Holder Celebrates Historic Moment 

June 10, 2010 –  London West Member of Parliament Ed Holder, co-chair of the Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group is pleased to help celebrate the first annual Canada-Portugal Day. 

“Portugal is the first country to be formally and successfully recognized by the Canadian Parliament with such a distinction.  It also carried personal significance for me too,” said Mr. Holder.

The Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group, tabled a motion which stated, That, in the opinion of the House, throughout Canada in each and every year, June 10 shall be known as Canada-Portugal day in celebration of the friendship between Portugal and Canada and in recognition of the history of the Luso-Canadian community and its contribution to Canadian society. The motion was passed unanimously in the House a week ago.

“Canada-Portugal relations are based both in trade and culture,” said Mr. Holder. “Parliament’s unanimous and historic recognition in the House of Commons demonstrates our appreciation of the positive and growing relationship between Canada and Portugal.”

Canada has a Portuguese community of between 375,000 and 500,000 people, most originating from the Azores. Portuguese Canadians live mainly in Greater Toronto and Montreal, with significant communities in Vancouver and the Ottawa-Gatineau area.  London has a notable and growing group of citizens with Portuguese heritage, including the wife of Mr. Holder.

“My wife, Judite has a proud Portuguese heritage and has shared so much of it with me.  I truly was proud to give back to a community that has given so much to London and my family personally.”

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