News Archives

 

 

July to December, 2007

 

 

Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation Annual Meeting

 

The Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation (CHEF) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), as well as a board meeting on December 14, 2007 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau, Québec. The AGM included the re-election of the foundation’s current board of directors, a diverse group composed of individuals from a range of professional backgrounds. Judy Young-Drache, the foundation’s president, worked for years at Multiculturalism Canada, while Gábor Csepregi, CHEF’s vice-president, heads the Dominican University College, in Ottawa. Catherine Bélanger and Mark Curfoot-Mollington, the foundation’s directors, both bring years of experience in public service to CHEF, while Christopher Adam, the organization’s secretary, is a PhD candidate in history, at the University of Ottawa.

 

 

The foundation’s main activities in 2007 were focused around the development of a website aimed at exploring the contributions of Hungarian Canadians to all aspects of culture and society in Canada. The site, which went live earlier this year at www.hungarianpresence.ca, will continue to be expanded and developed in 2008, with special emphasis placed on creating and presenting content in such a way as to attract students and younger audiences. CHEF will also be actively promoting the site at cultural events throughout the country, as part of an official launch.

 

Starting in 2008, CHEF will be looking at ways to facilitate educational and cultural exchanges between Canada and Hungary, as part of the foundation’s on-going effort to create and support programs that promote dialogue between the two countries. A number of possible educational programs are currently being considered and more information will be made available on our website early next year.

International conference on women’s career development in Budapest, Nov 23-24 2007

 

Judy Young Drache, President of the Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation (CHEF), and member of the editorial board of www.hungarianpresence.ca has been invited to be a panelist in an international conference on women’s career development. She is speaking about women’s participation in Canadian society and education to promote tolerance and understanding. She is also looking for partners for the Foundation’s proposed anniversary project to set up internships / fellowships or other forms of professional development opportunities for Hungarian and Canadian young professionals. You can find out more about the conference and its aims here: http://www.magyarnok.hu/index_en.php?site=1&id=11

Eyes across the Atlantic—Hungary’s State Security and Canada’s Hungarians, 1956-1989

 

Christopher Adam, a doctoral candidate in history currently completing his dissertation at the University of Ottawa, traveled to Bratislava on November 14, 2007 to present a paper at an international conference, which examined the activities of Communist-era state security agencies in the former Eastern bloc countries. Organized by the Nation’s Memory Institute of Slovakia (UPN), the conference presenters examined the role that Soviet advisors played in the satellite states, as well as the NKVD/KGB’s cooperation with other state security agencies in Eastern Europe and their activities in occupied East Germany and Austria.

For more information and the abstract of the presentation, click here ...

Hungary and its neighbours since the 2006 general election — a lecture by Dr. Laszlo Keri

 

Carleton University, Ottawa, November 16th

 

With the support of the Carleton University Centre for European Studies and the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary, Political scientist Dr Laszlo Keri of the Hungarian Institute for Political Science is giving a lecture about “Hungary and its neighbours since the 2006 general election” at Carleton University on November 16th at 12 noon. For more information click here.

 

Dr Keri is also lecturing at the Munk Centre for International Studies in Toronto on November 14th. For the details of his lecture in Toronto click here.

Judit Havas, award winning, performing artist comes to Ottawa

 

On Thursday October 18th, Judit Havas at the Hungarian Community Centre, 43 Capital Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K2G 0E7, will teach a course on breathing and speaking techniques for performers starting at 19:00. Contributions from the evening will be donated to the Judit Havas Fund. (Hungarian Beavertalks will be available.)

 

On Friday, October 19 at 6 PM - ”A WAVE TO THE GUARDIANS” Judit Havas, award winning (Knight’s Cross), performing artist, remembers Endre Ady on the 130th anniversary of his birth.

 

For information call: 613-225-8754. Visit the website of Judit Havas, http://www.havasjudit.uw.hu

 

Judit Havas will also be in Montreal:

 

In Toronto:

Tamas Erdi in concert in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal
October 18-22, 2007

 

Within the framework of the Kodaly Anniversary year, the Embassy of Hungary, in cooperation with Attila Glatz Concert Production Inc. and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education and Culture of Hungary, is sponsoring three concerts in Canada by Hungarian pianist Tamas Erdi. Born and educated in Hungary, Erdi has also studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

 

The Tamas Erdi story is unique. Blind from birth, he began playing the piano at age five and performed on stage at age eight for the first time. In 1997, despite being the youngest participant, he won first prize at the Louis Braille International Music Competition. Remarkably, Tamas released his first CD at the age of 18; and upon recommendations of renowed conductors Tamas was accepted into the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and obtained his Artist Diploma in 2002. Tamas recently performed solo in Budapest, Cluj, Beirut, Kuwait, Bangkok, Buffalo, New York and Chicago. Program highlights will include compositions of Zoltan Kodaly, Bela Bartok and Ferenc Liszt.

 

For more information on Tamas Erdi, visit his website: http://www.erditamas.hu/

 

• Toronto October 18th 2007 - Glen Gould Studio, 250 Front Street West 8 pm. View poster.
• Montreal October 20, 2007 - Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke West, 7 pm. View poster.
• Ottawa October 22, 2007 - First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Ave. 7:30 pm. View poster.

Duvo Ensemble from Hungary in concert at the Granville Island Stage, Vancouver, September 26th

 

The Hungarian Canadian Cultural Alliance and the New Hungarian Voice are proud to present the Duvo Ensemble from Hungary in concert at the Granville Island Stage, at 1585 Johnston Street, Vancouver, Wednesday, September 26th at 8:00 p.m. For more information click here.

 

Pierre Guimond appointed Canadian Ambassador to Hungary

 

On September 11th, the New Canadian ambassador, His Excellency, Pierre Guimond, handed over his letters of accreditation to Hungary’s President.

 

Ambassador Pierre Guimond, (BA [Political Science], Université Laval, 1979) worked as a Research Officer for the Quebec government’s Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, and as an Information Officer for the Office of the Government of Quebec in Toronto, before joining External Affairs in 1987. Since becoming a foreign service officer, he has served abroad in Prague, Bonn and Vienna. At headquarters, he served as Desk Officer in the Strategic Policy Analysis Division, and later in the USSR, Central and Eastern Europe Relations Division; Deputy Director, European Union Division; Senior Departmental Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Director, European Union Division. Additionally, Mr. Guimond served as Adviser to the Foreign Policy and Defence Secretariat with the Privy Council Office. Most recently, he was Director of the Eastern Europe and Balkans Division. He is married to Louise Parent. Pierre Guimond succeeds Robert Hage.

 

Read the Ambassador's interview of January 2008 in Hungarian or in English.

Robert Edward Hage, former Ambassador to Hungary, receives award

 

On July 11, 2007, President László Sólyom awarded His Excellency Robert Edward Hage, Canada’s outgoing Ambassador, with the Commander’s Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary .  Robert Hage was tremendously helpful in encouraging the development of projects and activities of the newly established Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation (CHEF) in addition to all the work he was doing to promote Canada in Hungary and further the relations between the two countries. We at CHEF would like to thank him and congratulate him warmly on this high honour.  Mr Hage is back in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as Director General of the Central, East and South Europe Bureau.

 

Read the President’s and Mr Hage’s speeches here:  http://www.hungarianpresence.ca/merit.cfm

Hans Selye and Sainte-Justine Hospital's Centennial Symposium

 

To mark the centenary of the birth of Dr. Hans Selye, the discoverer of the stress syndrome in biology and medicine, the Hans Selye Foundation and Sainte-Justine Hospital are organizing an international symposium entitled “Stress: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications”. The symposium dates are July 11-14, 2007, and the location is the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

For more information click here.

Hungarian Language and Culture Summer School (all year round)

 

Those interested in learning Hungarian language and culture can visit the website of the University of Debrecen which has held its famous summer school courses for many years. Students are now able to take classes all year round and choose courses in Budapest or Sopron as well. For information please visit the following websites:

http://www.nyariegyetem.hu/
or
www.summerschool.hu

 

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