- published: 29 Nov 2014
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The International Centre is a multi-purpose convention centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 6900 Airport Road, near the Toronto Pearson International Airport. The building was opened in 1972 by DeHavilland. Today, the major multi-purpose facility hosts some of Canada's largest and popular events.
The International Centre is one of the few privately owned convention facilities in Canada. Opened in 1972, the centre's exhibit space nearly doubled from the original 260,000 square feet (24,000 m2) following a major expansion and renovation in 2002. The centre now features over 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) of exhibit space and approximately 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of gross space which includes exhibit, meeting, office and retail space paying host to a variety of festivities annually.
Roots of the building stem back from Canada's aviation history during the 1950s when the site occupied the production of wings, rear fuselages and empennages to service DC-9 airliners. The area was purchased in 1971 from DeHavilland by a group of investors which eventually led to its purpose as a prominent multi-purpose facility.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ([bʱiːmraːw raːmdʑiː aːmbeːɽkər]; 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, economist, teacher, and editor. He was also the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution. Born into a poor Mahar (considered an Untouchable caste) family, Ambedkar campaigned against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna – the categorization of Hindu society into four varnas – and the Hindu caste system. He converted to Buddhism and is also credited with providing a spark for the transformation of hundreds of thousands of Dalits or untouchables to Theravada Buddhism. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1990.
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first outcastes to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degree and doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar gained a reputation as a scholar and practiced law for a few years, later campaigning by publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables. He is regarded as a Bodhisattva by some Indian Buddhists, though he never claimed himself to be a Bodhisattva.