On 4 June 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, concluded her working visit to Toronto, Canada, at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Center.
The Parliamentary Secretary gave a speech at the opening of an exhibition titled “The Tragedy of Latvia. 1941”, created by the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the Museum “Jews in Latvia” in close collaboration with the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. “The exhibition is of special significance at a time when we are witnessing history repeat itself and a return of the horrors of war in Europe. Russia is committing brutal war crimes in Ukraine. Genocide of the Ukrainian people is currently taking place; children, women, and the elderly are being forcibly removed to Russia. Russia is repeating the horrors of the Soviet regime,” she said.
In the presence of a large audience representing the Latvian Canadian community, Ilze Kuplena-Ewart, Chairwoman of the Latvian National Federation in Canada and the Parliamentary Secretary discussed providing assistance to Ukraine, strengthening Latvia’s security, improving the energy sector in Latvia, as well as facilitating cooperation on all these issues with the Canadian government and the Latvian community in Canada.
Canada is home to one of the largest Latvian communities in the world. 30,000 people, most of whom live in the Toronto area, are proud of their Latvian roots. Due to the persistent work of the Latvian community, multiple organizations, community centres, and schools have been established, which have helped preserve Latvian identity. Canada was the first G7 country to recognize the restoration of Latvia’s independence on 26 August 1991.
During the visit, the Parliamentary Secretary participated in the 71st graduation of the Toronto Latvian Society Saturday School. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica congratulated the graduates and emphasized the importance of the Saturday School in maintaining Latvian identity and preserving the Latvian language. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica thanked Ilze Maksiņa, the administrator of the Toronto Latvian Society Saturday School, for her selfless work and contribution to the Saturday School, as well as the Saturday School teachers and assistants for promoting the learning of the Latvian language and strengthening ties with Latvia and Latvian culture.
The Ambassador of Latvia to Canada, Kaspars Ozoliņš, participated in the meeting with the Latvian community in Canada.
Additional information:
The Toronto Latvian Society Saturday School was founded in 1950 to cultivate Latvian identity and culture, provide a space for learning the Latvian language, and strengthen ties with the Latvian nation. Children aged between 3 and 14 years attend the school and study subjects such as the Latvian language, history, geography, folk dances, singing, and playing the kokle. The school is located in the Latvian Canadian Cultural Center in Toronto.