Vietnamese Community in Canada Celebrates National Day with Flag-Raising Ceremonies

The Vietnamese community in Canada joined in the nationwide celebrations of National Day on September 2nd, hosting flag-raising ceremonies at city halls across the country to showcase their pride and solidarity with their homeland.

On September 2, in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, representatives of the Executive Committee of the Canada Vietnam Society (CVS) and community members gathered for a flag-raising ceremony, proudly flying the national flag alongside the Canadian flag in front of City Hall. This historic moment marked the first time the Vietnamese flag had been flown at a Canadian government office on Vietnam’s Independence Day.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe issued a statement recognizing September 2 as Vietnam National Day in the capital, acknowledging the significance of this day in the hearts of Vietnamese people worldwide. The city’s recognition of Vietnam National Day serves as a celebration of the proud spirit of the Vietnamese community and a testament to the deepening friendship between the communities living together in Ottawa.

Dang Trung Phuoc, President of the Canadian-Vietnamese Society, expressed his gratitude for the smooth execution of the flag-raising ceremony, which was made possible by the approval and recognition of the Mayor of Ottawa. He hopes to replicate this initiative across Canada to preserve this cultural tradition.

Phuoc emphasized the importance of showing gratitude to Uncle Ho, the founder of Vietnam, and felt honored to stand under the national flag on Independence Day in the capital of Canada. He aspires for all Vietnamese people residing in Canada to unite in building a more prosperous homeland.

Prior to the Ottawa ceremony, the Vietnamese community in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island (PEI), held a flag-raising ceremony on August 30. Emily Le, President of the Vietnamese Association in PEI, noted that this was the second consecutive year the ceremony had taken place. Mayor Philip Brown and the Association’s Board of Directors participated in the flag-raising ceremony, which was followed by the Vietnamese flag flying on the roof of City Hall from August 30 to September 3.

In Toronto, the most populous city in Canada and the capital of Ontario province, the Vietnamese flag was also flown at City Hall, marking a new chapter in people-to-people exchange activities and strengthening the bond between Vietnam and Canada.