections
Ottawa-Cuba Connections was established in 1993 to promote closer ties
between the peoples of Canada and Cuba. We acknowledge the gains of the Cuban revolution in many
areas, including health, culture, women's rights, democracy and education. And we denounce the
U.S.economic blockade against Cuba, an illegal and immoral policy that causes the Cuban people severe
economic hardship.
We are a founding member of a new national Cuba Solidarity organization,
the Canadian Network on Cuba (www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca), working
with individuals and Cuba solidarity groups across Canada and around the
world who share our goals.
As a group, we endeavour to:
- facilitate social, cultural and educational exchanges between Canadians and Cubans
- raise material assistance for the people of Cuba
- inform Canadians about Cuba
- work to improve trade and development assistance relations between Canada and Cuba and to end the U.S. blockade.
We cooperate with groups and individuals across Canada, in Cuba, and around the world who share our goals.
Our activities in the past few years have included:
- Material aid to Cuba
- Participating in five Pastors for Peace Caravans
- Collecting toys for hospitals and day cares
- donating new and second-hand computers
- sending medicines and powdered milk
- hurricane relief
- Cultural Events
- Talk (with music) by Cuban jazz drummer Gilberto Valdés.
- Ottawa film premier of: "Hello Hemingway," "Strawberries and Chocolate," and "Fidel"
- Concerts and dances with Cuban musicians
- Book launch of Paul Carr’s My Malecon
- Book launch ofThe Dissidents by Rosa Miriam Elizalde
- Educational exchanges
- Carleton University/University of Havana Student Exchange
- Carleton University Cuba Solidarity Day
- Speaker series
- Basilio Gutierrez Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples
- Alicia Gonzalez and Alicia Campos Federation of Cuban Women
- Arnold August Author of Democracy in Cuba and the 1997-8 Elections
- Professor Hal Klepak Royal Military College
- Rev Lucius Walker Pastors for Peace
- Josephina Vidal N.A. Director, Cuban Foreign Ministry
- H. E. Ambassador Ernesto Senti, "Cuba's Struggle for Independence"
- Susan Babbitt, Queen's University: "Che Guevara and the Philosophical Foundations of the Cuban Revolution"
- Dr. Aleida Guevara March (Che’s daughter)
- Irma Gonzáles (daughter of René González of the Cuban Five)
- Enrique Oltuski , (Cuban Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Merchant Marine)
- H. E. Ambassador Carlos Fernandez de Cossio
- Manuel Montero (Cuban Trade Union Central)
- Raul Macias (Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples)
- Javier Dominguez (Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples)
- Luis Herrera (Cuban Centre for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering)
- Elena Alvarez (Cuban National Institute for Economic Research)
- Political activities
- Free the Five Cuban Heroes Campaign
- Boycott Florida Campaign
- return Elian campaign
- anti-blockade campaign
"Whatever its imperfections, in Cuba the poor have
not been held in contempt; they have been empowered.
Which is different from being made wealthy in a
capitalist sense, and more lasting. A healthy body,
a well trained mind, a sense of solidarity with one’s
people is harder to lose than a million dollars and
offers more security. This empowerment of the poor:
literacy, good health, adequate housing, freedom from
ignorance, is the work of everyone of conscience ....
Cuba has led the way, and is an object lesson to us."
—Alice Walker
"One aspect of the visit that was a pleasant surprise for
me was the level of democracy that does exist in Cuba. I was,
perhaps, expecting a more controlled system of government; however, it
became clear that it is a grass-roots democracy." Kingston Mayor, Harvey Rosen,
on visiting Cuba for the Kingston/Cienfuegos twinning ceremonies.
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