Clockwise from top: Ambassador Garcia and Chairman Almario sign the MOU on the establishment of Sentro Rizal Ottawa; Ribbon-cutting of Sentro Rizal Ottawa; A view of the new centre; Chairman Almario, together with CFO Executive Director Astravel Pimentel-Naik, presents Ambassador Garcia with some of his works.

10 May 2018, Ottawa – Filipino and Canadian residents of Ottawa and Montreal welcomed the inauguration of the first Sentro Rizal in Canada today. Led by Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Virgilio Almario, Sentro Rizal Ottawa was officially opened at the Embassy Chancery on 30 Murray Street in Ottawa’s Byward Market with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Embassy and the NCCA.

Canadian Members of Parliament Kevin Lamoureux and David Graham, delegations from the NCCA and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and representatives from the Filipino community in Ottawa and Montreal also attended the ceremony.

“In the spirit of inclusivity and diversity in Canada, we hope that Sentro Rizal Ottawa will give our first generation Filipino immigrants a feeling of home, and our second and third generation Filipino-Canadians the opportunity to better acquaint themselves with our beautiful country and their rich cultural heritage,” said Ambassador Garcia.

The center contains Filipiniana literature on various subjects, handicrafts, and visual arts by prominent Filipino artists as well as a Virtual Sentro Rizal containing digital resources on Filipino culture. It is accessible to the public during regular office hours. For more information on Sentro Rizal Ottawa, the public may contact the Cultural Section of the Embassy at telephone number 613.233.1121. END.