An official reception dedicated to Georgia’s Independence Day was held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, organised by the Embassy of Georgia in Canada. The event was attended by the parliamentary delegation of Georgia, which was on an official visit to Canada, headed by the Vice Speaker of Parliament and Chair of the Georgia–Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, Nino Tsilosani.

According to the Georgian Parliament, the ceremonial event was attended by representatives of Canada’s legislative and executive branches, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of international organisations, and members of the local Georgian diaspora.

Addressing the audience gathered at the reception, Nino Tsilosani emphasised Georgia’s enduring aspiration for independence and freedom. She noted that the declaration of independence on May 26, 1918, was a historic moment that reflected the Georgian nation’s unwavering determination to shape and build its own future as a free and sovereign state.

The Vice Speaker congratulated the City of Ottawa and the Canadian people on the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding and expressed gratitude to Canada for its steadfast support of Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

In the concluding part of her remarks, the Vice Speaker spoke about Georgia’s ancient civilisation and cultural heritage. As Nino Tsilosani noted, this year marks the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity being declared Georgia’s state religion. She also highlighted Georgian traditions inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, including the traditional Georgian qvevri wine-making method and Georgian wheat culture, describing them as evidence of the country’s continuous statehood and civilizational memory.