Ottawa, Canada, (11 th March 2024) – On Sunday 10th March 2024, a Welcome Reception in honour of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ High Commissioner to Canada His Excellency Samuel Berridge was held in downtown Toronto at the Park Hyatt Hotel. The cozy gathering culminated a busy week of engagements with key government, academic, and private sector partners, as well as nationals and friends of Saint Kitts and Nevis living in the Greater Toronto area. The event was two-fold – the formal welcome of High Commissioner Berridge to Toronto, as well as Mr. John Allen as returning Honorary Consul General in Toronto.
Saint Kitts and Nevis and Canada have a long and strong history of people to people contact and these two appointments demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to strengthen ties with the Canadian people, as well as the Kittitians and Nevisians in the diaspora.
Nationals living in the city of Toronto, members of the consular corps of several CARICOM Member States as well other potential partners were present and expressed sentiments of warmth and excitement on the significance of the occasion.
High Commissioner Berridge seized the opportunity to share the government’s vision of transforming Saint Kitts and Nevis into a sustainable island state and encouraged all present to use the initiative as the point of reference for deeper collaboration. The Saint Kitts and Nevis top diplomat in Canada reiterated his gratitude to the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to do his utmost to represent with integrity and dignity.
Music was provided by a national, DJ Steve Gilpin Payne.