Newsletter June 2015

Edmonton Latvian Society
IMANTA

Edmontonas Latviešu Biedrība

March 2015

Hello everyone,

For those of you who don’t know, March is our anniversary month. IMANTA was founded on March 4th, 1947, and registered as a society a few days later on March 8th.

Much has changed over the years. Ten years ago, we rewrote our by-laws in English and adopted English as our business language. This was controversial at the time but it was made necessary by our changing membership and by our connection to casino funding, to which we send regular reports. Despite the changes, IMANTA has remained true to its mandate of connecting Latvians in
Edmonton and area over the years. We are still a Latvian society, and the oldest active Latvian organisation in Canada.

Our spring meeting and get-together will be held on Sunday, March 29th,
at 1 pm at the Laurier Heights Hall at 14405 – 85 Avenue. A light lunch will be served – we’re calling it A Taste of Latvia.

If anyone in your family has taken part in our scholarship program, our taxi program or the monthly children’s activity group, or if you’ve attended any of our other events, come out on March 29th ! We are encouraged by the turnout of young children and families at the children’s group and welcome new ideas and suggestions.

We have a source of good funding for community activities but we don’t know what the community wants. Līgo this year? English or Latvian language lessons? Sports? We need your input.

If you are unable to attend, please write to us at imantaedmonton@gmail.com Seniors, remember that you can phone Yellow Cab and use taxi vouchers for transportation to meetings, doctors’ appointments or any other event. Our transportation program is well-used and we’re able to offer it through our casino funding. If you need vouchers, please phone Ena at 780-468-2728.

IMANTA has supported several local organisations over the years. We review donation requests twice a year, in May and in November. If you’re involved with a non-profit group, please write to imantaedmonton@gmail.com to request an application form. The deadline is May 1st.

IMANTA also supports a scholarship at NAIT. Information is available at http://www.nait.ca
The next application deadline is August 30, 2015.

If anyone is still wondering where to buy Latvian products in Edmonton, several items can be found at European Market & Produce at different times of the year. 6607 – 177 Street

Remember – we’re on Facebook – Post your comments or share your news.

Other links:
http://www.latviansongfest2015.org
http://www.latviansonline.com
http://www.lnak.org

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,600 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 43 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Planning is underway for ‘Imanta’s’ annual commemoration of the anniversary of the independence of Latvia.  Our dinner this year will be held in the Polish Hall on Saturday, November 22^nd and we are delighted to have guest cellist Juris Kenins from Toronto attending.  Seating for this event is limited and tickets must be pre-purchased. There will be no tickets available at the door.  More detailed information on how to purchase your tickets will follow in the next few weeks.

Seventy-five years have passed since the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed on August 23, 1939, creating a partnership between two totalitarian regimes that resulted in the second world war and horrendous crimes against humanity.

Twenty-five years ago, also on August 23rd, people in all three Baltic countries joined hand-in-hand to form the Baltic Way from Tallinn to Riga to Vilnius.
This event stands as a unique expression of peaceful protest.

It’s important that we of Latvian heritage or affinity continue to mark these occasions, especially in light of the situation in Ukraine.

In 2009, the Canadian Parliament passed a resolution declaring August 23rd Black Ribbon Day, an annual day of remembrance commemorating the victims of the Nazi and Soviet regimes.

The Black Ribbon Day event in Edmonton will be held at the Alberta Legislature Building on Saturday, August 23, from 2:30 – 3:30 pm.
Entrance is through the main doors.
Elevator access into the building is through the east entrance only.
For seniors arriving by taxi or anyone else needing elevator access, tell the security guard at the gate that you need to go to the east door.

We hope for a good turn-out from the Latvian community.

Additional information:
http://www.balticway.net
http://www.blackribbonday.org

IMANTA is pleased to announce our self-administered scholarship program for 2014/2015, funded by our ongoing casino program and governed by the regulations of the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. Available Funding ($25,000)

The IMANTA ‘Lāčplēsis’ Scholarship Full Time Post-Secondary Scholarship up to $2,500
The IMANTA ‘Staburags’ Scholarship Part-Time Post-Secondary Scholarship up to $1,000
The IMANTA ‘Draugi’ Scholarship Continuing Education Course(s) Scholarship up to $500 Scholarship

Eligibility The following requirements must be met:

• Alberta residents who are Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, or foreign students on visa
• The applicant must be registered as a full or part-time student as defined by the accredited or licensed educational institution.

Eligible Institutions

All accredited post secondary educational institutions in Canada, Such institutions include universities, colleges, polytechnics and trades training institutions that the Adjudication Committee is satisfied are duly accredited or licenced. Scholarship Award Criteria Awards will be made by the Adjudication Committee appointed by Imanta on the basis of adjudication and ranking of the Applicants’ completed Scholarship Applications, academic achievements (overall average) for post-secondary students, community involvement in the past year and completed essays relating to the subject specified below, as required for post secondary students. Application Process Applicants must submit the following:

1. Completed Scholarship Application Form
2. 1,000 word essay for full time applications; 500 word essay for part time post-secondary applications.

Topic:  What is a Latvian? What are the defining characteristics of  Latvian identity? 

3. Course marks and overall average for the preceding year (for post-secondary applicants) evidenced by a registrar’s certificate or other approved form from the educational institution.
4. Documentation relating to any community involvement (correspondence or a description of activities in the past year). Please identify if there has been no community involvement.
5. Specifically describe your involvement in Imanta activities (in the past 12 months).

Deadline for applications for scholarships relating to enrolment in a fall program must be received by the Adjudication Committee by no later than October 1, 2014 and awards for fall programs will be announced by November 15, 2014. Imanta may authorize the Adjudication Committee to receive applications for academic periods that commence other than in the fall, but only for the period between September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015. 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 to:
The Edmonton Latvian Society “Imanta”
Attn: Adjudication Committee
1209 Wershof Road
Edmonton, Alberta T6M 2M2

Link to application form:

Scholarship Application 2014

Has Imanta been good to you or your organization this year? Now we need your help: Imanta is looking for volunteers for our Casino on July 18^th and 19^th at Casino Edmonton on Argyll Road.  No experience necessary! Meet other Imanta members! Eat free food! Remember: Casino funds are vital to our scholarship and seniors programs, so if you can help us out please contact us at imantaedmonton@gmail.com. And if you know someone who would fill a shift, please pass on the word.