20.10.2024 Report on CanCham’s Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner 2024
20.10.2024

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Report on CanCham’s Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner 2024

For pictures, see https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.841505211480520&type=3

Over fifty members and friends attended CanCham’s Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner on October 14th, 2024 at the Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel, Elizabetes iela 73, Restaurant C.U.T. where we were delighted to be served a traditional turkey (legs and all) complete with stuffing, cranberry sauce, veggies, etc. Compliments to the chef for preparing everything in such a traditional and tasty manner giving the evening an exquisite touch. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that we again had the opportunity to continue this tradition for the fifth year at this venue.

We were particularly pleased to have a strong contingent from the Canadian Armed Forces sharing in this special event. They are part of Task Force Latvia helping preserve security in this region. One of the CanCham’s main objectives is to “strengthen the bonds between Canada and Latvia”. We do this, in part, through such social events providing Canadians and Latvians the opportunity to meet in person in order to promote and strengthen each society’s positive perceptions of the other. Such an event gives local Latvians a rare opportunity to mingle with “real Canadians”. It was a great opportunity to meet new friends, many who just arrived here. We welcome them to Latvia.

CanCham’s Chairman, Ed Kalvins, welcomed our guests reminiscing that Thanksgiving is the last “long weekend” of the year when Canadians in Canada head to the cottage to close the season, or organize turkey dinners for family and friends, and reminded everyone that they were allowed to make friends with people they didn’t know yet. He then asked the CAF personnel to stand up and be recognized and welcomed them to Latvia. Next to receive recognition were the main contributing members of the CanCham which included Gold level member VentEko represented by Edgars Dimitrijevs, and Silver level members which included the Exupery Internation School represented by Arturs Pilkevics, Riga.apartments.com represented by Mark Watson and Sorainen Law Firm represented by Andris Taurins. Board and Audit representatives were introduced (Astrida Bola, Indra Sproģe-Kalviņa, Mark Watson and Normunds Kupcis) along with the Embassy’s representative to the Board, Nicolas Lepage, the Canadian Senior Trade Commissioner who has been instrumental in supporting the CanCham.

Our special guest, H. E. Brian Szwarc, the Ambassador of Canada to Latvia, addressed those present by providing some background about the Canadian Thanksgiving mentioning that the first celebration of Thanksgiving in North America occurred during the 1578 voyage of Martin Frobisher from England in search of the Northwest Passage. Thanksgiving has been officially celebrated as an annual holiday in Canada since November 6, 1879. While the date varied by year and was not fixed. On January 31, 1957, the Governor General of Canada, Vincent Massey issued a proclamation stating: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October” which has been the case ever since. The Ambassador then commented on Canada’s contribution to the battle group and recent equipment deliveries to Latvia, but then conceded, “We’re here for the turkey”.

We then proceeded to the meal enjoying the elegance of the Restaurant C.U.T. surroundings which created cosiness, intimacy and positive emotions. A good night was had by all.

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