On the Bulgarian National Day - March 3, 2024 - the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Canadian capital held an official flag raising ceremony before the City of Ottawa main building. The event was attended by representatives of the Bulgarian community and local guests.

Mr. Atanas Dimitrov, representative of the young Bulgarian professionals in the Canadian capital was host of the ceremony. After the raising of the Bulgarian flag and the performance of the anthems of Bulgaria and Canada by the local choir "Rodina", the deputy mayor of the City of Ottawa, Mr. David Hill, congratulated the guests of the ceremony and outlined the importance of this holiday for the Bulgarian community. He emphasized the restoration of our statehood in 1878 and the formation of modern Bulgaria. Mr. Hill stressed on the important contribution of the Bulgarian community from the capital region for the development and the diversity of the city.

On behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ambassador Plamen Georgiev congratulated our compatriots with the national holiday, pointed out the importance of March 3 for the unity of all Bulgarians around the globe and highlighted the importance of our thousand-year old history and the achievements of our people. He urged to proudly carry the Bulgarian identity, which greatly enriches the local Canadian communities where our fellow countrymen have settled. Ambassador Georgiev pointed out the need to strengthen the ties with our historical homeland, called for unity of all Bulgarians in Canada, but also for greater responsibility, in order to stay worthy to our ancestors and their sacrifices.

Mr. Chandra Aria, a member of the Canadian Parliament and representative of the Canada-Bulgaria Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, addressed the guests of the ceremony as well. He congratulated all Bulgarians with the important date of March 3, emphasized the resilience of the Bulgarian people through the 500 years of foreign yoke and domination and outlined the significant success achieved by our country after the its Liberation.

In her speech the President of the Bulgarian community in the Ottawa-Gatineau Capital Region, Mrs. Stella Kostova, gave a high assessment on the cooperation of the local Canadian authorities with the Bulgarians in Ottawa and pointed out that the initiatives of our compatriots enjoy full support and cooperation on behalf of the Canadian society. She called  for unity of all Bulgarians in Canada.

The ceremony ended with the traditional Bulgarian Horo-dance, where the Ottawa-Gatineau Capital Region Bulgarian community members, the Folk Ensemble "Rodina" and the guests of the ceremony enjoyed altogether.