, 2010
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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