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Assyrians are celebrating the New Year on Wednesday honouring Year 6776.
Akitu, also known as Kha b’Nissan, falls on April 1, 2026. The New Year marks the beginning of spring and symbolizes renewal and revival, according to Assyrian Cultural Foundation.
An important theme in ancient Assyrian mythology is that spring symbolizes launching the start of new life, according to Assyrian Cultural Foundation.
The Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Student Union (ACSSU) founded in 1999 allows Assyrian youth to be involved in community programs and events and helps them gain a deeper sense of cultural belonging.
ACSSU has branches in McMaster University, York University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and Humber Polytechnic.
Awr Kaisr, 23, ACSSU treasurer, said the organization helped her make sense of the stories her family rarely discussed after leaving their homeland inside Iraq.
Kaisr said she couldn’t believe that there was nowhere for her to go and learn about her culture.
“Our parents don’t really speak about stuff like this, I think it's a sensitive topic to a lot of older generation to talk about back home and their experience,” Kaisr said.
Kaisr said through ACSSU she got answers to all the questions she didn’t even know she had.
Organizations like the Assyrian Aid Society of Canada (AAS-CA) promote the protection of ethnic identity and ensure the survival of the indigenous Assyrian people in their homeland.
AAS-CA strives to preserve the ancient cultural heritage for Assyrians in the diaspora by fostering and strengthening connections with those remaining in the homeland, according to Assyrian Aid Society of Canada.
In a message to AAS-CA, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney recognized the Assyrian community for their resilience.
“This special occasion offers wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the memories of the past year and to look forward to new beginnings,” Carney said.
“It is also a chance for us all to recognize the important contributions that members of the Assyrian Canadian community make to our national fabric and to celebrate their role in making our country the diverse and inclusive place we call home,” he said.
The City of Toronto will be illuminating the CN Tower for the new year at about 7:45 p.m. on April 1, according to Assyrian Aid Society of Canada.
Following the standard light show, the CN Tower will light in celebration of Akitu-Assyrian New Year 6776, according to AAS-CA.
There will also be an illumination of The Falls at Niagara Falls, Ont., at 10:15 p.m. for a 15 minute duration for the Assyrian New Year, according to AAS-CA.
