By Martin Kammandel & Luca Bücken.
For the first time in four years the Embassy of Canada accredited from Brussels to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg organised a formal reception to celebrate seventy years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the aftermath of World War II. In fact some members of the Grand Ducal House took refuge in Canada after the German invasion of the Grand Duchy on 10 May 1940. For instance, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, father of the incumbent Grand Duke Henri, studied Law and Political Science at the Université Laval in Québec City during this period.
The diplomatic reception was held at the majestic Cercle Cité located in the historic centre of Luxembourg City. Guest of honour was the Luxembourgish Minister of Finance, M Pierre Gramegna who also delivered a speech highlighting the special friendship between the two countries. Canadian ambassador to Luxembourg, M Denis Robert, likewise held an allocution featuring the historic ties between the two countries. Thereafter Canadian baritone (based in Luxembourg) David Pike sang “Ons Heemecht” (Luxembourg’s national anthem) followed by the French and English versions of “O Canada”. The rest of the evening was entertained with the background music of Canadian jazz singer and pianist, Ann Vriend, who arrived to the Grand Duchy all the way from her home in Calgary, Alberta.
Several ambassadors accredited to Luxembourg attended the celebration including German Ambassador Christine Gläser and her Nipponese colleague, Ambassador Atsuko Nishimura.
Albeit the Canadian embassy to Luxembourg is based in Brussels, the country does have a rather active honorary consul resident in the Grand Duchy, Marie-Claire Goller.
In North America the Luxembourgian embassy based in Washington D.C. is also accredited to Canada. Nevertheless the Grand Duchy is equally represented by honorary consuls in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal.
For more information
Embassy of Canada to Luxembourg (non-resident) and Belgium: www.canadainternational.gc.ca/belgium-belgique/index.aspx?lang=eng
Canadian-Luxembourgian diplomatic relations: www.canadainternational.gc.ca/belgium-belgique/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/canada_luxembourg_relations.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=29
Ambassador Denis Robert: www.canadainternational.gc.ca/belgium-belgique/offices-bureaux/ambassador_biography-biographie_ambassadeur.aspx?lang=eng
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Pictures © Ambassade du Canada – Embassy of Canada
