Greece is the Word Today as Ottawa Welcomes the World!

Ancient Greece is the cradle of Western civilization. Thanks to them, we know democracy, Western philosophy, literature, and history. Who has not had fun with the Olympics? Who did not suffer at school with math? Who has not benefited from science? Or who has not thought about politics?

We owe all this to Ancient Greece.

What we know today from Greece is the fruit of a long history embodied in its art, its unique architecture, its renowned gastronomy and its amazing literary works. Greece tastes culture, breathes culture and is a source of culture. After the War of Independence of the Ottoman Empire in 1830, modern Greece gathers most of the historical nucleus of the Greek civilization.

The official language is Greek, and its religion is orthodox Christianity. Even so, in Greece also practiced the dodecateísmo or neohelenismo that were popular beliefs in the unforgettable Ancient Greece.

Greece is the Parliamentary Republic, which means that the head of state is the President of the Republic, who is elected by Parliament for five years. About eleven million people live in Greece, and its geographical location is privileged since it is between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

As for the climate, we can say that in Canada we would like to have the blessed climate of Greece because its winters are temperate and somewhat humid, as well as warm but dry summers. This climate predominates in all coastal regions, including Athens, parts of the Central Greece region, the Cyclades, the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands.

Not only its climate makes Greece a good place to live or visit, but also its food and traditions make this country a developed nation with high standards in quality of life. It is not less important to point out that industry, the primary sector, services, the maritime industry, and tourism are sources of development and economic prosperity for the country.

Precisely because of all that Greece has to offer and show, tourism is an important part of the country's economic progress. Tourists are enchanted with its mythology, the friendly hospitality of the people, the landscapes and the contrasting crystalline or deep blue waters that find there.

To visit there are many important places like the Byzantine Museum in Athens, the Museum of Greek Musical Instruments, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, the Byzantine Museum or the Museum of the Acropolis. As for monuments, it is possible to highlight the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Poseidon, the Acropolis of Athens, the Erechtheion Temple or the Athena Niké Temple.

From Greece, it is possible to highlight representative and tourist cities like Athens, Corfu, Delphi, Crete, Macedonia, Mykonos, Rhodes, Peloponnese and much more. And let's not talk about gastronomy. Due to its geographical position, the cuisine of Greece is typically Mediterranean, although it shares roots with the culinary traditions of the Middle East and Italy. Its main and most used ingredients are vegetables, olive oil, fish, and lamb. However, in continental or insular Greece there are some culinary variations.

As an independent and sovereign country, Greece is actively involved in the international system. He has been a member of the European Union since 1981 and, because of this, twenty years later he included the euro as a vehicle currency in his country. At the same time, he is a founding member of the United Nations and plays a major role in NATO. At the international level, the Hellenic Republic seeks to promote Greek culture as well as strengthen relations with the Greek diaspora and also promote international cooperation.

In particular, the relationship between Canada and Greece has always been very important. Greek-Canadian relations are based on a long tradition of friendship and cooperation and are developing in all sectors. The Greek Canadian community has an admirable and multifaceted presence in Canada. Canadian citizens of Greek origin are active in every walk of life such as academia, sciences or business. Bilateral economic, business and investment relations benefit greatly from the entry into force of the Greek-Canadian Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, which was signed in Athens on 29 June 2009.

Go discover more about Greece today March 21 until 6:00 p.m. at Horticulture Building — Large Hall 1525 Princess Patricia Way.