Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick on visit to Canada

Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick -- who is visiting Canada in the context of the country's 150th anniversary, 75 years of Greek-Canadian diplomatic relations, and the events to be held by the Greek Embassy and by the Greek Communities in all of Canada's major cities marking 25 March -- will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have bilateral meetings with Federal and Local officials, and meet with the country's major Greek communities.

The Deputy Minister arrived in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, yesterday evening. Today he will meet with his Canadian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Ian Shugart, whom he will brief on the latest developments in national issues, and with whom he will discuss issues of bilateral and regional interest.

Mr. Quick will also meet with Greek Canadians who hold various positions in the Canadian administration, as well as with Senator Pana Merchant, who is also Vice President of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA).

In the afternoon, Mr. Quick will travel on to Toronto, where he will attend the official ceremonial raising of the Greek flag, which takes place every year to mark our National Holiday, in the presence of members of the local government of Ontario and municipality officials. He will also meet with His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Canada and with representatives of the area's Greek Canadian organizations.

Tomorrow evening he will be in Vancouver, where the following morning he will visit the "Stavros Niarchos Foundation" Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Frazer University and attend events being held by the Greek Community of Vancouver in celebration of 25 March.

He will also convey the proposal from the Municipality of Kefalonia for twinning with the city of Vancouver, as the seafarer Ioannis Phokas (Juan de Fuca), who hailed from Kefalonia, discovered the Juan de Fuca Strait -- off Vancouver island -- while heading a Spanish Armada.

Finally, in Montreal Mr. Quick will meet with Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and together they will attend the events, including a Mass and Parade, being held by the Greek Community of Montreal to celebrate the 25th of March.

While in Montreal, Mr. Quick will visit the Socrates School and attend an official luncheon being hosted in his honour by the Greek Community.

Later the same day, he will depart for Athens.