PH Consul General to Calgary, Alberta Culture Minister Discuss Cultural Projects 

Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy Patron (left) and Alberta Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism & Status of Women Leela Aheer (right) exchange gifts during their meeting on 23 October 2020 in Calgary. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 29 October 2020 – Philippine Consul General to Calgary Zaldy Patron and Alberta Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism & Status of Women Leela Aheer met to discuss their respective offices’ cultural projects on 23 October 2020.

Consul General Patron congratulated Minister Aheer and her ministry for organizing the month-long Alberta Culture Days 2020 held in September 2020. The event, according to the Consul General, gave a platform for the province’s different nationalities, including the Filipinos, to highlight their own cultures.  

Consul General Patron joined the Alberta Culture Days 2020 through the activities of the Philippine Arts Council (PAS) and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Edmonton (UPAAE). PAS held “Hulaan Mo '' online guessing game about Philippine arts, culture, and history. UPAAE, on the other hand, organized “Historya 2,” a visual and inter-cultural dialogue about the experience of Filipinos in Alberta. 

Consul General Patron shared with Minister Aheer some of the plans of the Consulate General concerning cultural diplomacy. He expressed interest to collaborate with Minister Aheer for future projects that could showcase Filipino culture and, at the same time, raise the stature and profile of the Filipinos in Alberta. 

Minister Aheer acknowledged that the big Filipino population in the province makes the Filipino community an important part of Alberta’s cultural diversity.

Consul General Patron informed Minister Aheer about the Filipino entrepreneurs who opened up businesses in the province despite the COVID-19 pandemic to create jobs and contribute to the province’s economic recovery.  Minister Aheer referred to these Filipino entrepreneurs’ stories as “stories of hope” which can inspire other Albertans. END

For more information, visit https://www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.