Canadian Bhutanese Association (CABTAS) is purely a social association formed by the concerted effort of Canadian Bhutanese living in Ottawa, Ontario.  CABTAS represents the Canadian Bhutanese people living in Ottawa comprising mostly of Nepali ethnic population from southern Bhutan. It is a common platform for all Bhutanese people to express their feelings and problems in an open and free environment.  It is formed mainly to protect and preserve the diversities of culture, language, life styles and religion of the Bhutanese people besides providing moral and social support to the community. It stands as an umbrella association to accommodate and integrate its entire people living in Ottawa. 

 

The idea to form CABTAS was first mooted 4 years before the procurement of Certificate of Incorporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act). Some of the first visionary members in Ottawa from the Bhutanese Nepali Community like Chabi Dhakal, D.B. Gurung, Rudra Khatiwada and Chudamani Bajgai initiated the brain storming session to form a common platform for all Bhutanese people in Ottawa. Their views were appreciated and supported by the educated circle of the Bhutanese population who moved to Ottawa from other provinces of Canada.  CABTAS was formed unofficially in 2014 with 11 Board of Directors. These executive members contributed in incorporating the organization under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act) and writing the By-laws of CABTAS.  Chabi Dhakal was replaced by D.B. Gurung as Vice-President of CABTAS in the first general election when the former Vice-President decided to move for Alberta with his family.

Picture of former Board of Directors

 

After the procurement of Certificate of Incorporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act) in August 2015, CABTAS officially held a general meeting of the Bhutanese community to elect new Board of Directors. 11 Board of Directors were elected with different designations. Unfortunately, in the course of time, 9 old directors left CABTAS as some moved from Ottawa and some failed to hold their positions due to their works and studies. CABTAS greatly feels their absence as their contributions to the association was very great.  However, the former directors presently residing in Ottawa are actively helping the association in moving forward with its goals and vision. CABTAS has missed the former Directors like Rudra Khatiwada, Basu Adhikari, Narayan Chhetri, Tulasi Dhakal and Chabi Dhakal who have moved out of Ottawa permanently.

 

Currently, CABTAS has 7 Board of Directors who got elected in the general election held in November 2017.