Two Somali-Canadians get prestigious Ontario Public Secretariat roles
The Ontario Public Secretariat has appointed two Somali-Canadians to two major council bodies. This marks the latest in a series of success stories by Canadians of Somali decent.
Hibaq Gelle was appointed to the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities (PCYO), a 25-member group of youth that gives advice to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Children and Youth Services on issues affecting youth.
Members are appointed for one year terms with the possibility for re-appointment, according to the group’s website.
Another Somali-Canadian Sharmaarke Abdullahi was also appointed to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), a governing body for social workers and social service workers in Ontario.
Two prominent community development activists, Ms. Gelle and Mr. Abdullahi, have long campaigned for the community development sector, a passion they pursued since their both teenagers.
Mr. Abdullahi has been actively involved in grassroots organizations, and groups committed to youth empowerment, while Gelle, a volunteer and social media enthusiast. Ms. Gelle has worked with ethno-racial youth from priority neighborhoods within the City of Toronto.
Canada has one of the largest Somali populations in the western world. Unofficial estimates placing the figure as high as 150,000. The early 1990s saw an increase in the total number of Somali immigrants entering the country, with some secondary migration from the United States.
