Canadian embassy celebrates Flag Day in Qatar

HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada with Canadian Ambassador André Dubois and other officials and dignitaries at the cake-cutting ceremony.

The Canadian embassy in Qatar has held its first National Day celebration in Doha and marked the 50th anniversary of the national flag of Canada. At a gathering attended by some 400 people, Canadian ambassador André Dubois began the festivities with a tribute to the flag and the Canadians in Doha it represents.  HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada attended the event and was present for the ambassador’s remarks as well as the cutting of the cake. “We’re very thankful to Minister al-Sada for attending our celebration. Canada’s relationship with Qatar is more than just the connection between our governments. Our relationship is built on direct people-to-people connections,” said ambassador Dubois. “Canadians and Qataris have been strengthening the bond between our two peoples for decades, who have helped forge the links between Canada and Qatar that you see today.”On February 15, 1965, the red and white design with a single maple leaf was raised for the first time in Canada’s capital of Ottawa, Ontario. At the time, Canada was two years away from its 100th anniversary and, in the words of the speaker of the senate at the time, “is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion”.  In 1996, February 15 was declared Canada’s Flag Day and it has been observed ever since. There are more than 8,000 Canadians living and working in all sectors of Qatar’s economy and dozens of Canadian institutions are playing an active role in developing Qatar’s future. These include many of the embassy’s partners who supported the Flag Day reception. “I’d like to thank our generous partners, without whom this celebration would not have been possible,” said Dubois.To learn more about what Canadians in Qatar are doing, connect on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/Ogcthc