Independence Day Reception

From left to right: Deputy Consul General Matthew Hurley, Science Center Director Julie Payette, Consul General Andrew Parker, Sheryn Hylton-Parker and Ambassador Raymond Chrétien.

Consul General Andrew Parker hosted his final Independence Day reception in Montreal recently, during which a diverse crowd of Montrealers and Americans from the local political, business, cultural and academic community joined us at the Science Centre to celebrate the 238th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Key speakers included Julie Payette, Director of the Montreal Science Centre, and Raymond Chrétien, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Parker’s wife, Sheryn Hylton-Parker, sang the national anthems of both countries during the ceremony. In his remarks, Consul General Parker bid a fond farewell to the city where he spent the final tour of his 35 year career as a Foreign Service Officer, having served previously at U.S. Embassies in Israel, Germany, Mexico, Guyana, Nigeria, Jamaica, the Netherlands, and Haiti. He spoke about the importance of the day, as well as the strength of the unique relationship between Canada and the United States.

We would like to thank everyone who attended the event and invite them to check out our Facebook page or Flickr album to see the photos.