Report on the Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner
11.10.2016

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About 30 guests attended the Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner on Monday, October 10^th, 2016 at the Trompete Restaurant, Peldu iela 24, Riga, http://www.trompete.lv/en/ for an informal event resembling more a family gathering than a networking opportunity.

Compliments to the chef, Latvian-Canadian Austris Siliņš whose culinary art experiences have been influenced by growing up in Latvian in the family, living in both Ontario and Quebec, as well as working with different nationality chefs, including Canadian Indians. Austris carved the turkey himself and provided guests with an enjoyable and filling experience, including seconds for those who wanted more. The manager of Trompete, Daniels Liepiņš, also a Latvian-Canadian, introduced the newly opened Trompete (in January) with its quaint indoor facilities but an outdoor area suitable to accommodate about 50. This establishment has a good future. Good luck to them – we’ll be back.

Mr Juris Audariņš, the former Latvian Ambassador to Canada just recently returned from Canada, provided us with some insight as to what to expect when doing business in Canada and informed us of some things that normally are not discussed in official literature, such as dealing with the mobile telephone network in Canada, medical services and things that should be considered when calling a repair man for household appliances. He could probably write a book with a title “What foreigners really need to know about doing business in Canada”. In any event, perhaps the most important message was about the importance of getting a reliable local partner for those wishing to do business in Canada. This is something we at the CanCham recognize, and in fact offer to Canadians doing business over here. Clearly who you know is just as important as what you know. We hope to see Mr Audariņš at our events in the future as we build bridges between Canada and Latvia.

Another interesting guest was Ambassador Wu of the Taipei Mission in Riga, who is the recent former Taiwanese Ambassador to Canada. This made for interesting table conversation exploring ways to connect Taiwan, Latvia and Canada. There are exciting opportunities. Stay tuned as we develop them.

For pictures, see www.facebook.com/canchamlatvia

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