Belgian Ambassador Bruno van der Pluijm hosted a reception at his residence to mark the country’s National Day. From left, Denis Robert, Canada’s ambassador to Belgium, Mr. van der Pluijm and his wife, Hildegarde van de Voorde.The Arab ambassadors of Ottawa held a gala and award ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History, to honour the excellence of Canadians of Arab descent. Mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah, who performed at the event, was one of the award recipients. (Photo: M. Belmellat)The heads of mission of CARICOM hosted a reception on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their organization’s establishment. Here Haitian Ambassador Frantz Liautaud, right, greets Benin Ambassador Honoré-Théodore Ahimakin. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Cameroon High Commissioner Solomon Azoh-Mbi Anu’a-Gheyle, centre, and his wife, Mercy, hosted a national day reception at the Château Laurier. They’re shown greeting Swedish Ambassador Teppo Tauriainen. (Photo: Sam Garcia)The African diplomatic corps hosted Africa Day 2013 at the Palais des congrès in Gatineau. Rwandan Ambassador Edda Mukabagwiza greets Kenneth David Kaunda, first president of Zambia. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Argentine chargé d’affaires José Ureta hosted a national day reception at the Château Laurier. He’s shown with Angolan Ambassador Agostinho Tavares da Silva Neto. (Photo: Sam Garcia)French Ambassador Philippe Zeller and his wife Odile, hosted a dinner at their residence to celebrate the launch of the book Sainte-Cyrille-de-Perpétue, which was written by the six women pictured here. From left: Florence Saint-Léger Liautaud (Haiti), Marianne Feaver (Canada), Ms. Zeller, Hélène Carrier, Madeleine Brinkmann (EU) and Federica Lehner (Switzerland). (Photo: Sam Garcia)Otto’s BMW held a family day event for diplomats at the Canadian Museum of History. From left, James Robertson, Deputy British High Commissioner Corin Robertson, their children, Zoe and Alex and Jason Gullo Mullins, a dancer from the Cherokee Nation and cultural ambassador for the Ottawa-based NGO Aboriginal Experiences. (Photo: Marc Bridgen)Norwegian Ambassador Mona Elisabeth Brother and her husband Asmund Baklien hosted a national day reception at their residence. (Photo: Ulle Baum)Italian Ambassador Gian Cornado paid a courtesy call to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.Greek Parliament speaker Evangelos Meimarakis spoke at a reception held in his honour. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Tooms Hendrik Ilves, president of Estonia, visited Ottawa in the spring. He’s shown entering the centre block with MP Peter Van Loan, who hosted a reception in his honour. (Photo: Ulle Baum)Former EU Ambassador Matthias Brinkmann, centre, and the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association co-hosted a reception to celebrate Europe. From left, Colombian Ambassador Nicolas Lloreda Ricaurte and Spanish Ambassador Carlos Gomez-Mugica Sanz. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Netherlands Ambassador Wim Geerts joined the band at a reception he hosted on Queen’s Day at Ottawa City Hall. It also served as his farewell reception. (Photo: Ulle Baum)To mark the 222nd anniversary of the adoption of the constitution, Ambassador Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysk, left, and his wife, Katarzyna, hosted a reception at the Château Laurier. The ambassador is shown with former top soldier Walter Natynczyk. (Photo: Polish embassy)To mark the independence day of Paraguay, Ambassador Manuel Schaerer Kanonnikoff, left, hosted a reception. He’s shown with Percy Abols, director of A.G.R.I. Inc. (Photo: Frank Scheme)Portuguese Ambassador Jose Fernando Moreira da Cunha hosted a reception at his residence to mark Portugal’s National Day. He’s shown greeting Mali Ambassador Ami Diallo Traore. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches and Indian High Commissioner Nirmal Verma watch as Jagdeep Perhar, president of the India Canada Association, raised India’s flag at Ottawa City Hall to mark the 66th anniversary of India’s Independence.The opening gala of the weekend to honour Korean War veterans took place at the Canadian War Museum. From left, Brigitte D’Auzac de Lamartinie of Historica Canada; Alex Herd, researcher for Historica Canada; James Witham, director-general of the war museum; Lee Yang, Korean Ambassador Cho Hee-yong; Choi Wan-Geun, of the Patriots and Veterans Affairs for Korea; Young-Hae Lee, president of the Canada Korea Society; Doug Finney, president-elect of the National Korean Veterans Association (KVA); former Veterans Affairs minister Steven Blaney; Senator Yonah Martin; Senator Joseph Day; Korean military attaché Col. Soo-Wan Lee; former Canadian trade commissioner Robert C. Lee; Col. David Clark of the U.S. Department of Defense; MP Chungsen Leung and the piper for the evening. (Photo: Sam Garcia)Azerbaijani consul Goshgar A. Zeynalov, right, attended the opening of the Edward Burtynsky show at the Canadian Museum of Nature. He’s shown with the artist, centre, and Museum CEO Meg Beckel. (Photo: Martin Lipman)Ken Taylor, Canada’s former ambassador to Iran, spoke at a Carleton University alumni association lunch. From left, retired Canadian diplomats Chris Westdal, Craig MacDonald, Rick Kohler, Ken Taylor, Malcolm McKechnie, Lawrence Lederman. (Photo: Mike Pinder)
