On Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 p.m., at the Peace Latvian Lutheran church, 83 Main Street , world-renown musician  Regimantas Šilinskas will perform with skrabalai –
(trapezoid-shaped wooden troughs of various sizes with clappers fixed inside them).
Regimantas graduated from the music academy with certification in folk instruments with specialization playing the skrabalai. He has performed around the world and will be in Canada performing at Mississauga ’s Carassauga in late May. His repertoire is comprised not only of Lithuanian folk music, but includes jazz interpretations. For more information  visit www.skrabalai.lt
After the performance, light refreshments will be served in the downstairs hall. 
This concert is being organized by the Canadian-Lithuanian Community Ottawa Chapter in cooperation with the Lithuanian Embassy in Canada.

“Arijas” Farewell

As you know the combined men’s, women’s and children’s choir “Arija” has been preparing to attend the IX Lithuanian Song Festival on July 4. A farewell evening was cancelled.

May 2010

On the occasion of the visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania A. Ažubalis, the Baltic Federation will be hosting this evening. Tickets are available for local Lithuanians to attend. If you are interested, please contact Ruta Klicius know by April 26 at rklicius@rogers.com

The Free Thinking Film Society presents the Ottawa premiere of this documentary film “The Soviet Story”. Director Edvins Snore will attend to answer questions after the screening. The film was made over a two-year span and was filmed throughout Russia, Ukraine and other European countries. The film is based on facts about the Soviet regime’s activities in the Ukraine and in other countries collected by the film’s director over a 10-year period.

Tickets are $15 and available at the following outlets:

Ottawa Folklore Centre
1111 Bank St., Ottawa
(613) 730-2887

Compact Music
190 Bank St.
(613) 233-7626

Compact Music
785 1/2 Bank Street
(613) 233-8922

More information at http://www.sovietstory.com

The 2010 Lenten retreat will be conducted by Rev. Laurynas Grikietis who is visiting from Kaunas, Holy Spirit Parish and chaplain for Holy Spirit High School.  It will be held on Sunday, February 28, 4 p.m., St. George’s Church, 415 Piccadilly (off Richmond Rd. near Island Park Dr.). A pot-luck social will follow and ask everyone to contribute.

Join us for the annual festive Independence Celebration on Saturday, February 13, 2009, 2 p.m. at the Latvian Lutheran Parish Hall, 83 Main St. (corner of Lees and Main St.) Please don’t be late because our guests are returning to Montreal shortly after our celebration.
This year‘s guests are - Paulius Kovas and his wife Nijolė Narmontaitė – from Lithuania.  Paulius sailed with two „Ambersail“ crews last year celebrating Lithuania‘s Millenium. He will share never before shown videos and first hand accounts of his experiences. He will be presenting in English and Lithuanian and will welcome questions. Nijole has prepared a special program „Embracing Lithuania with Love“ which will demonstrate her musical and dramatic talents. She will present a few skits featuring her reknown “Café  immigrant” personalities – this Saturday Night Live Lithuanian-style!

We invite everyone to attend this celebration! You won‘t be disappointed. In our small community, every person makes a difference. Donations will be accepted at the door. After the show, we will have a potluck dinner and welcome your contribution.

Christmas Social 

The Christmas social will be held on Sunday, December 13, 3:30 p.m. at the Latvian Church Hall, 83 Main St. (corner of Lees and Main). Short video clips will be shown from the Canadian Lithuanian Days held in Toronto during the past Thanksgiving weekend. 

An opportunity to say good-bye to Migle and Liudas Jankauskas who are returning to Vilnius later this month after a three-year assignment at the embassy. Migle was responsible for political relations and consular affairs.  

Santa Claus will also be visiting, so if you would like your child/children to receive a gift, please bring a wrapped gift with their name clearly marked on the gift.

XXXVI Lithuanian Days in Canada

XXXVI Lithuanian Days in Canada will take place October 9-11, 2009 in Toronto and Mississauga. Performing guests from Lithuania will include  music ensemble „Jonis“ and singer, actress Nijolė Narmontaitė with a humurous show. For more informatrion about these performers visit www.jonis.lt and www.narmontaite.lt

Baltic Friends invites you to the 5th Baltic Oktoberfest Saturday, October 31, 2009
6:00 p.m.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Cocktails (Cash Bar). 7:00 pm Hearty German Dinner will include schnitzel, bratwurst, sauerkraut, red cabbage, dessert, tea, coffee, buns and butter. Dancing to the Edelweiss Band. Door Prizes. Come as you are, but Halloween costumes especially welcome.
Location: Maple Leaf Almrausch Club 3928 Farmers Way, Carlsbad Springs (10 min. from downtown Ottawa), Take Hwy 417 E, Anderson Road exit, turn left on Leitrim). Reserve tickets by October 26, $35 Adults, $25 Students, $10 children. For reservations, contact: Diane Brikis 613-225-6388
(more...)

Latvian Choral Concert

The Riga Business School choir will perform on Sunday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Peace Latvian Lutheran Church , 83 Main Street. Contemporary choral music by various Latvian and North American composers, as well as traditional Latvian folk songs.
Admission $10, free for children.  A coffee reception following the concert.
The choir, consisting of 30 singers and two conductors, is on a North American tour and will perform at the XIII Latvian Song Festival in Canada to be held in July 2009. For more info: Ligita Galdins (613) 236-5170.

Lithuanian’ Millenium celebration

Video from Lithuania's Millenium celebration on Parliament Hill!

Ottawa's Lithuanian community, as well as guests from Montreal and Toronto, celebrated Lithuania ’s Millennium on Sunday, July 5 on Parliament Hill.  At exactly 2 p.m. (just seconds after the Peace Tower stopped chiming), the group sang Tautiska Giesme – the national anthem.
Lithuanians across Canada and around the world joined in song welcoming the return of the “Ambersail” yacht to Klaipėda after its nine-month journey circumnavigating the world and officially marking the Millennium.

Her Excellency Ginte Damusyte joined the celebrations and afterwards hosted a reception at the new embassy.
A perfect day demonstrating national pride for Lithuania and Canada!
Vienas Vardas Lietuva - One Name Lithuania.

JONINES in Hamilton!

The Lithuanian-Canadian Community, Hamilton Chapter invites all Johns and Janinas, their relatives, friends and acquaintances to attend JONINES!
The celebration is being held on Saturday, June 6 at the Hamilton Gun Club “Giedraitis” in Caledonia. The gates will open at 2 p.m.
Toronto’s folk dance group “Atžalynas” will perform and festivities include children’s activities, St. John Eve traditions with contests and competitions, food – including roast pig and refreshments – a campfire and singing.  
In case of rain, come prepared…
Contact: Angelė Vaičiūnienė, Hamilton (905) 527-5037

Flag raising ceremony to commemorate Constitution Day

Lithuanian Mass

Lithuanian Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, May 3rd, at 3 p.m. by Father Aloyzas Volskis at St. Elizabeth‘s Church. Afterwards, in the hall, a short video of the Ambersail and the Millenium Odyssey will be shown along with highlights from the crew‘s visit to Canada.

The 8th crew of the Ambersail landed in Halifax on April 26th and visited Toronto on April 28th. Highlights from their visits will be shown. A pot luck social will be held. Everyone is invited to participate!

Constitution Day celebration

Join Gintė Damušyte, Lithuania‘s ambassador to Canada and other guests for a reception on Thursday, May 7th , 7 to 9 p.m., Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier St., Gatineau to celebrate Constitution Day. The reception celebrates May 3rd, 1791 when this Government Act was recognized as Europe‘s first and the world‘s second modern codified national constitution. Dress is Business/National. Please bring the invitation with you.

„THE COLLECTRESS“

Lithuanian film „THE COLLECTRESS“ will be screened  Thursday, April 16 at  7 p.m., National Archives of Canada, Wellington St.  (dir. Kristina Buozyte, 84 minutes,
English Subtitles.)
Following a traumatic experience, Gaile, a speech therapist, is incapable of feeling any emotion. While preparing a video presentation for a scientific conference, she sees herself on screen and is surprised to find suppressed sensations returning to her, primarily feelings of aggression. Gaile decides to try an experiment. With the help of a man and his video camera, she stages various provocative situations and shows the result to those involved. Through the experience, however, she seems unable to perceive the value of normal emotions, or even the possibility that someone may have feelings for her. A fascinating, unsettling portrait of the power of media.  Festivals: Karlovy Vary IFF | 2008, Kinoshok - Open CIS and Baltic Film Festival | 2008 Awards:Best film - Silver crane award, Lithuania | 2008, Best director - Kinoshok - Open CIS and Baltic Film Festival | 2008.
http://www.cfi-icf.ca/index.php?option=com_cfi&task=showevent&id=22

„Unseen Lithuania“

The Embassy of Lithuania is proud to present the aerial photography of Mr. Marius Jovaisa, author of The album „Unseen Lithuania“. The exhibit will open with a reception at Centre Culturel Jacques-Auger in Gatineau between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Friday, March 13, 2009. Exhibition is also open to the public on March 14, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. (more)

Homelands Mass

Archbishop Prendergast invites Lithuanians to join other nations and attend the annual Homelands Mass on Sunday, February 22., 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Basilica on Sussex Street.

February 16th Lithuanian Independence Day Celebration

The 91st commemoration of Lithuania‘s independence was celebrated on February 14th  at the Latvian Church. The Youth Choir and kankle players from Toronto‘s Resurrection Parish performed an entertaining program. More than 30 singers and their parents visited Ottawa and enjoyed Winterlude activities. A highlight of the performance was when nine Ottawa youth joined the group and sang songs from the song festival.  As well, actress Virginija Kochanskytė from Klaipeda, Lithuania recited poetic works. Afterwards, guests socialized downstairs and the youth attempted their luck and strength breaking a large strawberry pinata.

The traditional Christmas Mass and pageant were held on December 14 at St. Elizabeth‘s Church. Mass was celebrated by Father Volskis from Montreal which was followed by a children‘s pageant and potluck social. The families with young childern in the community organized a performance enjoyed by everyone and the highlight was the visit from Santa Clause. Please take a look at the event‘s photos: Photos

Lithuanian philosopher, essayist, cultural critic and activist Leonidas Donskis will be lecturing in English „Lithuania - the first breakaway Soviet Republic: reconstituting Lithuania’s identity after 1990“ on Tuesday, November 18,  from 1 to 3 p.m. at Carleton University in the Dunton Tower, room 2203 . The event is organized by the Embassy of Lithuania in Ottawa. Please register for the lecture at (613) 567-5458 or by e-mail: litemb@storm.ca. Please see the whole advertisement.

This film has been nominated in the Foreign Film Category for the upcoming Oscar awards. In the film, a priest in Ireland meets a woman from his native Lithuania only to find out her mysterious identity is closely connected with a dark secret of his past. Desperate for a better life, Valda leaves Lithuania for Ireland, hoping to find a new purpose in life, but failing to fulfill a promise she made to her son to come back.

Mass will be celebrated at Sunday, November 2,  3 p.m. at St. Elizabeth‘s Church (corner of Merivale and Leaside in Ottawa).  Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Aloyzas Volskis from Montreal. Afterwards, a pot luck social will be held.

On October 19th, another Lithuanian cooking class was held. As Marija Siuliene demonstrated all of the stages in making cepelinai, participants had a chance to practise each step. Once boiled, the cepelinai were topped with fried bacon and sour cream. While enjoying the hearty meal, ideas were shared for future cooking sessions.

Premiere viewing of Giedre Beinoriute's films   

On September 26th Ottawa ’s Lithuanian Community (LCC)  viewed three films directed by Giedre Beinoriute including: „TROLEIBUSU MIESTAS“ (Trolley Car City),  „EGZISTENCIJA“ (Existence) and  „GYVENO SENELIS IR BOBUTE“ (Grandpa and Grandma).  Afterwards, Giedre answered questions from the audience. In appreciation for her visit, LCC Ottawa chapter president Ruta Kliciene presented Giedre with a flowers and souvenir book about Ottawa on behalf of the community. Discussions continued over the reception that followed.

Volleyball

Games are played Wednesday evenings, 8-10 p.m. at Agincourt Road School , 1250 Agincourt Rd. (near the Queensway Maitland exit). New players are welcome and for more information call Ed Brikis 613-225-6388.

"The Singing Revolution"

"The Singing Revolution", an inspiring documentary about Estonia's dramatic rebirth was shown in Ottawa on July 11-14 at the Bytowne Theatre.

Statehood Day with “Pajūrio lakštingalos” from Klaipėda

A performance of this singing trio was held on July 6. The concert was jointly organized by the Lithuanian Embassy in Canada and the Lithuanian-Canadian Community Ottawa chapter

Lithuanian Dance Festival

Lithuanian communities across Canada are celebrating the 400th anniversary of Mary's appearance at Šiluva. The Ottawa celebration was on Sunday, June 15 at St. Elizabeth's church. The blessed picture from Lithuania was brought and displayed during the celebratory Mass. For more information about Šiluva, visit http://www.siluva.lt.

The 28th Baltic Evening, organized by the Baltic Federation in Canada, was held on May 28 in Confederation Hall on Parliament Hill. Honoured guest and speaker was the President of the Republic of Estonia, His Excellency Toomas Hendrik Ilves who was visiting on an official visit. Other guests included Canada's members of Parliament and senators, diplomatic corps, public servants and representatives from Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities.

Read report about event

Photos

Back by popular request, the third Lithuanian cooking school was held on April 20th. Several recipes were demonstrated including: herring salad (silkė pataluose), sweet pancakes with cottage cheese (desertiniai blyneliai su varške), garlic bread Lithuanian-style (česnakinė duona) and potatoe salad (mišraine).

Read report about event

Photos

Lithuania’s Independence Celebration

The Canadian-Lithuanian Community of Ottawa celebrated Lithuania’s Independence on February 9th at St. Pius X High School.

Read report about event

Photos