Good Evening
I would like to begin by welcoming my co-host the Ambassador of Lebanon, His Excellency Ambassador Maalouf.
Thank you for working with us to help make this a very special evening.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to your fellow members of the diplomatic core the Ambassadors of Iraq, Afghanistan, and distinguished guests from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates.
Tonight we are here to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Canadian Lebanese and Arab Business Directory.
On behalf of my Council Colleagues I want to congratulate President and Editor in Chief Toufic Abou Assali for dedicating your time and talent to the successful publication of this resourceful and informative telephone listing.
The Directory is an authoritative point of information on local businesses, government services, and local assistance agencies for residents of Middle Eastern heritage and for members of the broader community.
As Mayor and a former businessman right here in the Capital, I must say that I have first hand knowledge of what businesses like yours do to generate our economy and our local culture.
I often describe Ottawa as the most sophisticated, intelligent, diverse, cultured village in the world, and I continue to believe this because of the fine work of people like all of you here in this room tonight.
I want to thank you for being here to celebrate this anniversary, and I wish all members of the Canadian Lebanese and Arab Business Directory much success for many publications to come.
Congratulations and thank you.
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Excerpts from Ambassador Massoud Maalouf's remarks at the launching of the "Canadian, Arab and Lebanese Business Directory, 2008-2009"
City Hall, Ottawa. 12 February 2009
Your Worship Mayor Larry O'Brien,
Excellencies and Members of the
Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Friends,
We are gathered tonight in this Beautiful building, the city Hall, as hosts of his Worship Mayor O'Brien to participate in the launching of the: Canadian, Arab and Lebanese Business Directory, 2008-2009, published by Toufic Abou Assali.
This fifth edition of the directory has to major additions to it: First it includes Arab businesses in the Capital Region, and second, it has a whole section on Tourism in Lebanon. The last section will help members of our community who have not been in their country of origin for a long time, and Canadians as well who wish to visit Lebanon to identify hotels, car rentals, and restaurants, places to visit, and all relevant information that a tourist needs prior to visiting a country.
And the fact that this directory is launched under the auspices of his Worship the mayor of Ottawa, and in City Hall per se, is indicative of the Mayor's interest in promoting business in Ottawa and his care of the Lebanese community in general. And I would not be surprised if the 6th edition of the directory will include businesses located at Gibran Khalil Gibran Street (in allusion to a decision made by the city council to name a street in Ottawa for Gibran).
Today's event coincides with the two hundredth birthday of Abraham Lincoln, also known as honest Abe, and we hope that this directory and its publisher will show the same honesty of Abraham Lincoln. It is also the two hundredth birthday of Charles Darwin. The author of "the Origin of Species" with its theory of natural selection, and it seems that nature has selected this directory among all others to be the best.
Congratulations, Toufic and thank you Mayor O' Brien from the bottom of our hearts for all the support you give to the Lebanese community in Ottawa. |
