HCA NEWS Prominent Canadian HCA ambassadors named

Three prominent Canadians to be appointed Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors

By tkr - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 01 April 2005

In 2005 the bicentenary of the world famous Danish Author Hans Christian Andersen is celebrated all over the world, and numerous cultural activities inspired by the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen will take place.

In Canada too, a range of events in relation to the Hans Christian Andersen celebrations are planned, and on occasion of the birthday on 2 April 2005 prominent Canadian Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors will be appointed.
 
On the occasion of the worldwide celebration of the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen's birthday on 2 April 2005, Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors, have been appointed in countries all over the world. In their role as ambassadors, these acclaimed personalities will promote the knowledge and awareness of Hans Christian Andersen's life and work. They will also represent the Hans Christian Andersen abc-Foundation, which has been established to address illiteracy worldwide.

The three Canadian Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors are:

His Excellency John Ralston Saul, C.C., one of Canada's leading essayists, novelists and philosophers. His Excellency is part of Canada's vice-regal couple, as spouse to Her Excellency The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
His Excellency will be appointed Honorary Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador.

Famed Canadian Prima Ballerina Veronica Tennant, C.C., has also been named as a Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador. Both she and His Excellency John Ralston Saul, C.C. will attend the H.C. Andersen "Fairytale Weekend" celebrations in Copenhagen and Odense, Denmark, from April 1 to 3, 2005.

Acclaimed singer and composer Loreena McKennitt has also accepted the title of Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador.

The three Canadian Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors have been nominated by the Royal Danish Embassy in Canada, and will receive their official appointments later in 2005.

Please find further information about the Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors below.

Among the Hans Christian Andersen activities in Canada is the acclaimed director Robert Lepage's Andersen project "The Dryad" which premiered in Quebec late February and which was commissioned by the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation in Denmark.

For further informations please contact:

Have PR & Kommunikation:
Project Coordinator Anette Juhl Rasmussen, E-mail: , Tel: +45 24 86 01 82

The Royal Danish Embassy in Canada:
Advisor for Press and Cultural Affairs Wenche Ainer Sharp, E-mail: ,
Tel: (613) 562-1811

Information about the Canadian Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors:

Honorary Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador His Excellency John Ralston Saul, C.C.
His Excellency John Ralston Saul, C.C. is the spouse of Her Excellency The Right Honourable  Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. He is a highly acclaimed and awarded essayist and novelist, and holds a Ph.D. on the modernization of France at King's College, University of London. He has had a growing impact on political and economic thought in many countries. He holds honorary doctorates from a range of Canadian Universities and is the patron of the Canadian Centre of International PEN, and founder and Honorary Chair of Le Français pour l'Avenir. Mr. Saul is appointed "Companion of the Order of Canada", the country's highest honour, and he has received the Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honour from the Chilean Government.

Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador Veronica Tennant C.C.
Veronica Tennant C.C. is Prima Ballerina with The National Ballet of Canada for 25 years, and has performed with the "greats", including Erik Bruhn, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. During her carrier she has participated in many Hans Christian Andersen projects such as ballets, theatre plays and concerts. Now she is an internationally recognized filmmaker, director/producer and writer, who has received several awards. Veronica Tennant holds five Honorary Doctorates, serves in several honorary offices. She was the first dancer to be appointed to the Companion of the Order of Canada.

Hans Christian Andersen Ambassador Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt is a self-managed, self-produced singer/composer and the head of her own successful record label, Quinlan Road since 1985. In her recording career spanning nearly two decades, McKennitt's electric Celtic music has won critical acclaim world wide. Loreena McKennitt has founded the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety and established the Falstaff Family Centre, a centre for community and children's activities.

 


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