London (ANTARA News) – The Indonesian community member of the Association of the Indonesian Community of Quebec (ACIQ) celebrated the 150th Canada Day by participating in the annual cultural parade.
The ACIQ is headed by Ms. Dialin Putri Dahlan, an Indonesian diaspora who has lived in Canada for more than 10 years, Secretary of Social and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, Nadia Amalia, told Antara London on Sunday.
He said that especially this year, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Canada Day, the ACIQ is rallying the Indonesian people in Montreal to participate with the theme of the Indonesian costume parade.
The Indonesian contingent of adults and young children lined up wearing traditional clothing with decorations from various regions such as Batak, Java, Bali, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Participants carried and waved Indonesian and Canadian flags to liven up the parade.
Throughout the approximately 2 km parade, the Indonesian contingent also continuously performed the Sesonderan dance accompanied by cars decorated with typical Indonesian ornaments and fabrics. Drops of rain throughout the parade did not dampen the dancers' enthusiasm for entertaining the audience.
Local residents who watched the parade enthusiastically welcomed the Indonesian contingent, as evidenced by the cheers of the audience along the parade street.
Indonesian Ambassador to Canada, Dr. Teuku Faizasyah expressed his appreciation for the creativity of the Indonesian people of Montreal in enlivening this year's Canada Day parade. “The Indonesian diaspora plays an important role in promoting Indonesian culture abroad,” he continued.
“Their participation in activities such as the Canada Day parade should be supported as it is an opportunity to introduce Indonesia to foreigners,” said Ambassador Faizasyah.
Canada Day is a celebration of Canada's birthday that is observed every July 1. Like the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia which is celebrated every August 17, Canada Day is commemorated with various festive activities, such as concerts, picnics, bazaars, parades and other festivities.
In Montreal, province of Quebec, Canada Day is celebrated with a cultural parade along Avenue Sainte-Catherine to Place du Canada, specially closed to parades of various local communities and organizations. Besides the Indonesian community, communities from various countries also participated in the Canada 150 Day commemoration, including Brazil, Ireland and the Philippines.
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