Government of Guatemala awards recognition to the Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center as Ambassadors of Tourism in Canada

LAVAL, Quebec.- The Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center, which promotes and preserves Mayan culture in Canada, received recognition by decree from the Guatemalan government as “Tourism Ambassadors“, a distinction that was delivered to the president of the organization, David Aguilar Carranza. The event, which was organized by the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INAGUAT) in coordination with the Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center, was held at the Palace Convention Center, Laval, Quebec.

Likewise, INAGUAT delivered 23 Mayan ceremonial costumes to the Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center so that they can be seen in their upcoming performances on Canadian stages. The Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center’s mission is to promote Guatemalan art and culture in all its aspects through activities that allow the dissemination of the diversity and cultural wealth of Guatemala, especially promoting the presentation of Guatemalan artists residing in Canada.

The event was attended by the Consul General of Guatemala in Montreal, Julissa Hengstenberg Delgado, who welcomed the attendees, highlighting the presence of: the Consul of El Salvador in Montreal, Mr. Miguel Guevara; Josué Corvil, councilor for the city of Montreal, Saint-Michel district; Mrs. Alexandra Regalado, president of Quebec Hispanic Heritage; Alejandro de León, deputy director of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute; Marcia Méndez, trade, research and tourism counselor at the Guatemalan Embassy in Canada; Olivier Ordoñez, from (INAGUAT) and David Aguilar Carranza, president of the Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center, who took the floor to thank the attendees.

David Aguilar Carranza, was named as “Guatemalan Tourism Ambassador”, for his contributions to the promotion of Mayan culture in Canada, through the Jaguar IX Balam Cultural Center, also Mr. Alejandro León, on behalf of the Guatemalan government delivered them “Mayan ceremonial” costumes.

The presence of the Captain of the Canadian Armed Forces, Rey García-Salas Vásquez, of Guatemalan roots, also did not go unnoticed. He also received a plaque of recognition from the Guatemalan government for his great contribution to Canadian history, by leading the investigation into the contributions of the Latin American community in the Canadian Armed Forces during the first and second world wars. In addition, he is part of the Latin American Soldiers who presented the Latin American Soldiers in Canada Remembrance Book Vol I.