Statement by Minister Joly on St. Patrick’s Day

Statement

OTTAWA, March 17, 2018

Today, people in Canada and around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. One of the most popular Irish traditions, this festival commemorates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Celebrated across the country with parades and traditional music and dance, St. Patrick's Day is an opportunity to highlight the important role that the more than 4.5 million Canadians of Irish descent have played and continue to play in our country’s history.

From their early settlements in Newfoundland to the larger waves of migration in the 19th century to the present day, Irish women and men have contributed much to making Canada the hospitable and diverse country we know today. Let’s take this day as an opportunity to showcase their rich heritage.

As Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, I invite all Canadians to participate in the celebrations. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!

For more information (media only), please contact:

Simon Ross
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
819-997-7788

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