The European Union joins 39th annual Winterlude

OTTAWA - In order to mark Canada's sesquicentennial and the 60^th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the European Union Delegation to Canada is delighted to present an ice sculpture dedicated to the 2017 twin commemorative year.

This is the EU Delegation's second consecutive year partnering with Winterlude – one of Canada's signature winter festivals. The unveiling of the EU ice scuplture will take place on Saturday, 4 February at 5:30 p.m., at Marion Dewar Plaza, Ottawa City Hall.

"We are happy to be part of Canada's 150^th birthday festivities and celebrate our unique friendship at a time when a new chapter is about to be written in EU-Canada history books thanks to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Strategic Partnership Agreement," said Marie-Anne Coninsx, Ambassador of the European Union to Canada.

"These two landmark agreements have placed our bilateral relationship on a new path of growth and closer cooperation, with European and Canadian citizens to reap benefits for generations to come," continued Ambassador Coninsx.

The 25 March 1957 Treaty of Rome marked a key moment in the history of European integration with the creation of the European Economic Community, a development that eventually gave birth to the European Union, one of the most significant political and economic achievements in history.

Today, the European Union is a strong political and economic Union of 28 democratic European countries and the world's leading trading partner.

Established in 1976, the European Union Delegation to Canada is a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and, as such, the natural contact point in Canada between the EU and the Canadian authorities. It also has a strong public diplomacy mandate designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the European Union as well as EU-Canada relations.

Follow us @EUinCanada, #EU60, and facebook.com/EUinCanada for updates on anniversary activities and events.   

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Contact Press Officer Diodora Bucur (Diodora.Bucur@eeas.europa.eu) at 613-563-6354.