HATA History

The formation of a dedicated organization for the Telugu speaking community of the Halton region was inspired by the increasing number of Telugu families in the area. Venkata Gupta Patnala first proposed this idea to the Burloak Telugu WhatsApp group on February 6th, 2024, and a meeting was scheduled for February 11th. A smaller group was created on February 10th to coordinate the meeting, ensuring that the community stayed informed and everyone had a chance to express their interest. Reminders were sent out on February 10th and the morning of February 11th, which resulted in an impressive turnout—nearly 50 members expressed a strong desire to volunteer and support the initiative. The meeting (convened on February 11th in the basement of 90 Carnegie Dr, Oakville) had a clear goal: to establish a registered organization that would nurture our cultural values and foster a positive, inclusive environment for future generations.

During the meeting, participants were invited to share their thoughts and express their willingness to join the core committee, understanding the significant commitment required in the early stages. A diverse group of 10 individuals stepped forward to form the initial committee for two years. Additionally, seven others volunteered to step in if needed. The selection process was transparent, with the only recommendation being a limit of one representative per family and no future sponsors. After a productive 3.5-hour discussion, we reached a consensus to form the Halton Telugu Association. The Founding Committee members include Dr. Venkata Gupta Patnala, Balaji Dhuchetty, Chandana Ganta, Chandrasekhar Surisetty, Lakshmi Priya Kanderi, Niharika Naraharisetti, Ravi Mekala, Swapna Chowdary Kolla, Venkateshwar Chilaveru. Aparna Nalam, who attended and stepped forward as part of the 10 individuals, preferred to be an Executive Committee member and not hold a Founding Committee position. Following community feedback, Pragathy Punnam and Ramachandra Yerubandi were also invited to join the Founding Committee, ensuring broad representation.

The minutes of the meeting were circulated within the community on February 12th, 2024, announcing the registration of the organization. The response was overwhelmingly positive. As a non-profit, we’ve outlined roles, responsibilities, and bylaws to facilitate our growth into effective working teams. Our aim is to hold elections every two years for the executive committee, giving everyone a chance to lead. Through our community events, we hope to identify leaders who will continue to advance our mission. We recognize the challenges of the foundational years and seek your ongoing support to realize our vision for the Telugu community and our descendants.

Our Burloak group has a long history of hosting events and supporting one another, driven by genuine friendship, joy, and unity. We are committed to maintaining these values as we move forward.