Expats in UAE mark 153rd Canada Day online

Dubai - Dubai's Burj Khalifa also lit up with the colours of the Canadian flag at 8.15pm to join the expats in their festivities.

Canadian missions in the UAE on Wednesday marked the 153rd Canada Day with a virtual celebration for their 40,000-strong expat community in the country.
Dubai's Burj Khalifa also lit up with the colours of the Canadian flag at 8.15pm to join the expats in their festivities.
For Canadians in the country, backyard barbecues, fireworks and a long list of entertainment activities are the usual staples for their annual Canada Day gatherings. This time, however, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they had to take the celebration online.
Canada streamed an entertainment event that was curated and produced in Paris.  
"This year, just like millions of people around the world, Canadians are celebrating a stay-at-home-birthday, together, with virtual online activities and world-class performances that can be viewed from the comfort of home," said Marcy Grossman, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE.
The online variety shows featuring popular Canadian artists can be accessed through the Embassy of Canada's social media platforms, and were aired from 10pm UAE time onwards on Wednesday.  Hashtags #CanadaDayUAE #LoveFromCanada #CanadaDay2020 also filled social media feeds.
As part of the festivity, Canada also thanked the UAE for its support in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. "Canada Day underlines our appreciation for what it has accomplished in collaboration with our international partners across the globe to fight Covid-19. Canada continues to stand ready to work with the UAE as the world moves toward a long-term recovery from the pandemic to build a brighter and resilient future," Grossman said.
saman@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai