The Hogarth Herald - September 4

Canada is home to more than 1.3 million Ukrainian-Canadians with records indicating that Ukrainians first immigrated to Canada in the month of September over 125 years ago. The Ukrainian-Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to cultural, social, and political fabric.

Canada is home to more than 40,000 Ethiopian Canadians, many of whom have made Ontario their home. Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multilingual country, with more than 80 languages spoken, including Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali. It is the only African country to have successfully resisted European colonial rule during the 19th century. Ethiopia is home to communities practising Judaism, Christianity, Islam and a range of Indigenous belief systems.

On Saturday September 26, 2026,  the York Region District School Board Museum & Archives will be participating in Doors Open Markham. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., come and visit the Buttonville one-room schoolhouse that operates as the Museum for the YRDSB.

Explore a variety of buildings across the city as they open their doors to the public - for one day only! Doors Open Markham offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at select sites throughout Markham, including free access to buildings that typically charge admission.

Located in the former Brown’s Corner/Buttonville Schoolhouse, the York Region District School Board Museum & Archives collects and preserves the history of public education in York Region. The collections, from the 1850s, reflect ongoing changes to public education. Come and experience life as a student in the late 1800s by writing with pen and ink and on a slate.

Doors Open Ontario is a provincewide heritage tourism program that provides free public access to unique and historically significant sites across Ontario. 

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and literally translates as ‘head of the year.’ It begins a solemn ten-day period of contemplation and self-examination, called the Days of Awe, that ends with the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is also known as the Day of Shofar Blowing, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Judgment.

Rosh Hashanah is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, and the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day New Year celebration, beginning on the first day of Tishrei - the first month of the Jewish lunar year. According to the Hebrew calendar, days begin at sundown. Hence, Rosh Hashanah begins the evening before Rosh Hashanah day, which is referred to as Erev Rosh Hashanah.

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, an ancient musical instrument made from animal horn. The shofar is blown during synagogue services and prayers as a wake-up call to work on mending one’s ways as a new year begins.

Many Jewish families gather for a special meal where blessings are recited over different symbolic dishes including apples, honey, dates, and pomegranates. Pumpkins and squash are also commonly eaten among Sephardic¹ families. These foods are intended to symbolize the sweetness and prosperity that the new year will hopefully bring. Some traditions include meals with the heads of fish or lamb to symbolize the desire to be “heads, not tails” or, in other words, to be leaders in the new year and not followers.

These High Holy Days are among the most religious days of the year for the Jewish community and a time for reflection and atonement. Many families attend synagogue, praying for peace among nations, among peoples, and within themselves in the coming year. We acknowledge that there are different levels of observance and ways of observing within the Jewish community.