The UAE capital is in the midst of a week-long cultural exchange with a delegation of Canadian authors, film makers, entertainers, musicians, sportspersons and artists visiting the Emirates’ garden city.
Held at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, in the heart of the UAE’s capital, the seven-day programme, organised under the ‘Celebrate Canada!’ banner is designed to increase awareness of the richness of Canadian culture, while instilling a passion for reading amongst parents and teachers, as well as children.
H.E. David Hutton, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE said: “Canada’s authors, film makers, entertainers, artists, and sportsmen are the true ambassadors of our great country, and we are delighted to host them here in Abu Dhabi this week with the hope that their time spent here will further strengthen the bridges of understanding between Canada and the UAE.”
In order to make this possible, celebrated children’s authors, artists and NHL Legends of Hockey stars who will play a few exhibition games against the UAE national team, have all been be flown in from Toronto by Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates.
“I am delighted that we were able to bring such a cultural celebration here to Abu Dhabi, and the rest of the UAE, as part of Celebrate Canada! With an exchange group going back to Toronto from Abu Dhabi, this will only enhance the already great relations between the two countries,” said Ian Ferguson-Brown, Head of Brand Management and Communications, Etihad Airways.
With the increasing focus on reading and literacy, a number of critically acclaimed and award winning authors have travelled to Abu Dhabi, including Roch Carrier (“The Hockey Sweater”), Rachna Gilmore, and Paul Yee – the latter two recipients of Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature.
The outreach programme, which runs through the 16th of the month, includes various events outside of the Cultural Foundation, with school visits by the authors and artists in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Two exciting exhibits are also on display at the Foundation throughout Canada Week with the first focusing on “The Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) which is a travelling exhibition of original illustrations that have been created for Canadian children’s books.
The second, by noted Quebec author and photographer Helene Tremblay, is the portrayal of the lives of families in 116 countries around the world and entitled ‘Humanity: An Intimate Portrait’.
For those with a perhaps more active mind, and an interest in Canada’s most famed sport, the sight of the NHL Legends of Hockey team coming to the UAE will no doubt create a stir. As well as playing the UAE national team, and expatriate teams from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the NHL Legends will take part in organised hockey clinics for youngsters.
“It is not hard to see why Canada Week and the Celebrate Canada! campaign are welcomed as a unique cultural event in the UAE. We hope that, with our new direct flights three times a week to Toronto, we can even increase this cultural exchange and celebration – all year round,” concluded Ferguson-Brown.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world’s fastest growing airline and will now fly to 24 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia.
Together with its divisions Etihad Holidays and Etihad Crystal Cargo, Etihad Airways is changing the way people see the world.
For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihad.ae.
