Georgetown: On Friday, July 1, 2016, High Commissioner Pierre Giroux and Mrs. Blanca Giroux hosted a Canada Day reception to celebrate Canada’s 149th anniversary of nationhood and reflect on how far Canada has come as a country.
The event was attended by hundreds of people, including President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, Minister of Public Security and Second Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Basil Williams and other Ministers of Government and Members of Parliament.
High Commissioner Giroux shared that Canada is one of the first countries in the world to adopt a policy of multiculturalism 45 years ago and that Canada’s national fabric is vibrant and varied, woven together by many cultures and heritages, and underlined by a core value of respect. He noted that multiculturalism is as Canadian as the maple leaf. “Today, Canadians believe in a tolerant peaceful pluralism; in protecting human rights; in gender equality; in internationalism; in a democratic society that supports middle class values; and in helping those in need around the world.”
High Commissioner Giroux also shared that since Canada’s recent change in government, Canada is pursuing new foreign policy priorities: climate change mitigation, reaching out to the First Nations, supporting vulnerable populations, and consulting Canadians on decision making in international assistance, trade and investment and defense and innovation.
Canada is also celebrating 50 years of a rich and rewarding partnership with Guyana. High Commissioner 
remarked that the spirit of respect, cooperation and partnership that underlines the strong relations between Canada and Guyana grows stronger every day. This is why the High Commission’s theme for celebrating this anniversary is “Growing Together”. He noted that the Guyanese diaspora in Canada, which is estimated to be around 200,000, links the two cultures and peoples “ever closer”.
High Commissioner Giroux believes that Canada and Guyana share a vision for a more secure and prosperous region. This is why two pillars of Canadian engagement in Guyana are justice sector reform and the promotion of human rights of particularly vulnerable groups.
High Commissioner Giroux shared that for Canada Day 2016, Canada’s Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, has invited all Canadians to consider the main themes of their Government’s vision for Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017: diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, youth and environment.
He shared that these values do not sound dissimilar to Guyana’s and expressed that Canada is looking forward to growing together with Guyana for the next 50 years and beyond.
High Commissioner also acknowledged the presence of visiting Canadian Military Attaché to Guyana, 
Captain Real Brisson, extended best wishes from the Canadian Armed Forces and sincere thanks to the Guyana Defence Force for welcoming the Captain with warmth and efficiency.
He also extended thanks and a note of farewell to outgoing Head of Aid at the High Commission, Mr. Daniel Joly. Mr. Joly, the night’s emcee, reflected on almost 4 years of working in Guyana and shared that he is thankful for the generosity of Guyanese and the progress made during his posting here.
Meanwhile, President David Granger noted that Canada Day could not have come at a more opportune time as Guyana and Canada are celebrating 50 years of bilateral ties, which he hoped would extend for a long time into the future.
“It is a happy occasion that this celebration is a coincidence. Not only is Guyana is observing its 50th Anniversary of Independence, but 50 years of diplomatic relations with Canada… Relations between Guyana and Canada have been strengthened through increased technical cooperation, trade and development assistance… Canada has been an important ally of Guyana within the Commonwealth. Guyana looks forward to continued collaboration with Canada in international organisations,” he shared.
Canada Day is a celebration of the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, 1867 which united the three separate colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single dominion called Canada. Canada will be celebrating its 150th anniversary of Confederation in July 2017.
You must be logged in to post a comment.