Xavier's alumni meet to be held in Toronto

The sixth edition of alumni meet of St Xavier's College (Calcutta) Alumni Association (SXCCAA), will be held in Toronto, Canada this year. The countdown has already begun to the May 20-22 event, where the Xaverians will meet to chalk out and unveil a future roadmap of the autonomous college that will soon become a university.

In order finalise the event Felix Raj principal of the college and president of SXCCAA, eight global alumni chapters and four national chapters will meet at Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. Beyond Boundaries VI is expected to witness a huge participation much on the lines of the earlier conventions held at Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, London and Melbourne.

"I want to revive the Xaverian spirit and will look forward to their response to St Xavier's College Vision 2020. They have been part of their alma mater. It is their responsibility to see that their alma mater reaches to many more students. We are in the mode of expansion and I am inviting them to participate in my Vision 2020. I am also asking the Canadian chapter to sponsor a part of the Rajarhat campus," said Felix Raj.

At Toronto, there will be cultural exchange and fund-raising programmes and events to further strengthen the growing network of Xaverians across the world. Actor Rituparna Sengupta will showcase her dance recital and singer Shayne Hyrapiet will enthrall the audience with his renditions. The Canadian alumni of the college will stage cultural performances. In the inaugural session, Sabi Marwah - the ex-COO of Scotiabank who himself is a Xaverian - will address the audience along with Vishnu Prakash, the Indian ambassador to Canada, and Felix Raj.

"As Xaverians across the globe gear up for the 6th international convention, we are faced yet again with the question - why do we do it? And once more, all we can say is - we do it because we are what we are because of this great institution. We firmly believe that by raising funds we try to do our bit by chipping in because it's now our turn to pay back. We do it to assure ourselves that the bond we share is worth celebrating again and again across the planet. So, this time we will meet at Toronto," said Firdausul Hasan, secretary of the association.

"Every global convention mainly involves networking and fellowship, cultural exchange through programmes, panel discussions by eminent Xaverians, business meets and talk shows along with tour of the city. This time, too, there will be welcome dinner, gala dinner and farewell dinner. The sightseeing tour and Hornblower Niagara cruise will be added attractions for the alumni and their families," added Hasan.

"We collected enough bricks to build an entire floor for the boys' hostel. In 2012, Lakhshya was the mission and we collected around Rs 1.5 crore through fund raisers. In 2013, Lakshmi Mittal promised to build the main academic building of the second campus at Rajarhat," said SXCCAA secretary Firdausal Hasan.

In the first chapter of Beyond Boundaries held in Bangkok, around Rs 35 lakh was raised. The second edition saw the success of Mission Brick-by-Brick, where each brick was sold for Rs 10,000.