Concert by Klapa Grdelin marks the Croatian Heritage Day in the Province of Ontario and Statehood Day in Ottawa

On the occasion of the celebration of Croatian Heritage Day in the province of Ontario, as well as the Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia, a concert by Klapa Grdelin was held in Ottawa on June 4, 2025. It was an occasion to present the cultural and musical heritage of Croatia to the Canadian public through a repertoire of memorable Dalmatian songs and traditional tunes in arrangements by famous composers and ethnomusicologists.
 

Warmly welcoming the guests, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Canada, Mr. Vice Skračić, recalled the significance of declaring May 30th as Croatian Heritage Day based on an act adopted last year by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. It was a special recognition of the remarkable contribution of the Canadians of Croatian descent, successful and respected members of Canadian society, whose values, traditions, talent and culture have become an integral part of the identity and history of this part of Canada.

 

Emphasizing the importance of nurturing cultural heritage and identity, Ambassador presented Klapa Grdelin as one of the guardians of the recognizable Croatian tradition of klapa (a capella) singing, which in 2012 was included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The concert of Klapa Grdelin, which is visiting Canada for the first time, was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Canada and financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. After the concert, the audience had the opportunity to continue informal socializing with the members of the klapa at a gathering organized by the Embassy.

 

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