Thursday program

10:00 Games and activities; choir rehearsal with Irisa
11:30 Exercise and health with Peter; Zoom open
12:00 Chef’s signature soup (11:50 Chef Ingo’s lunch)
12:30 Group song, Ivars’ report, surprises
1:00    Program highlight (guest speakers, concerts, films)

Connect from anywhere in the world

• Zoom (2105058856)
• Facebook Live (facebook.com/TLPAToronto)
• YouTube Live (@TLPAToronto)

Thursday, April 23, 12:00: Movie – Eslingena

The musical Eslingena tells the story of the largest Latvian refugee camp in the postwar period, located in Esslingen, southern Germany, home to more than 6,000 Latvians. Created by Alberts Legzdiņš together with composers Lolita Ritmane and her father Andris Ritmanis, it was staged at the 2004 Toronto Latvian Song Festival and a year later at the Latvian National Theatre.

🎬 The screening begins at 12:30, includes an intermission and will end at around 2:30.
*Only in-person and on Zoom

12:00 Chef’s signature soup
12:30 film in LATVIAN (with English subtitles)
TLPA members: $0 | Guests: $5

Thursday, April 30, 1:00: Ancient Latvian sauna culture and tradition – Līga Svikšs

Sauna ritual master Līga Svikšs will introduce you to the ancient Latvian sauna tradition and share how rituals, plants and touch heal, strengthen and restore. This isn’t simply bathing – it’s a path to peace, strength and inner balance. Līga leads sauna rituals in Latvia and North America, bringing ancient, living traditions and their power to people today. latviansaunaritual.com

12:00 Chef’s signature soup
1:00 special program in ENGLISH
TLPA members: $0 | Guests: $5

If you would like to host an event at the LCCC, we will provide:

• Hall set up and take down.
• Help you arrange services and suppliers.
• List of people who can be called, for bar tending and as wait staff.

Catering contacts:

Eatsmart Caters
Catering for all events
eatsmart.caters@gmail.com
647-287-1974

Ranjith Jayawardana
Piragi, cheesecake, applebread, apple / cranberry crumble (drumstalmaize), cakes
asokackk@gmail.com
416-568-3160

Christmas Brunch Menu

Slow-Roasted Beef Brisket
topped with rich pan sauce and zesty horseradish

Skābi Kāposti (Braised Sauerkraut)

Salmon Fillets
served with shrimp–dill cream sauce

Brussels Sprouts
with maple-glazed sweet potatoes and pecans

Herb-Roasted Potatoes and Leeks

Tri-Colour Rice
with black beans, mushrooms and asparagus

Cold Salad Table
featuring a selection of Baltic specialities

By Mara Gulens / TLPA

Last May, 10 Canadian choral composers and conductors spent 10 days immersing themselves in the choir cultures of Estonia and Latvia.

“My time in the Baltics completely changed my beliefs on what choral music can be and what it’s purpose is in our lives,” says Thomas Burton, conductor of the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, who kicked off his first day in Riga with a run through the Old Town.

[For more on Berton’s experience, read My journey into Baltic choral music.]

The Baltic Choral Tour 2025 was a cultural exchange where Canadian musicians learned about Latvian choral culture, “but where we also brought Canadian choral culture to Latvia,” explains tour producer, Laura Adlers.

Aira Birziņš, principal conductor of the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Music Academy, organized things on the Latvia side. Tour participants lectured on Canadian choral music, led workshops, met with Latvian composers, conductors and school directors and observed many choral rehearsals.

“It took less than a day to see that my colleagues had fallen for Latvia,” said Adlers at TLPA’s (Toronto Latvian Pensioners’ Association) October 2 event.

In Estonia, the group attended regional rehearsals for the upcoming Estonian Song and Dance Celebration, visited the Arvo Pärt Centre, and had a chance to observe and meet with Tallinn’s best Estonian choirs.

The tour’s goal to foster cross-cultural collaboration is already taking shape. On October 25, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto will perform works by Latvian composer Laura Jēkabsone and Estonian composer Veljo Tormis.

Watch it all here

Baltic choral tour – Nations that sing presentation:bit.ly/TLPAvideo

The Singing Nations Tour 2025 film: bit.ly/SingingNationsTour2025

Mara Gulens is TLPA’s Content and Communications Lead