Advisories & News
Press Release
Flag Raising Ceremony at “Little Manila” in North York, Ontario
2020-07-04
PR-30-2020
30 June 2020 Toronto, Ontario – The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto participated in the flag raising ceremony on 14 June 2020 at “Little Manila”, Bathurst-Wilson Parkettte, North York, Ontario, on the occasion of the 122nd Philippine Independence Day. The flag raising was organized by the Filipino Canadian Communities in Canada and the organizer of the “Taste of Manila”, the only Filipino street festival in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and located in North York, home of the largest area of concentration for Filipinos in Canada. The holding of the festival usually closes a portion of a major Toronto street – Bathurst Street at the corner of Wilson Avenue. The “Taste of Manila“ was among the City of Toronto’s city-led events and approved permits cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the attendees were Consul General Orontes V. Castro, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Hon. Marco Mendicino and City of Toronto Councillor James Pasternak. Member of Parliament Michael Levitt and Member of Provincial Parliament Roman Barber sent their representatives.
In his remarks, Consul General Orontes V. Castro highlighted the close bilateral relations between the Philippines and Canada. He also added that the increasing number of Filipino immigrants, students, and workers to Canada, especially to Ontario, could lead to increased trade and investment between the two countries. He thereafter read the Independence Day message of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. In his brief speech, Minister Mendicino noted the presence and contribution of Filipinos in Canada’s development and he stated that Filipinos would always be welcome to the country. Councillor Pasternak, on the other hand, thanked the Filipinos’ contribution to the progress and development of the City of Toronto.
