Letters to the Editor: Reader thanks MP Erskine-Smith for his support of East Toronto’s Bengali community
I have known Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Nate) since the early days of his political journey in our riding. Although I was never among his close associates, I always felt the reassuring presence of an advocate and friend who is 20 years my junior.
I emigrated from Dhaka to Toronto in August 2013. Curious about what a Member of Parliament in Canada was like, I emailed Matthew Kellway, the then-NDP MP, shortly after settling in Crescent Town.
In Bangladesh, MPs are often difficult to approach, as they are surrounded by aides and supporters. To my surprise, Kellway’s office quickly responded, and we met almost immediately. That experience introduced me to the unique style of public service in Canada.
The following year, as the federal election approached, several candidates, including Nate, sought the nomination for the Liberal Party. I was more connected with Jeff Rybak, another competitor. It was during this time that I first met Nate at the Bangladesh Centre on Danforth.
After we were introduced, he asked about my experience during my first Canadian winter. When I told him I had enjoyed it, he smiled and praised my resilience. Nate went on to win the party’s nomination.
In 2015, I attended Toronto’s Bengali New Year celebrations for the first time. I was disappointed to notice that the Bangladeshi community held two separate events: one organized primarily by Muslims and the other by Hindus. I later wrote about this in a feature article published in the May 4 issue of the Beach Metro Community News.
After winning the 2015 federal election, Nate became a familiar presence at community events. On March 12, 2016, some friends and I organized ChaitanyaMela, celebrating the life and teachings of Lord Chaitanya. I dared to invite Nate, and he accepted and delivered remarks.
The following month, there was again the Bengali New Year celebration, and I attended, like several of our friends, both rallies. Nate also did the same.
During a rally, I asked whether he was aware of the different groups behind the two gatherings.
To my surprise, he knew the community dynamics well. I expressed my concern about the division, and he agreed that it was unfortunate.
He said he would ask the Toronto police not to allow more than one rally. Over time, it was encouraging to see the community move toward greater unity regarding the celebration.
Throughout his tenure as MP, I invited Nate to many of our community events, most of which he attended with enthusiasm and genuine interest.
I can recall the event to celebrate the Mother Language Festival in 2017 at Albert Campbell Library, where Nate gave a nice speech. In 2021, we, the NRB TV team, organized a Hindu Heritage Month celebration throughout November, and Nate joined us virtually.
In May 2022, when a group of people celebrated the NRB celebration of Hindu Heritage Month, Nate stood with us.
I can recall meeting Nate at almost all the Puja celebrations. He was a regular attendee at the Eid prayers and the snowy midnight observances of International Mother Language Day at the monument, both occurring in Dentonia Park.
Many times, I played the role of host for the community television channel, NRB, and interviewed him. His participation in online programs organized by our channel was also widely appreciated.
In recent years, however, I noticed responses from Nate’s office to emails became slower. Confirmations often required follow-up calls to staff, and repeated reminders became necessary.
Now, as he prepares to say farewell, I offer my gratitude for his contributions – not only to me as an individual, but also to the Bengali communities of East Toronto.
Subrata Kumar Das
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Subrata Kumar Das is a writer and curator based in East York and the founder of Canada Journal.)
