VANCOUVER: Nepal Heritage Day was celebrated in Surrey, British Columbia, marking the first observance since its official recognition by the Government of British Columbia.

The event, organized by the Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia with support from Nepali community organizations, was attended by British Columbia Premier David Eby, ministers, members of the Legislative Assembly, local government representatives, and community leaders. Nepal’s ambassador to Canada Bharat Raj Paudyal addressed the event, describing the recognition as a significant milestone for the Nepali diaspora and Nepal-Canada relations.

During the visit, the ambassador held separate meetings with British Columbia Premier David Eby, Legislative Assembly Speaker Raj Chouhan, Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, and Pacific Regional Trade Director Cameron Jelinski.

Discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade, tourism, investment, technology transfer, and people-to-people exchanges between Nepal and Canada.