Ottawa, February 9, 2017 ̶ On Wednesday evening, the Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa hosted a reception on the occasion of the 58th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Before over 500 guests, Cuban Ambassador to Canada Julio Garmendia Peña started up his opening remarks by paying heartfelt tribute to Fidel Castro Ruz, Leader of the Cuban Revolution, who passed away last November 25. ʺHis legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all Cuban patriots and of so many people around the globe,ʺ he said.
When referring to bilateral relations, Garmendía Peña described Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s visit to Cuba last November as ʺthe most significant event over the last decadeʺ.
Peter Boehm, Deputy Minister of International Development of Foreign Affairs Canada, reviewed the most significant events relating to bilateral relations in 2016, and agreed with Cuban Ambassador on the importance of Trudeauʹs visit to Havana.
Senator Pierrete Ringuette, Co-chair of the Canada-Cuba Interparliamentary Friendship Group, delivered a very emotional speech highlighting the friendship bonds between the two peoples and governments, as well as the role played by Comandante Fidel Castro in the strengthening of such ties.
Other senior Canadian officials attended the event, namely, Hon. Dominic Leblanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard; Jean-Stephane Bernard, Deputy Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie of Québec; David McGuinty, MP, Chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians; Daniel Jean, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, as well as nine Senators and 22 Members of Parliaments.
A large number of friends of Cuba, Cuban residents from many regions in Canada and members of the Diplomatic Corp also joined Cuban diplomats to celebrate the achievements of the Cuban Revolution over the last 58 years.
Embassy of Cuba