By Frederick Halley

GUYANA Day 2017, under the theme “Enhancing the Awareness of Guyana in Canada’s sesquicentennial Year” (the 150th anniversary) is set for Sunday at the Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Urban Park, Ottawa, Ontario.

The auspicious occasion commemorates Guyana’s 51st Independence Anniversary and Canada’s 150th Confederation Anniversary, under the patronage of Her Excellency, Clarissa Riehl, High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to Canada.

Thousands of Guyanese-Canadians are expected to participate in the celebrations which will also coincide with the Tulip Festival at Lansdowne Park and the Victoria Day holiday weekend.

The day’s programme includes formative displays by the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST); exhibitions of Guyanese art and craft; Guyanese-Canadian manufactured food products; a food court featuring Guyanese cuisine; sampling of Guyana’s award-winning El Dorado rums; children’s interactive activities and cultural shows featuring outstanding Guyanese entertainers such as Bill Newman, Faith Amour, Omesh Singh’s Wave band, Mumtaz Ali and the London Sisters.

According to the Guyana Day brochure, the fact that Guyana’s commemoration of Canada’s 150th anniversary has been scheduled to take place within the time frame of the country’s celebration of the 51st anniversary of independence, provides a significant opportunity for the recognition and affirmation of the important links that exist between Guyana and Canada.

“Both countries owe much to the significant role played in our development by the indigenous inhabitants in Canada: in Canada, the “First Nations”; in Guyana, the “Amerindians.”

In her message to mark the occasion, High Commissioner Riehl disclosed that “over the years, Guyanese-Canadians have made significant contributions to their adopted homeland in the fields of law, government, education, medicine and sports. The Guyanese diaspora, through alumni and charitable organisations, has also made beneficial contributions to various communities and organisations across Guyana. I wish to commend the Guyanese diaspora for their continued commitment to these endeavours.”

According to the high commissioner, “as we celebrate another milestone in our nation’s history, I wish to encourage the members of our diaspora to recommit to contributing to the various spheres of Guyana’s development in any way that is deemed fit, all of which would redound to the further development of our beloved homeland for the benefit of future generations.

“In organising the Guyana Day 2017, we sought to provide a taste of Guyana such as our food, art and culture for the enjoyment of children and adults. I wish therefore to take this opportunity to enjoy the festivities. For our non-Guyanese friends, we hope that after visiting our event, you will be inspired to visit Guyana in the near future.”