Iconic Landmarks Across Canada Aglow with Colors of the Philippine Flag to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Philippines-Canada Diplomatic Relations

Left: Filipino-Canadian Organization Inc. led the flag raising ceremony and lighting at Signal Hill; and right: Shaw Building in Charlottetown, PEI, illuminated in red and blue.

OTTAWA 23 December 2024 – In a vibrant display of friendship and affinity, several of Canada's iconic landmarks were illuminated, in the colors of the Philippine flag, on Sunday, 01 December 2024, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Philippines and Canada.

Members of the Filipino community across Canada gathered for a flag raising and lighting ceremony at a selected venue in their respective town/province, in each of Canada’s six (6) time zones. With immense pride, they showcased the enduring friendship and collaboration between the two nations and honored the contributions of Filipino communities to Canadian society through this event.

“Today, more than one million strong Filipinos have enriched Canada with their talents, hard work, and vibrant cultural heritage. They contribute across all sectors—from healthcare to the arts, from business to public service. Their success stories are a testament to the strength of our shared values. As the lights illuminate landmarks across Canada tonight, let them serve as symbols of our friendship, unity, and the aspirations we share for an even brighter future”, said Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Maria Andrelita Austria, in a video message.

Each landmark was illuminated, starting at 5:00 pm, local time, according to time zones starting from the Signal Hill at St. John’s Newfoundland, led by the members of the Filipino-Canadian Organization Inc. (FilCan). It was followed by the celebration of the Filipino communities in the Maritime zone. A flag raising ceremony at the Charlottetown City Hall and lighting of the Shaw Building in Prince Edward Island, led by the Filipino-Canadian Association of PEI, with their uniform 75th anniversary shirts. Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown graced the event. The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Halifax, led by Honorary Consul Consuelo Lacson, together with the members of the Filipino community, shared their part of the celebration at the Halifax City Hall.

In the part of Eastern Ontario, personnel of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, together with the Filipino community in Brampton, witnessed the illumination of the Clock Tower at Brampton City Hall. The program included the “cutting of cake” ceremony, with Brampton Mayor Patrick Walter Brown, Councillor Rowena Santos, and MP Shafqat Ali. The celebration in Montreal, led by the Filipino Heritage Society of Montreal, was held at the St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal. “Filipinos are making contributions to every part of society. In healthcare, arts, sports, music, culture, education, in so many places that you bring valuable assets to Canada. With that, we are so lucky that so many Filipinos made Canada their home”, remarked by Member of Parliament for Mount Royal Anthony Housefather. Darlington District Councillor Stephanie Valenzuela also attended the event. The Filipino community in Iqaluit, Nunavut, had the lighting ceremony the Inuit way through “Quilliq”, held at the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet hall.

In Central Canada, the celebration was held in the Memorial Provincial Park of Winnipeg. It was led by Honorary Consul Ronaldo Opina of the Philippine Consulate General in Manitoba, together with the Filipino community, and their special guests, namely, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Migration Minister of Labour and Immigration MLA Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Public Service Delivery MLA Mintu Sandhu, and Chief of Protocol Brad Robertson. “We are here because we are very proud to be able to recognize the 75th anniversary of Philippines and Canada diplomatic relations”, said MLA Marcelino.

Celebration in the mountain time zone was led by the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary, in partnership with Telus. The lighting of the digital screen of the Telus C-train Centre Street platform in downtown Calgary. MLA Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism, graced the reception. “Our countries have had a long-standing partnership that is built on mutual respect, shared values and common aspirations…”, remarked by MLA Sawhney. “I also want to highlight that the Alberta- Philippines relations stretch far beyond the economic realm, the people-to-people connections between Canada and the Philippines are integral to the relationship. Alberta Filipino community has had major contributions in helping to build this province, enriching our society with a vibrant Filipino culture and shared values of hard work and integrity,” added MLA Sawhney.

While bracing the extreme cold temperature, Filipinos in Whitehorse, Yukon, led by the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon (CFAY), had their flag raising ceremony and lighting of the Yukon Ice sculpture at the Yukon Visitor Centre. The Kalipi South Peace Filipino-Canadian Community in Dawson Creek, BC, led the celebration and lighting of Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre (Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts).

In the Pacific time zone, the lighting ceremonies were held at Bayanihan Community Centre in Victoria, BC, led by Victoria Filipino Canadian Association, and at Tamitik Arena at the District of Kitimat, BC, led by Kitimat Fil-Can.

The lighting of Canada’s landmarks aimed to increase the visibility of Filipinos and their contributions to Canadian society. This historic milestone celebration was spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Canada in cooperation with the Philippine Consulates General in Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver and the active support and participation of the Philippine Honorary Consulates in Manitoba and Halifax, and respective Filipino organizations across Canada. END

Filipino community in PEI led by Leticia “Leti” Larosa, founding Chairman of Filipino Canadian Association of PEI, in a group photo with Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown and in front of the illuminated Shaw Building.

(left side photo) A “cutting of cake” ceremony, from left to right: Consul Katrina Borja-Martin, MP Shafqat Ali, Deputy Consul General Kerwin Tate, Mayor Patrick Brown, Councillor Rowena Santos of the City of Brampton; and right photo: The Clock Tower in Brampton City Hall aglow in colors of the Philippine flag.

Left: Flag raising ceremony with members of the Filipino-Canadian community in Montreal led by Filipino Heritage Society of Montreal with guests MP Anthony Housefather (fourth from left) and Darlington District Councillor Stephanie Valenzuela (second from left); right: Illumination of St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal.

Left: Filipino-Canadian community in Manitoba led by Philippine Honorary Consul Ronaldo Opina during flag raising ceremony at the Memorial Provincial Park of Winnipeg. Right: Manitoba Minister of Labour and Migration Minister of Labour and Immigration MLA Malaya Marcelino, Minister of Public Service Delivery MLA Mintu Sandhu.

Left: group photo of the Filipino-Canadian communities in Calgary Alberta with Consul General Emma Sarne; right: Lighting of Telus Digital Screen.

A beautiful ice sculpture of the word “Yukon” by Canadian-Filipino Association of Yukon.

Left: lighting of Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre (Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts); right: members of the Kalipi South Peace Filipino-Canadian Community in Dawson Creek, BC.

Bayanihan Community Centre in Victoria, BC.

Lighting of Tamitik Arena at the District of Kitimat, BC, led by Kitimat Fil-Can.

For more information, visit https://www.ottawape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philembassy.ca, https://www.facebook.com/PHinCanada/, https://twitter.com/PHinCanada.