Yesterday in Ottawa, celebrations were held to mark the 79th anniversary of the Italian Republic.
In the morning, the Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, attended the Italian flag-raising ceremony, organized by the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group on Parliament Hill. Among the many guests in attendance were several Senators and Members of Parliament, including those of Italian descent, as well as representatives of the Italian-Canadian community.
In the evening, the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa hosted a reception at the National Gallery of Canada, attended by over 500 guests, including officials, institutional representatives, and members of the Canadian economic, cultural, academic, and scientific sectors, along with numerous members of the Italian community.
After a brief welcome speech by the Director of the National Gallery, Ambassador Cattaneo took the floor, emphasizing the importance of the republican, democratic, and liberal values chosen by the Italian people on June 2, 1946. These values are shared by Canada and form the foundation of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. Ambassador Cattaneo went on to highlight various sectors—cultural, commercial, scientific, and innovation—that are at the core of this deep bilateral cooperation. He also mentioned the recent visit to Rome by the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and his meetings with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, on that occasion.
Guests of honor included Canadian Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne, Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli, Senator Francesca La Marca, and MP Andrea Di Giuseppe, all of whom gave remarks from the podium.
The Ottawa celebrations are part of a broader series of initiatives organized by the diplomatic and consular network, provincial and local authorities—including the illumination of Niagara Falls in the colors of the Italian flag—and Italian-Canadian associations throughout the month of June, which is dedicated to Italian Heritage. In this context, another flag-raising ceremony will be held tomorrow morning at Ottawa City Hall to mark the beginning of “Italian Week,” a week filled with cultural and food and wine events celebrating Italian heritage in the Canadian capital.
