The Embassy of Italy in Ottawa hosted a reception at the prestigious National Gallery of Canada to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic. The event brought together more than 600 guests, including senior Canadian institutional representatives (among them Speaker of the House of Commons Francis Scarpaleggia, federal Ministers, Senators and Members of Parliament) as well as representatives from Canada’s business, cultural, academic and scientific communities and members of the Italian-Canadian community.
Following opening remarks delivered on behalf of the National Gallery by Mr. Thomas d’Aquino, Chair Emeritus of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation, founder of the Business Council of Canada and a distinguished philanthropist of Italian origin, Ambassador Alessandro Cattaneo underscored the excellent state of relations between Italy and Canada. He noted that the two countries are close allies and partners, united by shared democratic values and a common commitment to freedom – the same principles embraced by the Italian people on the 2nd of June 1946 – as well as by a shared vision in addressing the major challenges facing the international community. Ambassador Cattaneo further highlighted the strong bilateral cooperation between Italy and Canada within NATO, the G7 and the United Nations, as well as the strategic partnership developed across a range of areas of mutual interest. He recalled that these ties were reaffirmed during the recent meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Prime Minister Mark Carney on the margins of the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan. These themes were echoed in the remarks delivered by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, who emphasized the excellent cooperation and mutual understanding with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, as well as by Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli.
The Ottawa celebrations were held within a broader framework of initiatives taking place throughout June, Italian Heritage Month in Canada, organized by Italy’s diplomatic-consular network, Canadian provincial and municipal authorities, and Italian-Canadian associations. Among these initiatives, Ambassador Cattaneo participated last Tuesday in the Italian flag-raising ceremony organized by the Canada–Italy Interparliamentary Friendship Group on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in the presence of Senators, Members of Parliament and Representatives of the Italian-Canadian community. The Ambassador also attended Republic Day celebrations in Toronto on Tuesday evening and will travel to Montréal and Niagara Falls to participate in similar events taking place this evening and tomorrow.
