Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Stas Misezhnikov was welcomed to Montreal yesterday by Mayor Gérald Tremblay. The Minister is making the first visit to Quebec in more than 10 years by a member of the Israel Government cabinet, and the first visit in more than 20 years by an Israel Tourism Minister. The Mayor and Minister discussed the creation of a circuit of religious sites of pilgrimage including the Holy Land, Erevan in Armenia (where Armenian Christianity was born in the fourth century) and Montreal’s monumental Oratoire Saint Joseph, visited by millions of the faithful every year. Pictured, Misezhnikov signs the dignitaries’ visitors book at Montreal City Hall. At left, Tremblay. at right, Israel Consul-General in Montreal, Joel Lion, and Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, Haim Gutin (far right).