November 3rd, 2009   

Ambassador Bahah Presents Painting to Senator Marcel Prud’homme Parliament Hill

Ambassador Khaled Bahah surprised and delighted Canada’s most venerated and longest- serving Parliamentarian, Senator Marcel Prud’homme, with a beautiful gift of Yemeni art on November 3rd, in his Parliament Hill office. The Senator will be retiring at the end of November, 2009, after an illustrious career spanning more than 45 years in Parliament.

The painting, a whimsical depiction of the Queen of Sheba, by celebrated artist, Mazher Nizar, had been a favourite of the Senator’s at a special Queen of Sheba Art Exhibition held by the Embassy on Parliament Hill in September.

Ambassador Bahah thanked the Senator for his loyal friendship and his many years of encouragement and support for the Arab World, including his memorable visits to Yemen. His Excellency conveyed his heartfelt appreciation in his dedication to the Senator:

“It would take volumes to express the gratitude and enormous respect that we carry in our hearts for you. Instead, we hope that you will agree that a picture is worth a thousand words and that this image of Yemen, will conjure up expressions of our deepest sentiments, while evoking memories of a land where you will always be welcome to tread, as though it were your own.”

Ambassador Bahah assured the Senator that he would be greatly missed but impressed upon him how much they would all look forward to his future visits to “shake things up in Ottawa”. Senators Dennis Dawson and Anne Cools, who were also present, heartily agreed with this sentiment.

Later that afternoon they all attended a Canada-Arab World Parliamentary Association Reception in honour of the Senator, who was its Founding Chairman. At this event it was announced that Senator Prud’homme has been appointed its Honourary Chairman.