Day of Bulgaria in Canadian Province of Ontario
08 March 2018 News
A Day of Bulgaria, marking the country's national day, 3 March, and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was held at the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian Province of Ontario on 1 March 2018.
At the invitation of the Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Toronto Petar Kraytchev, Ontario executive officials, Legislative Assembly members, diplomats, representatives of the Bulgarian community and clergy of the Greater Toronto Area, of the Canada Bulgaria Business Network, the Honorary Consul in Mississauga Ignat Kaneff, folk performers, teachers and Bulgarian Sunday school students gathered at the Queen's Park Government Complex for the event which was hosted by the Speaker of the Ontario Provincial Parliament Dave Levac.
At the start of the festive occasion, the Bulgarian tricolour flag was raised in front of the building of the Parliament of Ontario, which is Canada’s most densely populated province. Canadian Federation of Independent Business Vice-President Plamen Petkov gave a brief speech, and the Bulgarian national anthem was performed by Kaloyan Kalchev.
The ceremony proceeded with a formal part and a cultural programme at the Ontario Legislative Building. The Deputy Speaker of the Legislature Soo Wong welcomed the opportunity to have Bulgaria’s national day celebrated precisely at the Legislative Assembly and presented Consul General Petar Kraytchev with a certificate of commendation. In her speech, the Deputy Speaker outlined highlights of Bulgaria’s history, spoke about the landmark events related to the observance and stressed the role of the Bulgarian community in the multicultural society of Canada and Ontario.
Bulgarian Consul General Petar Kraytchev welcomed the attendees of the ceremony and acknowledged the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the opportunity to place Bulgaria in the focus at the Queen’s Park Government Complex. He overviewed the bilateral and multilateral dialogue with Canada within the context of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, retraced the events related to the Liberation and the national day, and called for a minute of silence to commemorate the heroes who laid their lives for Bulgaria’s freedom.
The Ot Izvora Folk Choir, led by Prof. Irina Markova, jointly with the children’s choir of the Bulgarche Group for Bulgarian Customs, Traditions, History and Folklore, performed in the cultural programme. Martenitsas were handed to the guests of the event.
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