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Germany celebrates Canada’s 150th

Germany joins in the celebrations of Canada's sesquicentennial year with a broad program of cultural events

June 19th, 2017
Hélène Meyer, News from Berlin
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The Goethe-Institut, the German Embassy and other partner organizations are taking Canada's 150th birthday as an opportunity to celebrate the German-Canadian friendship.

Under the motto “Germany @ Canada 2017 – Partners from Immigration to Innovation / L’Allemagne @ Canada – Partenaires: de l’immigration à l’innovation” the cultural program comprises over 40 events around Canada, including Toronto and Montreal. It consists of exhibitions, discussions, films, readings and concerts.

The Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy worked with various Canadian cultural institutions in order to organize this huge cultural event intended to highlight the shared values of the two countries: from the liberal democracies, federations promoting regional diversity, to combatting global warming together with strategic international partners. The program sheds light on their collaboration in the fields of science, research, art and culture.

Furthermore, it emphasizes the Germany's historical contribution to Canada's cultural patchwork. According to the press release of the Goethe-Institut, the exhibition Canada and Germany: Partners from Immigration to Innovationwill explore the ways in which German immigrants – from the Hessian soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, to Mennonites fleeing religious persecution, to entrepreneurs seeking fame and fortune – have become an integral part of the rich Canadian fabric. It will also feature German-Canadian technological collaborations, including a hitch-hiking robot and an energy-producing device that uses brain power to wash laundry.

On his recent visit in Germany, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirms that this country is “not only a close ally, but a true friend.” The event series Celebrate ! Germany @ Canada 2017 develops cultural exchanges that demonstrate that Germany and Canada are not just trading partners, members of NATO, G7 and G20 but also close friends able to cooperate in many fields.

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News from Berlin