The Consulate General of Malta to Canada has recently donated over 200 books and educational materials to the Malta Band Club Library situation in the premises of the Malta Band Club in Mississauga, Province of Ontario.  The Malta Band Club is presently the only Maltese traditional band found in the American hemisphere and is made of a mix of Maltese/Gozitan Canadians and Canadian bands people.  The Malta Band performs at many Maltese and Gozitan festas in Toronto, events and organises annual concerts.

The books and educational materials are primarily publications, exercise textbooks, CDs, colouring books, lithographs, CDs and DVDs to learn the Maltese language, the history of the Maltese Islands, Malta and Gozo’s Diaspora worldwide, publications about Malta, Gozo, education, commerce, archaeology, culture and religion.

The Consulate General of Malta to Canada compiled these publications from an array of Malta Government Ministries, agencies, institutions, banks, chambers and companies.  Mostly donated by Heritage Malta, the University of Malta, Arts Council Malta, Malta Enterprise, the Malta Films Commission and the Ministry for Foreign & European Affairs.

While presenting the donation to the Malta Band Club President, Mr Tony Vella, the Consul General of Malta to Canada, Dr Raymond C. Xerri encouraged the committee to use these publications and educational materials to attract, teach and transmit Malta’s rich identity, heritage, culture and history.  “Go ahead and entice Maltese Canadian youths to want to learn of their origins and ancestry – Malta and Gozo can open new doors of opportunities, a whole new world for Maltese Canadian youths in areas of education, commerce and entrepreneurship where their dreams can come through.” President Vella thanked Dr Xerri for this donation and all the initiative he is taken to bring together the Maltese Canadian community, especially the youth.