During this festive season, the executive of the Lithuanian Canadian Community wishes all Lithuanians in Canada and throughout the world a Merry Christmas. May the celebration of Christ’s birth bring you joy, peace and for children, many presents!
May the New Year bring you luck, health and peace.
Virginija, Povilas, Joana, Kazimieras, Loreta and Mindaugas
To finish off a year of celebration in Canada commemorating the 100th anniversary of Lithuania’s proclamation of independence, the Lithuanian Canadian Community, together with the Embassy of Lithuania in Canada, organized a concert on December 2 at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio. The invited guests included Toronto’s Consular Corps, leaders from the Estonian, Latvian, Ukrainian and Polish communities as well as Canadian and allied military representatives and the past presidents of the LCC. During the concert, Julijus Rakitskis, chargé d’affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Canada, awarded Canada’s Lithuanians with the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star”. He thanked us for 65 years of representing Lithuania’s interests and Canada’s not recognizing the illegal occupation of Lithuania by the Soviets. He also made note of the fact that Canada’s Lithuanians raised $1 million for the purchase of a building in Brussels to house the Lithuanian embassy. The medal was accepted by the past and current presidents of the LCC.
Past LCC presidents: Algis Pacevičius, Gabija Petrauskienė, Vytautas Bireta, Rūta Žilinskienė, Algirdas Vaičiūnas, Joana Kuraitė-Lasienė and current president Kazimieras Deksnys. (Juozas Krištolaitis was unable to attend and sadly, Eugenijus Čuplinskas passed away 2 weeks ago.)
Vilnius, July 1,2018.
As part of Lithuania’s 100th anniversary of independence, the World Lithuanian Community organized a tent city of all of the Lithuanian communities and associations from around the world. The Canadian pavilion was visited by thousands of Lithuanians as well as visitors/tourists making it almost impossible to move in the tent at times. Beth Richardson, Charge d’affaires, and her staff at the Canadian embassy assisted in helping with the organization as well staffing the pavilion. Canadian snacks, flags, balloons and pins were handed out and hundreds of questions were asked in return about Lithuanians in Canada as well as Canada in general. The pavilion was also visited by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevicius who were all presented with LCC pins making them honorary members of the Lithuanian Canadian Community.
Lithuanians also attended the raising of the Song Festival flag opening a week long celebration.
photo byM.Ambrazas
S. M. Rugpjucio 6-10 dienomis Vilniuje ivyko Pasaulio Lietuviu Bendruomenes Seimas. PLB Seimas vyksta kas 4 metai. Pasaulio Lietuviu Bendruomenes Seimas taria visus PLB reikalus:
Siais metais svarsteme dvigubos pilietybes klausima ir pateikeme prasyma Lietuvos Vyraiusybei perziureti sia rezoliucija is naujo.
Buvo suvaziave delegatai is 120 saliu.
Atidarymas prasidejo Sv. Misiomis Dievo Gailestingumo sventoveje, Dominikonu gtv 9 Vilniuje. Misias aukojo Prelatas kunigas Edis Putrimas, Sielovados vadovas.is Toronto.
Po to ivyko PLB atstovu registracija ir susipazinimo vakaras Vilniaus Universiteto Istorijos fakulteto kiemelyje. Soko Pedagoginio Instituto folklorine grupe. Vakarone vede ir dainavo ponia Pavilioniene.
4 dienas visi delegatai is viso pasaulio Lietuviu bendruomeniu krastu tarybu atstovai tese savo darba.
Buvo aptarti visi svarbus ir aktualus klausimai ir pateiktos rezoliucijos. Vyko karstos diskusijos sprendziant vienus ar kitus klausimus. Tuo pat metu ivyko Maironio minejimas, aktoriai skaite eiles ir Vilniaus filharmonijos orchestras koncertavo Maironio minejimo proga.
Uzdarymas ivyko Valdovu Rumuose; poezijos eiliu skaitymu ir izymiu zmoniu pasisakymais bei dalyvavimu musu PLB seimo uzdaryme.
Elyte Balkyte-Zubis