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Preparing for the Latvian Parliamentary elections / Gatavojoties Latvijas Saeimas vēlēšanām – October 3, 2026

[LAT – English below]

Latvijas Saeimas vēlēšanas notiks sestdien, 3. oktobrī

Balso klātienē Edmontonā: Laurier Heights Community League
14405 85 AVE NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5R 3Z3

Balso pa pastu: piesakoties onlainā no 29. augusta līdz 25. septembrim.

Uzzini vairāk par kandidātiem, partijām, balsošanu:

– Trešdien, 19. augustā, 20:00 EDT / 18:00 MDT
LNAK organizēta Viestura Zariņa Zoom prezentācija: “Pārskats, partijas un balsošana” (Atkārtojums angļu valodā notiks agrā septembrī, datums vēl nav noteikts)

– Svētdien, 13. septembrī, 12:00 EDT / 10:00 MDT
PBLA organizētās un jumtu organizāciju (ieskaitot LNAK) sponsorētās partiju debates Straumēnos, Apvienotajā Karalistē. Moderatores Ilze Nagla un Agnese Drunka
Skatāmas no mājām www.lsm.lv vietnē

Aizpildiet sekojošo anketu līdz 14. augustam un, ir iespējams, tieši to uzdos 13. septembra partiju debatēs: https://ej.uz/jautajumikandidatiem

Vēl par LNAK rīkotiem pasākumiem
LNAK lūdz izpildīt šo aptauju, par Jūsu gatavībi balsot un citiem jautājumiem.

Papildu informācijas avoti:

[ENG]

Latvian Parliamentary elections take place on Saturday, October 3.

Cast your vote in person in Edmonton: Laurier Heights Community League
14405 85 AVE NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5R 3Z3

Vote by mail: register online August 29 through September 25.

Learn more about the candidates, parties, and voting:

– Wednesday, August 19, 8:00pm EDT / 6:00pm MDT
LNAK hosted Viesturs Zariņš Zoom presentation (in Latvian): “Overview, parties and voting” (The presentation will be repeated in English in early September; date TBD.)

– Sunday, September 13, 12:00pm EDT / 10:00am MDT
PBLA and LNAK-sponsored political party debates in Straumēni, United Kingdom
Moderators: Ilze Nagla and Agnese Drunka
Watch from home at lsm.lv

Fill out the following survey by August 14, and your question could be asked during the September 13th debates: https://ej.uz/jautajumikandidatiem

More about LNAK planned events
The Latvian National Federation in Canada (LNAK) invites you to complete this survey (in English) to understand your readiness to vote and other questions.

Additional resources:

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CANCELLED – Līgo 2026

We regret to inform you that due to the unfavorable weather forecast for tomorrow including risk of thunderstorms, we have made the difficult decision to cancel/postpone Līgo 2026 (which was scheduled for June 20).

We understand that many of you were looking forward to Līgo, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause. We hope to reschedule for later this summer, so please watch this blog or our Facebook group for updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here or at imantaedmonton@gmail.com

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Līgo picnic – June 20, 2026 (Cancelled)

Cancellation information

Sanāksim kopā uz Līgo svinībām, sestdien, 20. jūnijā!
Let’s get together for a Ligo picnic, Saturday, June 20!

Sestdien, 20. jūnijā / Saturday, June 20

Laiks / Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Dienas kārtība / Schedule:

  • 4:00pm – Vainagu pīšana & citas nodarbības / Flower wreathmaking & other activities
  • 6:00pm – Vakariņas / Dinner
    IMANTA gādas kāpostus un desas ar dažādām piedevām / IMANTA is serving sausages and sourkraut with various sides
  • 7:00pm – Balvu izloze / Prize drawing

Please bring:

  • drinks of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic – water will be available)
  • outdoor chairs or picnic blankets
  • any flowers you would like to share for making head wreaths

Kur / Where: 
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, Site #3
13221 Buena Vista Rd NW,
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7

Brīva ieeja / Free entry

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Mobile Latvian Passport/eID Consular Services – June 2026

[LAT – English below]

Latvijas Republikas vēstniecības Kanādā konsulārie izbraukumi

Ir izsludināti konsulārie izbraukumi pasu un eID karšu noformēšanai:

  • Toronto 16. jūnijā
  • Vankūverā 17. jūnijā
  • Kalgarī 19. jūnijā

Iesniegumi un dokumenti ir jāiesniedz līdz 5. jūnijam.

Pieraksties uz pieņemšanu šeit: https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/ottawa/konsulara-informacija/informacija-par-parvietojamo-pasu-darbstaciju

[ENG]

The Latvian Embassy in Canada has announced mobile Consular Services for Passports and eID in the following cities:

  • Toronto June 16
  • Vancouver June 17
  • Calgary June 19

Applications and documents must be submitted by June 5.

Information for applying: https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/ottawa/konsulara-informacija/informacija-par-parvietojamo-pasu-darbstaciju

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AGM – April 11, 2026

The Board Members of the Edmonton Latvian Society
Imanta
extend a warm invitation to
members, volunteers, friends, and supporters to this year’s AGM.

Join us for our Annual General Meeting—a great opportunity to connect, reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges, and help shape what comes next.

We’re looking for passionate, engaged individuals with fresh ideas to get involved. Whether you’re interested in becoming a member, contributing your voice, or joining our board, we’d love to have you with us.

Be part of the conversation. Be part of Imanta’s future!

Location: Laurier Heights Community Hall (or Zoom)
14405 85 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
Saturday, April 11, 2026 – Doors open 9:45 am
Meeting called at 10:00 am
Refreshments served.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Survey – 2026 Latvian Parliamentary elections / 2026 gada Saeimas vēlēšanas

(ENG – Latvian below)

Greetings, Edmonton Latvians! 

The Latvian Saeima elections will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026. PBLA (World Association of Free Latvians) and LNAK (Latvian National Federation in Canada) are actively preparing for these elections and have invited IMANTA to consider establishing a polling station in Edmonton.

To be approved for a polling station, we request some input from our community. Please fill out our voter participation survey and/or express interest in serving as a polling commission member, no later than March 1. 

  • Voter participation — please fill out this survey to let us know if you would participate if a local polling station were established.
  • Polling station — we must have three commission members before the Central Election Commission (CEC) will approve our polling station. Members must be/have:
    • Latvian citizens with eID cards with PIN and PUK codes, and must be able to sign documents with eParaksts or eParaksts mobile
    • Latvian language skills at least at the C1 level
    • with general secondary education
    • sufficient professional ability to perform the duties of the position

Please reach out to us to express interest in serving at the polling station or if you have any questions about the requirements: imantaedmonton@gmail.com. 

Sincerely,
IMANTA Executive Committee

(LAT)

Sveiki mīļie Edmontonas latvieši!

Latvijas Saeimas vēlēšanas notiks Sestdien, 2026.g. 3. oktobrī. PBLA (Pasaules Brivo Latviesu Apvieniba) un LNAK (Latviešu Nacionālā Apvienība Kanādā) gatavojoties vēlēšanām ir aicinājuši IMANTA apsvērt vēlēšanu iecirkņa izveidi Edmontonā.

Lai saņemtu apstiprinājumu vēlēšanu iecirkņa izveidei, mēs lūdzam mūsu kopienas palīdzību. Lūdzu, aizpildiet vēlētāju līdzdalības aptauju un/vai izsakiet interesi strādāt vēlēšanu iecirkņa komisijā, ne vēlāk par 1. martu.

  • Vēlētāju līdzdalība — aizpildiet aptauju, lai paziņotu mums vai jūs piedalītos, ja tiktu izveidots vietējais vēlēšanu iecirknis
  • Vēlēšanu iecirknis — mums ir vajadzīgi trīs komisijas locekļi pirms Centrālā vēlēšanu komisija (CVK) apstiprinās mūsu iecirkni. Locekļiem jābūt:
    • Latvijas pilsoņi ar eID kartēm ar PIN un PUK kodiem, un jāspēj parakstīt dokumentus ar eParaksts vai eParaksts mobile
    • Latviešu valodas zināšanas vismaz C1 līmenī
    • ar vispārējo vidējo izglītību
    • profesionālām spējām amata pienākumu veikšanai

Lūdzu sazinieties ar mums, ja vēlaties strādāt vēlēšanu komisijā. Ja jums ir jautājumi par prasībām, droši rakstiet imantaedmonton@gmail.com.

Sirsnīgs paldies,
IMANTA valde 

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Latvian Independence Day Event 2025

IMANTA celebrated Latvian Independence Day on Sunday, November 23 — a huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us!

A special thank you to Dace Veinberga, who joined us from Toronto, representing the Latvian National Federation in Canada (Latviešu Nacionālā Apvienība Kanādā/LNAK). Her presentation about the Canadian Latvian Virtual Museum reminded us that one of the key figures who founded the central Latvian organization in Canada in 1948 was Konrads Dobelis from Edmonton, who founded IMANTA in 1947.

We also listened to the Latvian President’s video greeting and Latvian National Anthem, celebrated Zane Gara for her hard work with the Children’s Latvian School, and later watched a video of the school’s weekly activities, and enjoyed Edgars Rudzītis’ talk about Growing up with Latvian Heritage in Canada.

Thank you to all the hardworking IMANTA board members and extra helpers who brought this amazing event to life! Happy Birthday, Latvia! Saules Mūžu Latvijai!

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Latvia’s Independence Day Celebration – Sunday, November 23rd, 2025

Please join us for IMANTA’s Latvian Independence Day Afternoon Tea! Celebrate with refreshments, interesting presentations, and connect with the community!

Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 1:00pm
Laurier Heights Community League
14405 85 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5R 3Z3

Special guest Dace Veinberga will be visiting from the Latvian National Federation in Canada (LNAK) in Toronto and speaking to us about the “Canadian Latvian Virtual Museum.”

Free entry with light refreshments
Please RSVP by writing imantaedmonton@gmail.com

—

Laipni lūdzam uz IMANTAs rīkoto Latvijas Valsts Svētku tējas pēcpusdienu! Svinēsim ar atspirdzinājumiem, interesantām prezentācijām un kopā būšanu!

Svētdien, 2025.g. 23. novembrī, plkst. 13:00
Laurier Heights Community League
14405 85 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5R 3Z3

Dace Veinberga viesosies no Latviešu Nacionālās apvienības Kanādā (LNAK) Toronto un pastāstīs mums par “Kanādas Latviešu virtuālo muzeju”.

Ieeja bez maksas ieskaita vieglas uzkodas
Lūdzu, apstipriniet savu dalību, rakstot imantaedmonton@gmail.com