CANADA: Association of Nepali Origin (ANO), a global organization established to unite people of Nepali origin living around the world, has expanded its international network by forming its ninth national chapter in Canada.

The chapter will be led by Chitra Pradhan, a retired academic and Nepali-speaking community figure who has been involved in the education sector in Canada for many years.

Under Pradhan’s leadership, the newly formed committee is expected to play a coordinating role among the diverse Nepali-speaking communities in Canada, including those of Nepali, Bhutanese-Nepali, Indian-Nepali, and Burmese-Thai Nepali origin.

The newly elected executive committee includes Amy Karmacharya as Vice President, Muga Raj Bhandari as General Secretary, Bhim Sigdel as Secretary, Laxmi Prasad Timsina as Treasurer, and Juni Chapagain as Spokesperson.

Board members include Bhim Pathak (Neer Bhim), Santosh Timsina, Lalit Koirala, Ramesh Timsina, Roshan Bhattarai, and Jay Prasad Humagain.

Addressing the gathering, ANO Central President Dilli Adhikari said that ANO is not a competing organization to Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), but rather a common platform designed to connect Nepali-origin communities worldwide that may not be fully represented elsewhere.

ANO Central General Secretary Chudamani Bhattarai said the organization has now established chapters in nine countries and plans to expand further into Europe.

In his remarks, newly elected President Chitra Pradhan pledged to unite Nepali, Bhutanese, and Indian Nepali-speaking communities in Canada and work actively to preserve and promote Nepali art and culture.

The event was attended by several prominent members of the Nepali community, including NRNA Canada President Jagan Sapkota, Treasurer Indira Rijal, Professor Dr. Tulsi Dharel, Dr. Govinda Singh Rawat, Professor Dr. Rajendra Panthi, and journalist Shailes Shrestha. They congratulated the newly formed committee and extended their best wishes for its success. The program also featured a number of Nepali cultural performances.