Solemn Independence Day Ceremony at Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa Features Archipelago Cuisine
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Ottawa held a ceremony to mark the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s proclamation of independence. The Indonesian Ambassador to Canada, Muhsin Syihab, acted as the ceremony inspector, with around 200 participants from the KBRI Ottawa community, members of the public, and the Indonesian diaspora from Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, and surrounding cities in attendance.
The ceremony proceeded solemnly from beginning to end on 17 August 2026 local time. The Red and White flag was raised by the 2026 KBRI Ottawa Paskibraka, comprising young members of the KBRI Ottawa community, while attendees stood dressed in batik and traditional Indonesian fabrics.
In his remarks on Tuesday (18/8/2026), Ambassador Muhsin presented awards to two individuals who have contributed to Indonesian cultural and economic diplomacy in Canada: Ugo Monticone, a writer and filmmaker from Québec, and Johannes Doy, an Indonesian entrepreneur and owner of Tribal Voices, a craft and home décor business in Kingston, Canada that sells various handmade Indonesian crafts.
Ugo is widely known for a travel documentary about Bali that he co-directed with Richard-Olivier Jeanson, screened through a ciné-conférence network in Canada and Europe. Unable to attend, he delivered his remarks via video message.
“Through the documentary about Bali that we made with co-director Richard-Olivier Jeanson, we wanted to share the most precious aspect of Bali: the warmth of its people, who always welcomed us like family,” Ugo said.
The film has been watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers in French-speaking eastern Canada, as well as in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. According to Ugo, some of them were inspired to visit Indonesia directly.
“I am very proud to now be able to serve as an ‘ambassador’ for the beauty of Indonesian culture, especially Bali,” he added.
Johannes Doy’s path was different, but it led to the same destination. For more than three decades, he has been a leading promoter of Indonesian artisans, ensuring their works fill family homes across Canada.
“Since starting our journey with Tribal Voices in 1992, our focus has not been merely to promote products, but to introduce the beauty of the work, the perseverance, and the spirit of local Indonesian artisans to the Canadian public,” he said.
That dedication, he continued, grew from a sincere desire to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries. “My deepest gratitude to KBRI Ottawa for this extraordinary appreciation. Long live the Republic of Indonesia!”
In his speech, Ambassador Muhsin emphasised that independence today is fulfilled through clean work and trustworthy service.
“Every member of staff at KBRI Ottawa has signed an integrity pact to ensure there is no misconduct in carrying out our official duties. We uphold this commitment through our service slogan: ‘Solid in work, clean in service’. We open our doors wide for the public to provide direct feedback for continuous improvement at KBRI Ottawa,” he stressed.
The programme continued with the introduction of the Coordinator of the Economic Affairs Section at KBRI Ottawa, Alia Fitrati, the farewell of Young Diplomatic Information Officer Riza Noma Kusuma, who is soon concluding her assignment in Ottawa, the cutting of the tumpeng presented to representatives of the Indonesian diaspora, and the presentation of certificates to all members of the 2026 KBRI Ottawa Paskibraka. All attendees enjoyed Indonesian dishes: yellow rice with beef empal, balado eggs, tempeh oreg, and perkedel.
The 81st Indonesian Independence Day commemoration in Ottawa did not end on 17 August. The series opened with a fun walk and various community games on 8 August 2026, and will close with the Merdeka Stage & Bazaar, featuring cultural performances and Indonesian culinary delights, at KBRI Ottawa on Sunday, 30 August 2026. All activities were made possible through close collaboration between KBRI Ottawa and community groups and the Indonesian diaspora in Ottawa and surrounding areas.