For the first time, an event titled "Azerbaijan Heritage Day" was held at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan reports.
The event, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Arts and Culture Center "Vətən" in Toronto, began with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Canada.
The event was moderated by former Canadian Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Tony Ruprecht. He emphasized that the "Vətən" organization plays an invaluable role in promoting Azerbaijan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, traditions, and customs in Canada. He noted that he had participated in the organization’s events multiple times and always learned new and interesting information about Azerbaijan.
The head of the Center, Lalin Hasanova, thanked the guests for their participation and spoke about the history of the organization’s founding. She also highlighted the activities of the Azerbaijan House in Toronto. “We live in a country where we are given every opportunity to maintain a connection with our roots, and we truly value that,” added the head of the Center.
Members of the Ontario Provincial Parliament — Rudy Cuzzetto, Mohamed Firin, Michael Tibollo, Sheref Sabawi, Chris Glover, Jamie West, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Stephanie Bowman, and Andrea Hazell — attended the event. They noted that the organization had done a great job in providing them with comprehensive information about Azerbaijan. On the occasion of the Center’s anniversary, MP Andrea Hazell presented Lalin Hasanova with an official congratulatory letter. The MP, who played a key role in organizing the event, shared this moment on her social media page.
The event featured dance performances by students of the weekend school "My Azerbaijan," which operates under the Azerbaijan House, choreographed by dance instructor Orkhan Islamov. There was also a performance by a nagara (traditional drum) group led by instructor Jamkhur Huseynov, both of which were met with applause.
The atmosphere of the event was enriched by a heartfelt performance of the song "Vətən" (Motherland) by Sherwin Shadpour, head of the Azerbaijani music and dance ensemble "Tabriz," accompanied on piano by Gunel Ismailova.
The event was attended by Canadian officials, members of the Azerbaijani community, as well as community leaders representing Turkey, Uzbekistan, Bashkortostan, Turkmenistan, and others.
You can watch the video of the "Azerbaijan Heritage Day" event in Canada at the link below: