On April 23rd, in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, Canada Habla Español (CANHE), in collaboration with GRULA (the Latin American Group of Ambassadors) and the Embassy of Spain hosted an inaugural ceremony of the Spanish Language Day that is now engraved in the collective memory. The celebration took place at the emblematic Global Centre for Pluralism, a venue that symbolizes the richness of Canadian diversity. This event brought together 17 ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, business owners, educators and members of the Hispanic community, reflecting the growing influence and impact of Spanish in all aspects of the lives of the Hispanics.
Hispanotech’s president, Citlalli Rios was, of course, present as the Hispanic community proudly celebrates the second anniversary of the official proclamation of Spanish Language Day, an event that continues to gain strength in the diplomatic and cultural spheres.
This achievement is due, in large part, to the organization Canada Habla Español (CANHE), which through its different chapters and collaborations with members and community organizations, has promoted the proclamations of Spanish Language Day, showing how a collective effort can transform the reality of a community.
The ceremony began with the reading of the proclamation, which began a day that recognized the transformative power of Spanish. And the significant words of the Center for Pluralism by Meredith Preston. Next, the writers Martha Batiz and Antolina Ortiz Moore gave voice to Hispanic letters, reading excerpts from their works, while the audience immersed themselves in the literary richness that has left its mark on generations of Spanish speakers. The presence of the Cervantes Institute, with professors Yolanda Iglesias and Lauren Beck, made palpable the institution's commitment to the teaching and promotion of the Spanish language, contributing to the understanding and cultural appreciation between Canada and the Spanish-speaking world.
Great job with the panel "Voices of Spanish: Leadership and Community," which brought together the panelists: Noemi Weis (Argentina), Dr. Juan Luis Suarez (Spain), Dr. Raquel Zegarra del Carpio O'Donovan (Peru), and Daniel DesRosiers (El Salvador). These visionaries shared their experiences on how Spanish has become a bridge for science, the arts, and business, and how empathetic leadership from Spanish speakers is opening new doors in various fields.
In Ottawa, Spanish Language Day was not only a linguistic celebration, but a reaffirmation of the cultural strength that the Hispanic language continues to represent in the heart of Canada. These types of celebrations not only celebrate the language, but also show how Canadian communities, both in Toronto and in other cities, are building cultural bridges, strengthening relations with Spanish-speaking countries, and promoting the richness of languages and traditions that enrich Canadian society.
