Promoting Peace and Dialogue: Honoring Dr. Rita Severis and CVAR's Mission

The Hellenic Heritage Foundation (HHF) was proud to host an evening at the Munk School of Global Affairs in Toronto in honor of Dr. Rita Severis, Executive Director of the Centre of Visual Arts and Research in Cyprus (CVAR) in Nicosia, a non-profit organization for the promotion of culture and peaceful co-existence.

The fire-side chat was moderated by Robert Peck, former Canadian Ambassador and High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus (2011-2015).

The event, generously sponsored by Guardian Capital, was attended by the Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Panagiotis Antonatos, as well as by Directors and Members of the HHF, community partners, academics and friends of Cyprus.

One of the leading museums in Cyprus, CVAR is an award-winning institution known for the important role it plays as a bridge between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities.  For more information on the CVAR, please visit: https://cvar.severis.org/en/

Dr. Severis, whose tenure as Canada's Honorary Consul to Cyprus after 14 years ends this summer, is a passionate advocate of bi-communal reconciliation and dialogue as well as renewed engagement by civil society from both communities especially women.

Severis reiterated the need for a renewed commitment by all parties in Cyprus and internationally to resolve the long standing division of the island nation after 50 years since the Turkish invasion in 1974. She also spoke of the many obstacles and challenges that complicate international efforts to achieve reunification based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation.

In this regard Dr. Severis spoke about the enduring legacy of Canadian peacekeepers on the island who first arrived in 1964 and Canadian federalism as inspiration for a new model of governance in any future agreement.

She also shared with the audience her own recollections of the invasion itself and the impact on her family as well as moving anecdotes which highlighted both the common ground and shared history of both Greek-Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot communities.

For those unable to attend in person, a video recording of the discussion can be found here:  
https://youtu.be/1yyizUXnmOA

The HHF congratulates Dr. Severis and the Severis family for their leadership in promoting dialogue and reconciliation in Cyprus as well as the key role played by CVAR.

In a reception that followed, participants enthusiastically discussed ways to raise greater awareness of CVAR's mandate and ground breaking work.

For those wanting to support the Centre's mission and important work they do both in and for Cyprus, please use the donation link below:
https://tinyurl.com/F1g52L

Warmest regards,
George Keroglidis | Managing Director

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