IMANTA Latvian Society of Edmonton is pleased to announce the Dr. Ena Rudovics Memorial Scholarship for 2026/2027. Our program is dedicated to honouring Ena’s legacy of community leadership and nurturing the values she championed. Funds for this program are allocated in accordance with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s approved use of casino proceeds for the Society.

View our scholarship program rules and application form here

[LAT – ENG below]

2026/2027 mācības gads

Ar sveicieniem SEPTEMBRĪ visiem vecākiem un bērniem! Ar prieku un gaišu satraukumu sveiciens jums jaunā mācību gada sākumā!

Mūsu skoliņa atsāk savu darbību sestdien, 2026.g. 12. septembrī no plkst. 11.00 līdz 13.00.

Tiekamies Laurier Heights Community Hall – 14405 85 Ave NW, Edmonton AB

Skatīt skoliņas plānotos rudens datumus un vēl “Latvian Children’s Group” programmas lapā 

Ja jums ir jautājumi, vēlme pievienoties müsu fantastiskajai latviešu saimei, droši raksti Zanei: zanegara@gmail.com

[ENG]

2026/2027 school year

Greetings to all parents and children this September! We send you our greetings with joy and bright excitement at the start of the new school year!

Our school starts on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

We meet at Laurier Heights Community Hall – 14405 85 Ave NW, Edmonton AB.

See the “Latvian Children’s Group” program page for planned school dates through December.

If you have any questions or would like to join our fantastic Latvian community, feel free to write to Zane: zanegara@gmail.com

[LAT – English below]

Šonedēļ! Info sesijas un debates par nākošām Latvijas Saeimas vēlēšanām:

– Trešdien, 9. septembrī, 20:00 EDT / 18:00 MDT
LNAK organizēta Viestura Zariņa Zoom prezentācija: “Latvian Parliamentary Elections: The Basics, the Parties, and How to Vote” (angliski / in English)

– Piektdien, 11. septembrī, 19:00 EDT / 17:00 MDT
LNAK organizēta Zoom prezentācija: “Saeimas vēlēšanas Latvijas drošībai. Kāpēc ir jābalso, un ko piedāvā kandidāti” – skatījumu sniegs ir.lv žurnālists un politikas komentētājs Aivars Ozoliņš no Latvijas (latviski / in Latvian)

– Svētdien, 13. septembrī, 19:00 pēc Latvijas laika / 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, Facebook live, vai Zoom (latviski / in Latvian)

Latvijas Saeimas vēlēšanas notiks sestdien, 3. oktobrī

Balso klātienē Edmontonā: Laurier Heights Community League
14405 85 AVE NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5R 3Z3
Iecirknis strādās: 8:00-20:00
Kas ir nepieciešams: Derīga Latvijas pilsoņa pase vai personas apliecība (eID karte). Tiesības vēlēt ir Latvijas pilsoņiem, kuri vēlēšanu dienā sasnieguši 18 gadu vecumu.

Balso pa pastu: piesakoties vietnē e.cvk.lv līdz 25. septembrim. (Jūsu pasta balsojumam ir jānonāk Latvijas vēstniecībā Otavā līdz 3. oktobrim: https://lnak.net/latvijas-saeimas-velesanas/)

[ENG]

This week! Info sessions and debates about the coming Latvian Parliamentary Elections:

– Wednesday, September 9, 8:00pm EDT / 6:00pm MDT
LNAK hosted Viesturs Zariņš Zoom presentation: “Latvian Parliamentary Elections: The Basics, the Parties, and How to Vote” (in English)

– Friday, September 11, 7:00pm EDT / 5:00pm MDT
LNAK hosted Zoom presentation: “Why you should vote and what the candidates are offering” by ir.lv journalist and political commentator Aivars Ozoliņš from Latvia (in Latvian)

– 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 via www.lsm.lv, on Facebook live or Zoom (in Latvian)

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
Polling hours: 8:00am-8:00pm
Requirements: A valid Latvian passport or personal ID card (eID). Latvian citizens who have reached the age of 18 on election day have the right to vote.

Vote by mail: by registering online at e.cvk.lv by September 25. (Your postal vote must reach the Latvian Embassy in Ottawa by 3 October: https://lnak.net/en/15-latvian-parliamentary-elections-oct-3/)

(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.
  • Link to survey
    
• 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
  • Aptaujas saite

• 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 

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!

IMANTA Latvian Society of Edmonton is pleased to announce the Dr. Ena Rudovics Memorial Scholarship for 2025/2026. Our program is dedicated to honouring Ena’s legacy of community leadership and nurturing the values she championed. Funds for this program are allocated in accordance with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission’s approved use of casino proceeds for the Society.

Scholarship Eligibility

The scholarship is open to:

• Alberta residents who are Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, or foreign students on visa and are registered as full or part-time students as defined by the accredited or licensed educational institution
• Applicants who are registered in a Continuing Education course related to a career goal

Eligible Institutions

All accredited post-secondary educational institutions in Canada. Such institutions include universities, colleges, polytechnics, and trades training institutions that the Advisory Committee is satisfied are duly accredited or licensed.

Scholarship Award Criterion

Applications will be evaluated based on the applicant’s response to the application question (or requirements). Other criteria that may be considered are the applicant’s demonstration of leadership, volunteerism, or community involvement, and/or academic record.

Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated by an advisory committee consisting of at least one IMANTA board member and two members from the community at large.  The committee will present its recommendations to the Executive for approval. IMANTA’s Executive retains final approval over the selection of scholarship recipients.

Application Process

All applicants must complete and submit the attached application form along with the four requirements as listed on the form. The deadline for scholarship applications relating to enrollment in the 2025/2026 fall/winter program or the 2026 spring/summer program must be received by IMANTA no later than October 31, 2025. Awards will be announced in November 2025. Payment will be made directly to the individual upon submission of proof of attendance (i.e. tuition receipt) at the recognized educational institution.

Submit applications by email to:
The Edmonton Latvian Society ‘Imanta’
Attn: Adjudication Committee
imantaedmonton@gmail.com

The 2025 Midsummer Festivities have officially wrapped up – and what a celebration it was! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us to make it unforgettable.

Extra love and gratitude to all the amazing people who helped bring it to life – we couldn’t have done it without your energy, creativity, and dedication.

Your continued support means the world to us. We’re already looking forward to the next time we gather – until then, stay joyful, stay connected, and see you soon!

Priecīgus Līgo Svētkus!

Alberta has a unique charitable gaming model. It is the only province in Canada where charitable organizations are licensed to conduct and manage casino events. The Alberta government has established a system where proceeds from charitable gaming activities,  including casino events, are allocated to support nonprofit groups and charitable causes. This involves volunteers of the nonprofit working with licensed casinos to run gaming events like casino nights, where the proceeds from the event are donated to the nonprofit organization. This fundraising event means that Imanta earns revenue to keep things like our scholarship program, senior’s taxis, and children’s programs running.

So, what would a volunteer do?
It’s not as scary as it sounds.  It’s actually terribly easy (and sometimes even boring). No previous casino experience is required!  All volunteers are trained during their shift, and there are always advisors present to answer any questions and ensure everything goes smoothly. There’s also a comfortable Volunteer Lounge with plenty of seating, a TV, and snacks! You can also order a complimentary meal from the casino’s restaurant while working your shift. There are two key areas within the casino that depend on volunteer workers:  The Cash Cage and the Count Room.
The Cash Cage Room:
Chips and cash are held in this room. It is accessible to casino players’ to redeem their chips won for cash. The General Manager, Banker and Cashier volunteers will be in this room along with a casino advisor.
Position: Banker
The Banker helps supervise the cash cage. This includes ensuring the security of the chips and cash, and working with the cashiers to ensure correct payouts are made. A casino advisor is always nearby to help monitor.
Position: Cashier
The cashier’s role is similar to a bank teller’s. The cashier interacts directly with casino players. The cashier redeems players’ chips for cash. A casino advisor is always nearby to help monitor the amount of cash for chips.
Position: Chip Runner
The chip runner works with casino security to open and close tables, and deliver chips to the game tables. When required, security will lead the chip runner to the appropriate tables to deliver the chips. Chip Runners can spend the majority of their shift in the Volunteer Lounge waiting for a notification of when they are needed.
The Count Room:
This is a separate room near the Cash Cage. Volunteers wait in the volunteer lounge until there is a count of chips and cash to complete near the casino’s closing hours. There is always a
casino advisor to supervise and help with the count and handling of chips and cash. Count room volunteers take on one of four possible jobs:
1. Sorter: Sorts all cash or chips by denomination
2. Counter: Counts the sorted cash or chips, by denomination
3. Recorder: Records the number of bills, coins, and chips counted in a computer
4. Amalgamator: Verifies the cash or chips counted and groups them into bundles

The volunteer work involved is very easy, safe, and secure. There is always a friendly advisor to help monitor and ensure everything is being done correctly.   A lot of time is spent waiting for transactions to happen, so there is a lot of down time. Catch up on reading! The only real downsides to volunteering are the late hours that you must be there.  You can also request Casino security to walk you to your car when your shift is over, especially for the late Count Room shifts.  Volunteers can also use a taxi service to get you to and from the Casino.  Just keep your taxi receipts and present them to one of the board members of Imanta and you will be reimbursed.