Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival in Windsor and Winnipeg on May 19th & 20th, 2007
On May 19th and 20th, 2007, The Canadian-Croatian Folklore Association organized its annual folklore festival in both the Eastern and Western parts of Canada. Traditional Croatian music and dances were performed by dozens of cultural folklore groups in their rich traditional costumes. Both events drew a large audience of several hundred guests.
Croatian Ambassador in Canada Vesela Mrden Korac and First Secretary of Croatian Embassy in Ottawa Antun Mahnic participated at the festivals in Winnipeg and Windsor.
Canadian-Croatian Folklore Festival in Windsor and Winnipeg on May 19th & 20th, 2007
On May 19th and 20th, 2007, The Canadian-Croatian Folklore Association organized its annual folklore festival in both the Eastern and Western parts of Canada. Traditional Croatian music and dances were performed by dozens of cultural folklore groups in their rich traditional costumes. Both events drew a large audience of several hundred guests.
Croatian Ambassador in Canada Vesela Mrden Korac and First Secretary of Croatian Embassy in Ottawa Antun Mahnic participated at the festivals in Winnipeg and Windsor.
Participants of the two day program attended the concert performances, followed by a festive banquet and Sunday Holly Mass. This festival gave Croatian youth in Canada the opportunity to show the love of their country and traditional values through song, dance and the national dress, while nurturing their cultural heritage and enriching the multicultural society of their new Canadian homeland.
The Ambassador Vesela Mrden Korac participated in the opening ceremony in Winnipeg along with the President of the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Association, Mr. Zvonimir Anicic of Vancouver. During the festive banquet, Ambassador Mrden Korac addressed the guests, performers and members of the Croatian Community in Winnipeg and spoke of the importance in preserving the Croatian identity through language, culture and strong ties with the Croatian homeland. The Ambassador informed the public of current events in Croatia, described the process of attaining full membership in the EU and NATO, and spoke about Croatian Canadian relations. Ms. Branka Pazin of the General Consulate of the Republic of Croatia in Mississauga also attended the banquet as well as participated in an event for youth at the Croatian Centre held the evening prior.
At the event in Windsor, First Secretary of the Embassy of Croatia in Ottawa, Mr. Antun Mahnic addressed the public as one of the guest speakers. He congratulated all the participants on successfully preserving Croatian traditional culture and representing Croatian heritage in their new multicultural community. Other speakers included Mr. Nikola Vrdoljak, President of the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Association, Mr. Luka Bozic, President of the Folklore Association of Eastern Canada, Ms. Nada Vrkic, President of the Folklore Ensemble 'Kardinal Alojzije Stepinac' of Windsor and organizers of the festival, Father Ljubo Lebo of the Croatian Catholic Parish in Windsor, and the guest of honor Archbishop of Zadar, Most Reverand Ivan Prenda who celebrated the Holly Mass on Sunday for all the participants.
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