Expo 2020 Dubai: Canada Pavilion to celebrate National Day on Saturday

Dubai: The Canada Pavilion will mark its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday, March 19, with cultural and trade events highlighting the economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between the UAE and Canada.

According to organisers, Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, will head Canada’s delegation for its Expo National Day events and participate in a series of high-level meetings where she will promote Canadian leadership, innovation, and opportunities throughout all sectors of society, while highlighting the importance of collaboration across countries and cultures.

She will be joined by Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, who will highlight the role Expo 2020 Dubai has played in opening doors for more bilateral trade and investment opportunities for the two countries.

Week of music, art, movies

It will be a week of music, art, movie screenings and performances culminating in a National Day concert headlined by Quebec pop sensation Marie Mai, whose electrifying rhythms have seen her build a massive fan base in Canada, France and the Unite States. Her music incorporates elements of rock, pop and electro.

Canadian alt-pop group Neon Dreams, made up of vocalist Frank Kadillac and drummer Adrian Morris, will also perform, blending pop, rock, EDM, hip-hop, reggae and folk.

Internationally-renowned circus troupe Artcirq will display their energetic acrobatics. Artcirq’s unique performing style blends modern circus techniques with Inuit culture and multi-media production giving its members the space, skills and opportunities to express themselves and celebrate their heritage.

‘Take your seat’

The Canada Pavilion will also have an outdoor photographic exhibition titled ‘Take Your Seat’, where each shot is a reminder to take care of each other, our planet and ourselves.

The Canada Pavilion will also participate in a series of fun events and activities to mark International Francophonie Day on March 20 — a day when more than 300 million francophones in five different continents celebrate the French language.

Rounding up Canada’s National Day showcase will be the regional premiere of ‘Peace by Chocolate’, a Canadian drama film, directed by Jonathan Keijser and inspired by the true story of the Hadhads. The family from Syria moved to Canada as refugees, fleeing the Syrian civil war, settling in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and establishing the Peace by Chocolate artisanal chocolate shop.