The Worldwide Association of the American University of Beirut (WAAAUB) held its second North American Regional Gathering in Montreal, Canada on October 9-11, 2009.
The gathering drew some 200 AUB alumni from across Canada and the US, with participation from association leadership worldwide and local chapter representatives in a weekend of business meetings and social events. The highlight of the weekend's events was a Gala Dinner at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel featuring Raghida Dergham as keynote speaker. Ms. Dergham has been a columnist and senior diplomatic correspondent for the London-based Al Hayat newspaper since 1989. She is also a political analyst for NBC, MSNBC and the Arab satellite LBC. Ms. Dergham spoke on the many opportunities and talents inherent in Lebanese society that are rife for a vital development of state-building in the region.
§ Former United Nations Ambassador Khalil Makkawi, president of the worldwide
association and head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, was among the dignitaries present, which included His Excellency the Consul General of Lebanon Khalil el Habr,
§ Agop Evereklian, representing the Honorable Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney. Mr. Everkelian, the Ministry’s chief of staff, read a proclamation from the Minster which recognized the valuable contributions of the Lebanese diaspora to Canadian society for over 100 years.
