In Ottawa the Embassy of Hungary and representatives of the local Hungarian community celebrated together the 163th anniversary of the revolution and war of independence of 1848. A wreath of rememberance adorned with the Hungarian tricolour was laid at the pedestal of the statute of Lajos Kossuth by Ambassador Pordany and Mr. Rudolf Bansagi, President of the Hungarian Community Center in Ottawa. Lajos Kossuth was one of the most influential leaders of the revolution of 1848 whose statute found on the premises of the Hungarian diplomatic mission was erected years before as a result of the common efforts made by the Embassy of Hungary and the Canadian - Hungarian community.

After the wreath laying ceremony, participants went to the Hungarian Community Center, where an overall audience of 250 persons celebrated the National Day of March 15.
During the cultural program presented by members of the younger generation of the Hungarian community, well known melodies related to the courageous battles waged by the freedom fighters of 1848 were sung by the audience.

Ambassador Laszlo Pordany delivering the keynote speach of the event emphasized the historical importance of the acting of the heroes of 1848 and their unselfish and devoted fight for freedom and the long lasting consequences of the changes produced by those acts as well as the never fading importance of the unity of the Hungarian nation. He drew a parallel with the revolution of 1956, then spoke about the recent changes and the current political situation of Hungary.