(ANSA) – WASHINGTON, 04 GIU – Celebrations for the 79th anniversary of the Italian Republic were held yesterday in Ottawa. In the morning, the Italian Ambassador to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, took part in the tricolour flag-raising ceremony, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Group for Friendship between Italy and Canada in front of the Canadian Parliament. Among the many guests present were several senators and deputies, some of Italian origin, and representatives of the Italian-Canadian community. In the evening, the Embassy organised a reception at the National Gallery of Canada in the presence of over 500 guests, including authorities, institutional representatives and representatives of the Canadian economic, cultural, academic and scientific world, as well as numerous members of the Italian community. After a brief welcome address by the museum director, Ambassador Cattaneo spoke, emphasising the importance of the republican, democratic and liberal values chosen by the Italian people on 2 June 1946, which are shared by Canada and underpin the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr. Cattaneo went on to highlight the different areas – cultural, commercial, scientific and innovation – at the heart of the deep bilateral collaboration, mentioning also the recent visit of the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Rome and his meetings with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on that occasion. Present as guests of honour were Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli, Senator Francesca La Marca, and Hon. Andrea Di Giuseppe, who delivered their greetings from the podium. The Ottawa celebrations are part of the numerous initiatives organised by the diplomatic-consular network, provincial and local authorities – including the illumination of Niagara Falls with the Tricolour – and Italian-Canadian associations during the month of June, dedicated to Italian cultural heritage. In this regard, another flag-raising ceremony will be held tomorrow morning at the Ottawa City Hall, on the occasion of the start of ‘Italian Week,’ a week full of cultural and eno-gastronomic events to celebrate Italian spirit in the Canadian capital.
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