Embassy celebrates Bastille Day with French flair and diplomatic warmth

From left, Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed, French Ambassador Michel Miraillet, Whitney Fox and her husband, Dan Goldberg, president and CEO of global satellite operator Telesat, at the Bastille Day celebration hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Embassy celebrates Bastille Day with French flair and diplomatic warmth

Published On: July 15, 2025By Caroline Phillips

From cuisine to culture, the French do it with style – and their parties are no exception.

On Monday night, France’s embassy welcomed between 1,600 and 1,700 guests to its picturesque property on Sussex Drive for the country’s most important national celebration: Bastille Day. As the sun set and the summer heat eased, the evening transformed into something magical.

Guests were invited to sample French food and drinks. Afterward, they were treated to a stunning fireworks display over the Ottawa River that could be seen for miles. The nighttime light show was set to the slow-building intensity of Boléro by French composer Maurice Ravel.

The Embassy of France on Sussex Drive, bathed in the country’s national colours, included a fireworks display during its Bastille Day celebrations in Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Earlier, French Ambassador Michel Miraillet, joined by his wife, Geneviève Quenum-Miraillet, warmly greeted fellow French citizens, Canadian friends, the diplomatic corps and business sponsors. He spoke about the day’s significance — a celebration of freedom and democracy.

“These are values that both France and Canada — two proud and independent nations — hold dear,” the ambassador said, speaking in both French and English. “We need only look at events of recent months around the world to see that these are far from empty words. This aspiration remains as relevant and meaningful today as ever.”

Last year, France (also known as the land of a thousand cheeses, as the ambassador joked) welcomed the world for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. That same year also marked the sixth in a row that France was the leading destination in Europe for foreign investment, he noted. “A significant portion of this investment came from Canada and went to the artificial intelligence sector.”

He spoke about some of the challenges our countries face, particularly in the area of national security. “We are arming ourselves to defend against threats,” said Miraillet, who also touched on efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. “Because our own security depends on the support we are providing and will continue to provide.”

French Ambassador Michel Miraillet, joined by his wife, Geneviève Quenum-Miraillet, delivered welcome remarks to French citizens, Canadian friends, the diplomatic corps and business sponsors at the embassy’s Bastille Day celebration in Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attending for his second year was Jean-François Bélisle, director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. He told CiTC how much appreciates the gathering for the interesting people it attracts and for the way “France brings people together.”

For Claridge Homes founder and CEO Bill Malhotra, who was there with his wife, Romina, the Bastille Day celebration has become his favourite embassy event of the year. “It’s the best one, in my opinion.”

Likewise, retired businessman John French remarked how “personable” the gathering felt. “The ambassador knows a lot of people, so it feels like more than just a guest list,” said French — who, despite his name, is not actually French, though his wife, Louise, is Francophone. She grew up in a logging town in Northern Quebec. She told CiTC how much she appreciated the social event for providing a place for the French-speaking community to come together. “They feel welcomed here; it gives them a sense of home on Bastille Day.”

John French and his wife Louise French were among the roughly 1,700 guests invited to the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

There was a wide range of people in attendance, including leaders from business, culture, diplomacy, defence and public service. Spotted were former governor general Michaëlle Jean, BDC president and CEO (and former ambassador of Canada to France and Monaco) Isabelle Hudon, Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg, RBC regional president Devinder Gill, Ottawa MP Mona Fortier and such Paris-born locals as Ottawa Film Commissioner Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos and Sylvie Bragard, president of UFE (Union des Français de l’Étranger).

Other familiar faces included the National Capital Commission CEO Tobi Nussbaum and Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs. Looking forward to the fireworks display was Ottawa’s nightlife commissioner, Mathieu Grondin, who wore his Fleur de Lis necktie just for the occasion. It’s good for both Bastille Day and June’s Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, he said with a smile.

Franco-Ontarian artist Melanie Brulée, executive director of Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC), and Ottawa’s nightlife commissioner, Mathieu Grondin, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Serge Belet, senior manager of public affairs and partnerships at the National Gallery of Canada, former governor general Michaëlle Jean and Armenian Ambassador Anahit Harutyunyan at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Dr. Claudine Michaud, Dr. Bella Mehta, Sanjay Shah, founder and CEO of ExecHealth, and Dr. Adnan Hadziomerovic at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Pendulum Group co-founders Yaroslav Baran and Heather Bakken with Bryan Detchou, senior director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

National Capital Commission CEO Tobi Nussbaum and his wife, Dr. Liz Muggah, a family physician at Bruyère Health and senior clinical advisor of primary care for Ontario Health, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Jean-François Bélisle (director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada), Sylvie Bragard, president of UFE (Union des Français de l’Étranger), Greek Ambassador Ekaterina Dimakis, Ambassador of Luxembourg Jean Claude Kugener and his wife, Pascale, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Guests mingled on the Embassy of France’s expansive property, which was decorated in France’s national colours. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Le Germain Hotel Ottawa business development manager Marie Boissonnault and the hotel’s general manager, Jacques-Alexandre Paquet, Alexandra Hamel (president and founder of creative agency Storyline) and former ambassador Isabelle Hudon, president and CEO of BDC, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, senior public servant Mark Schaan, deputy of AI, Matthew Holmes (executive vice president and chief of public policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce), Jennica Klassen (communications manager at the Canadian Meat Council) and George Wamala (director of regulatory and government affairs at RBC) at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Romina Malhotra and her husband, Claridge Homes founder and CEO Bill Malhotra at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The French embassy’s Bastille Day celebration featured French epicurean delights. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Spanish Ambassador Alfredo Martínez Serrano and his wife, Rosa, with Dr. Donna Shore and her husband, Jacques Shore, partner in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs and his wife, Diane, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, David Stewart (senior investment counsellor with RBC Wealth Management), Dave Dickinson (senior partner at Prime Benefits Group), and his wife, Jill Dickinson (president at CKL Properties), at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Sanjay Shah, founder and CEO of ExecHealth, in conversation with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra at the entrance to the balcony where many guests were invited to watch the Embassy of France’s fireworks display as part of its Bastille Day celebration. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The French embassy hosted between 1,600 and 1,700 guests at its Bastille Day celebration held in Ottawa on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

French Ambassador Michel Miraillet and Ottawa MP Mona Fortier at the French embassy’s Bastille Day celebration held Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Manmohan Singh and Devinder Gill, regional president of RBC, with their daughters, Ishya, 14, and Amira, 16, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Jazz Festival executive and artistic director Petr Cancura and his wife, Liz Hanson, at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Andrea Valois cooled herself off with her folding fan at the Bastille Day celebration held at and hosted by the Embassy of France on Monday, July 14, 2025. Photo by Caroline Phillips