16th July 2008

Participation of the Embassy of Lebanon in the
Lebanese Festival in Ottawa

   On July 16, 2008, the 18th Lebanese Festival was inaugurated in the courtyard of the St. Elias Church, Ottawa. Thousands of Lebanese Canadians attended the festival which was organized under the leadership and care of the Very Reverend Father Ghattas Hajal. The participants in the opening ceremony included numerous dignitaries such as the Minister of Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity Mr. Jason Kenney, the Mayor of Ottawa Mr. Larry O'Brien accompanied by Mr. Eli El-Chantiri, member of the Municipal Council. Also present were Mr. Yasir Naqvi, representing the Prime Minister of the Province of Ontario, the Member of Parliament Mr. David McGuinty and the Ambassadors of Morocco, Syria, Palestine and Egypt, as well as leaders of the Lebanese community in Ottawa and representatives of the local government.

The speeches delivered by the Canadian officials on this occasion underlined the importance of the Lebanese community and its contribution to the Canadian society. The Mayor of Ottawa declared July 16 of each year as the "Day of the Lebanese community in Ottawa".

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Maalouf thanked the organizers of the festival and expressed his gratitude to Minister Kenney for the support that Canada gives to the Lebanese Government. He also shared with the audience his strong conviction that Lebanon, after each crisis, comes back stronger and more unified, and that the country will survive thousands of years, thanks to its resilient population and thanks to its diaspora. Addressing the Lebanese Canadians, the Ambassador mentioned that they are the luckiest among the 14 million Lebanese immigrants because they live in a great and beautiful country that respects the values of the West like freedom and equality while they bring with them the values of the East such as the family and religious values which are very important in Lebanon, and thanks to the policy of Multiculturalism, they can integrate completely in the Canadian society while keeping and even developing their cultural and religious traditions. He then encouraged the audience, especially the Lebanese Canadians, to participate in the contest to elect on the internet the new 7 wonders of nature by voting for the Jeita Grotto of Lebanon and the Niagara Falls of Canada.

Below are some pictures taken during the event.