02 July 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa joined six other ethnic communities in celebrating Canada’s multiculturalism at the First Annual Diversity Celebration at the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Headquarters on June 25.
The Embassy staff took part in the celebration by introducing Philippine tourist destinations, Filipino food and handmade crafts to the Ottawa police force and members of the general public in the two-hour outdoor event. Protocol Officer Luis Miguel Moreno and Cultural Attaché Teresa Bragais also entertained the crowd with Filipino love songs.
Along with the Philippines, representatives of the Jamaican, Palestinian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Mexican, Aboriginal and Sikh communities presented colorful dances, lively songs and instructive table-top cultural exhibits.
Signaling the importance of diversity in the city’s development, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, attended the celebration. Mayor Watson noted that, every year, Ottawa welcomes more than 12,000 immigrants who bring with them a wealth of experience, skills and expertise. Likening the city to a mini-United Nations, the Mayor praised them for making countless contributions in many different areas such as law, teaching, medicine, business, politics, the arts and through community involvement, volunteering and advocacy. He affirmed the city’s commitment to removing barriers and creating equal opportunities for everyone regardless of cultural, heritage, race, language, beliefs or sexual orientation. Mayor Watson likewise took pride in the city’s success in attracting and retaining a diverse workforce which has made Ottawa one of Canada’s best diversity employers four years in a row.
OPS has a Diversity and Race Relations Section responsible for ensuring that police respond effectively, appropriately, and sensitively to all members of the community, particularly those who have traditionally been marginalized by society. The Section endeavors to strengthen communication between police and immigrants, racialized communities, Aboriginal peoples and GLBT communities through various initiatives including the Annual Diversity Celebration.
“The Philippine Embassy congratulates Mayor Watson for his work in building an inclusive city and thanks the Ottawa Police Service for its initiative to build partnerships with the ethnic and religious communities with a view to promoting cultural awareness within its ranks. In this spirit, we look forward to bigger diversity celebrations in the years to come,” Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia remarked. END