PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo will cut the ribbon for the second year in a row at the Guyana Festival in Toronto. Taking time out of his busy schedule, the President will stop off for the ceremony on his way to a conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

President Jagdeo addressing attendees last year

This is the 14th annual festival and the 7th time President Jagdeo will be participating.

The opening ceremony on tomorrow kicks off at 11:00 hrs to the sounds of Tassas and African drumming with dignitaries representing the three levels of Canadian governments and the CARICOM Consular Corps in attendance and bringing their greetings to the occasion.

The first 500 arrivals will be given free Guyana flags by the Festival committee.

Being celebrated under the theme, A Taste of Guyana, the Festival is an exposé of Guyanese Heritage and Culture in Canada.

Activities include soccer, dominoes, face-painting, a car show, trade show, Multi-Faith service, cultural show, duck-curry cook-off, softball and cricket and more.

Honorary Consul General to Toronto Mr. Danny Doobay, under whose patronage the Festival is being held, said that the consistent effort by the President to make the time in his schedule to attend the celebrations is testament to the high value placed on sustaining strong ties with the Guyanese Canadian Diaspora.

He went on to say that on the Diaspora side, the immense amount of efforts by the Festival committees and countless volunteers that go into making the event a perennial success, is in turn a reflection of their continuing commitment to their birth country. It is truly a cooperative effort by Guyanese Canadians from all walks of life and a great source of pride to the community, he said.

The Festival brings to a close the annual Guyanese Heritage Celebrations, a month-long programme in Canada organized to commemorate the 43rd Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence.

The celebrations commenced on May 23 with the Guyana Awards (Canada) Gala and included dozens of activities spanning five provinces, involving thousands of Guyanese and Canadians.