Raising the Colors of understanding
The yellow T-shirts of Colors of Concordia stood out among the 30,000 cyclists who took part in the 27th annual Tour de l’Île de Montréal on June 5 .
“I started the race late, so when I was catching up I asked a passing cyclist, ‘Are there more shirts like mine ahead?’ He said, ‘Yeah, like hundreds.’ That felt really special,” says said Marvin Coleby, a political science student who rode with Colors.
Established in 2003, Colors of Concordia is devoted to encouraging greater understanding between cultures. The Tour de l’Île is the group’s largest fundraising opportunity. Each of this year’s 200 participating cyclists sought pledges for completing the 52-kilometre circuit.
“I’ve always been interested in cultures,” says Ramona Senecal, the organization’s founder. As receptionist for undergraduate student programs at the John Molson School of Business, Senecal is constantly meeting new students, many from elsewhere. Finding a way to express that harmony and diversity led to Colors of Concordia.
“It was an opportunity to show people that Concordia is made up of what they say it is: lots of different cultures,” says Senecal. “My daily experience was one where cultures were coming together and co-operating, so I thought, why not celebrate that?”
At this year’s event, 52 countries were represented. Organizers expect to meet the day’s target of $7,000, but have not finished collecting all the pledges.
Nine years after Colors was founded and the first Tour de l’Île fundraiser completed, Senecal is slowly transferring the responsibility of organizing the event to students. This year’s challenge was taken on by the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association.
“My legs are definitely feeling it,” said Matthew Fishman, a Concordia staff member and MBA student who organized the 2010 event. “After the first 20 kilometres I had to push myself the rest of the way. The weather helped a lot, it was exceptional this year.”
Fishman has been instrumental in helping Senecal with the event’s planning.
“Knowing what Colors of Concordia stands for, it felt really special putting on the shirt before heading off to the rendezvous point this year,” said Fishman. “Being part of this organization and seeing what it has done, I can say, this is something special.”
Through the Colors of Concordia Cultural Initiative Fund, established with $27,000 two years ago, the group has helped finance projects around the world. Five groups have received a total of $13,600 from the fund, including a school that was provided with computers and Internet access in the Dominican Republic.
Related links:
• Colors of Concordia
• Tour de l’Île de Montréal
• Commerce and Administration Students’ Association