Karan Deswal welcomes guests & dignitaries
Dutch Boy
Fabien Pelous does a good job of looking Dutch with Elizabeth Witmer - a very cool woman
Charles-Olivier Defaud, DSM Central & Western Canada & Jim Papas, Sales Account Executive DL/KL/AF/AZ
Ray Surette, New Wave Travel with his historic KLM cocktail party accessory
I don’t think enough people appreciate or are into celebrating Dutch Heritage Month. Did you even know that May is officially Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario? Hopefully most of the 500,000 Ontarians of Dutch Heritage are aware and have been whooping it up all month.
2013 marks the 3rd anniversary of May having been designated Dutch Heritage Month. The official tradition started with a bill presented in the Ontario legislature by long time Kitchener-Waterloo MPP and current WSIB chair Elizabeth Witmer. It was passed unanimously simply because of the long standing special relationship we have with Holland. Our paths have crossed with significant consequences on several historical occasions.
Canadian troops liberated Holland in May of 1945 and the Dutch have never forgotten nor have they failed to celebrate the occasion each May 5th with ongoing gratitude for Canada’s efforts. The younger generation keeps up the tradition with equal enthusiasm. And, during WWII, Princess Marguerite was born in Ottawa – where a part of the hospital was officially declared territory of The Netherlands to respect and ensure her place in line for the thrown. Each year the Dutch continue to send Ottawa thousands of tulip bulbs to express their appreciation for the shelter provided Queen Juliana and her family during that time.
Our past ties are warm and Canada welcomed many Dutch immigrants after the war. So, it’s pretty cool to celebrate all of that with more than just one day. A whole month is more fitting.
Karan Deswal, Air France/KLM Stations Director honours Dutch Heritage month with a lovely party each May attended by representatives of the Dutch community and travel industry. The Heineken flows and everyone wears a touch of orange to celebrate our special relationship. Canada is a huge market for KLM. The carrier has been flying to YUL since 1949 and to YYZ since 1974. This year the big blue jets will be operating daily non-stops to YUL, YYC and YVR along with double dailies to YYZ. They’ll be carrying a lot more than the approximately 1 million Dutch-Canadians and their relatives because KLM connects to the world through its SPL hub.
Of course these days, the AF/KL joint venture is run by a cross section of Dutch and French ex-pats. It’s all very cross cultural, forward thinking and successful!
When the time came to close the official ceremonies with Consul General Hans Horbach making the requisite draw for KLM tickets to AMS, Elizabeth Witmer asked him to please not pull her name, because she always wins and she already has her tickets for this year’s trip to Holland. But, of course, her name was drawn. And, when her pleas for a re-draw were refused, she donated the tickets to The Netherlands Bazaar. The bazaar has been run with determined dedication by Kay Spaans since 1963 to assist members of the Dutch immigrant community who have fallen on hard times. Way COOL!
And speaking of ultra cool – be sure to check out the latest video promoting Holland – The Original Cool. If you don’t know what I mean by that yet… you will.
