After a long time away we are finally able to meet again and celebrate Summer Solstice!  Our celebration will once again be held at the Partridge Hill Community Park near Ft. Saskatchewan. There is a large outdoor area for many activities.  Imanta is busy planning and looking for extra volunteers to help make this a memorable event.  If anyone is interested in camping overnight, the site can accommodate tents or RV’s, but there are no hook-up utilities provided. Camping will only be allowed with prior approval from Imanta and we will only approve overnight camping if we have a volunteer who can step forward and offer their services for overnight management of the area.

Please contact us by email (imantaedmonton@gmail.com) if you would like to help us out or if you would like more information. We are looking forward to meeting our old friends and always open to meeting new friends and supporters of Imanta! More details will follow at a later date.

The Board Members of the Edmonton Latvian Society Imanta extend a very warm invitation to our  members, volunteers, friends and supporters to this  year’s AGM. Please join us as we host our Annual General Meeting and review the successes and challenges of the past year. We are always looking for new members and new ideas! Support us, become a member or join our board!

When: Saturday, April 9^th. Doors will open at 12:00 p.m., meeting will be called at 12:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you!     

 

In support of Ukraine and her right to sovereignty, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council is organizing a “Human Chain for Ukraine Rally”.  Those interested in joining please meet at the MacEwan University intersection of 104 Ave & 109 Street at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 27, 2022. The rally will run in both directions along 109 st. south towards the Alberta Legislature and north towards Kingsway and WILL NOT be blocking traffic at any intersections. All supporters of Ukraine, democracy and the free world are encouraged to attend, wearing Ukraine’s colours of blue and yellow in support. Bring signs with the following messages

– Stand with Ukraine – Join Us
– Weapons to Ukraine NOW
– Punish Putin – War Criminal
– Help Ukraine by donating – albertastandswithukraine.ca
– NATO Secure Ukraine’s Airspace
– Boycott Russian Products

For more information on the #AlbertaStandsWithUkraine initiative, including for ways to donate to the #HelpUkraineNow Humanitarian Assistance Initiative led by the Canada Ukraine Foundation, please visit https://albertastandswithukraine.ca

Organizations providing humanitarian aid:

Red Cross (Canadian Government is matching donations)

https://www.redcross.ca/about-us/media-news/news-releases/red-cross-launches-ukraine-humanitarian-crisis-appeal

Canadian Ukrainian Foundation: https://www.cufoundation.ca/

The Latvian Embassy is planning a mobile passport station in Alberta sometime between late spring to early summer. Please write to consulate.canada@mfa.gov.lv if you are in need of this service. This will help them plan their trip to Alberta and BC. Any questions regarding passports should be sent to the consulate in Ottawa. The more requests they receive directly from you, the better they are able to plan.

Greetings to all our members and friends!

The past two years has transformed nearly every aspect of our world. Our friends, family, colleagues, and communities have had their lives changed in critical ways that could have much longer-lasting effects. Living through a global pandemic has driven dramatic shifts in our jobs, eating habits, childcare, gatherings and even our collective sense of time. Virtually no one has been left untouched after so many months of such disruption. A generous dose of empathy and understanding will make us all stronger as we rebuild and remake our world in the year ahead.

Imanta will celebrate 75 years on March 8^th! It was founded in 1947 and we can be proud that it is the oldest active Latvian organization in Canada. This is a remarkable achievement considering our location and distance from other large centres! We are looking forward to celebrating this achievement with all of you, hopefully in near future. And can you believe this, one of its founding members, Viola Baker will celebrate her 100^th birthday this month!

We are very proud of our past president, Ena Rudovics who received a special award from PBLA (Pasaules Brivo Latviesu Apvieniba). Ena was awarded for her many years of doing an outstanding job running and guiding the Latvian Society in Edmonton.

We are also very proud of our Latvian School children and teachers who continue to work during the pandemic. Our teachers Zane Vendelina and Inga Goba have received a Special Recognition Diploma from LNAK, (The Latvian National Federation in Canada) Educational Branch for their continuous work with children during the pandemic.

Our 2021 scholarship program recipients were announced in December. Congratulations to Andrea, Raivo, Luke, Gita, Daniel, Marena, Caitlyn, Felix and Liva! Since this program commenced in 2010, Imanta has awarded 119 scholarships for a total of $250,000!

LNAK board elections are on until March 5th. If anyone is interested please click the LNAK link for information on becoming member and voting. LNAK website link

Our Imanta annual general meeting will take place end of March or beginning of April. More information to come. It is a new year and Imanta membership fees are due for all of our members. Membership information can be found in ‘Forms’ on our website. Memberships that were purchased in September, October or December 2021 are considered to be current for 2022. All paid members will receive the minutes of last years AGM in a separate mailing. There will be a draw for one member to win a one year subscription to Latvia Amerika Newspaper.

For latest posts and news revisit our website often or sign up to receive email notifications whenever new information has been posted. You can also email us with any suggestions or questions: imantaedmonton@gmail.com

On January 22, 2022 all are invited to join the #standwithukraine campaign and show support for the Ukrainian people’s right to live free and in peace in their own land. Write a support letter to your Local Canadian Parliament Official. A sample letter is included in the following link:
More information here:https://www.ucc.ca/stand-with-ukraine/

Please see attached link to find out who represents in your area. 
https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/sear

The Calgary European Film Festival (https://calgaryeuropeanfilmfestival.ca/) will stream the Latvian film The Sign Painter  Nov 6-10 across Alberta, with a live Q&A with the director, producer and lead actor on Sunday, Nov 7th.

The European Union Film Festival (https://www.euffonline.ca/welcome) will show the Latvian film The Year Before the War on Nov 18th, available for 48 hours after the scheduled start.

There are many other interesting films at the festivals. The days are turning grey, the weather colder – check the websites for more information and ticket purchase.

IMANTA is once again pleased to announce our self-administered scholarship program for 2021/2022, funded by the ongoing casino program and governed by the regulations of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

Scholarship Eligibility

The scholarship is open to:

1. 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
2. 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

All applications will be evaluated by an advisory committee, consisting of at least one IMANTA board member and two members from the community at large, which will present recommendations to the Executive. IMANTA’s Executive retains final decision-making authority over the selection of scholarship recipients.

Application Process

All applicants must complete and submit the attached application form along with the requirements as listed on the form. Applicants will be required to submit course registration confirmation and receipts for tuition paid before any monies are distributed. The deadline for scholarship applications relating to enrolment in the 2021/2022 fall/winter program or 2022 spring/summer program must be received by IMANTA no later than November 1, 2021. Awards will be announced by December 15, 2021.

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, with a read receipt, to:

The Edmonton Latvian Society "Imanta"
Attn: Adjudication Committee
imantaedmonton@gmail.com

Greetings to all! We are hoping everyone is safe and healthy these days and are enjoying the warm weather outdoors.

Imanta is now a part of the historical Johnny J. Jones Midway at Fort Edmonton Park. Imanta dedicated 20 bulbs to Latvian Society IMANTA members, past and present. Imanta will also celebrate 75 years next year; we have a rich history to celebrate and it is wonderful to be a part of this historical and educational park where we can always come together and visit for many years to come.

Our Annual General meeting and elections were held in March and the Executive Positions are as following:

President– Nelda Kononova, Vice-President – Ed Rudzitis, Treasurer – Liesma Mithrush, Secretary – Linda Payne, Auditor – Jon Goor, Members At Large: Ena Rudovics, Zane Vendelina, Inta London, Jon Goor.

We thank everyone for their volunteer efforts and continuous involvement to keep Imanta active and alive. All Imanta Executive members are volunteers and are not the same as employees. Their participation is truly voluntary, and they are critical to the success of our organization.

Join us for our annual tree planting anniversary. All are welcome! Sunday, June 13^th  at 11:00 a.m. Our tree is planted at Monsignor William Irwin Park, 9814 110 St., close to the Grandin School and the LRT station. Please follow the Covid protocols that are in place at that time. In a joint effort across Canada, oaks or linden trees were planted in 2018 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Latvian Independence. Imanta choose to plant a linden tree for our Centennial Tree. Every year we commemorate the tree planting by gathering and remembering the anniversary.  It has become a tradition to do this around June14th, Commemoration Day of Victims of Communist Terror. This June will be the 80th Anniversary of the deportation of Latvians in 1941.

It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of our members. Their support will be remembered always and is already greatly missed.

Due to Covid uncertainty we have decided to move our Summer Solstice 2021 to a safe celebration in 2022!  Mark your calendar for June 24^th to 26^th, 2022. Start planning for a great Ligo/ Jani, email us your ideas and get involved!

Svētku vainagā iepiniet: (For your Līgo/Jāni wreath)

Ozola lapas – spēkam un veselībai, Oak Leaves for strength and health,

Rudzupuķes – skaistumam, Cornflowers for beauty,

Magones – auglībai, Poppies for fertility

Pīlādzi pret ļaunu aci, Rowan for protection from evil eye,

Margrietiņas – mīlas degsmei, Daisies for love.

Priecīgis Līgo Svētkus! Happy Summer Solstice!

Have a great summer everyone!