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Mission events
Canadian cultural activities in Saint Petersburg 2004 - 2005
Saint Petersburg -
Canadian Studies Seminar
for university teachers
Within the framework of Francophonie Week, the Consulate General of Canada in Saint Petersburg, in collaboration with the French
Language Centre of Saint Petersburg, conducted a one-day seminar on Canadian Studies for universities teachers. 35 teachers from 14
St. Petersburg universities participated in the seminar. During the one-day seminar, participants were given a wide variety of
information about Canada, the Canadian educational system, scholarship opportunities and the development of Canadian Studies in
Russia and worldwide. Hector Cowan, Consul General of Canada in St. Petersburg, welcomed the participants. Representatives of
the French Language Centre, Saint Petersburg State University and the Consulate General of Canada participated as moderators of the
seminar. At the end of the day a film on Canada was shown and all guests enjoyed a maple syrup tasting. The seminar was organised
with the support of ACE.
Mr. Hector Cowan, Consul General of Canada in Saint Petersburg welcomes the participants of the seminar
Saint Petersburg hosts Canadian Tap dance
Kimberley Timlock Canadian choreographer, director, producer and teacher, came to Saint Petersburg to participate in the International
Tap Dance Festival. She gave master-classes for St. Petersburg students and shared her creativity with major professionals of
Russia.
Internationally recognized as one of Canada’s foremost tap dancers, Kimberley Timlock came to Saint Petersburg to participate in jury
of the International Tap Dance Festival. During her stay in Saint Petersburg she gave master-classes for students of the Saint Petersburg
State University of Culture and Arts. The master-class was organized within the framework of Alexander Mackenzie Memorial Lectures
Series, which the key objective is to promote Canada as a pro-active cultural society.
- Kimberly Timlock with Students of the State University of Culture and Arts
- Kimberly Timlock at the Gala performance of the International Tap Dance Festival
March 2005
Canadian Consulate General in St. Petersburg hosts a Karelia Day
The first Regional Forum dedicated to the Republic of Karelia was held on March 16th, 2004, in St. Petersburg. Organized
under the auspices of the Speaker of the Republic of Karelia Legislative Assembly, the Minister for Economic Development of the
Republic of Karelia and the Consul General of Canada in St. Petersburg, this event attracted a large audience of government officials
as well as representatives of business, science and culture from Canada and Karelia.
Connecting more than 50 key Canadian and Karelian business representatives, the Forum strived to promote Canada-Karelia
dialogue and partnerships and to implement projects that cover the information and business development gaps between Canada
and Karelia.
More than 150 guests attended the crowning event of the day - the annual presentation of the Business Woman of the Year
Award, established and presented by the Consul General of Canada in St. Petersburg for the third time in commemoration of the Famous
Five of Canadian history. This year, the winners of the this Award were: Antonina Pershina, from the Karelia Business Women
Association, for her outstanding achievements during the years of her career in business, and Elena Gniotova, from Karelia EuroForum
Exhibition Agency, for her innovative achievements in establishing business.
- March 2004 Winner of the Canadian Consulate's Award, Elena Gnetova, business woman from Karelia
- March 2004 Winner of the Canadian Consulate's Award, Antonina Pershina, business woman from Karelia
- March 2004 Karelia Business Forum in St. Petersburg:
Representatives of the Republic of Karelia, Graham Rush, Counsellor, Canadian Embassy in Russia, Anna Biolik, Consul
General of Canada in St. Petersburg
July 2004
In June 2004, the Canadian Consulate in St. Petersburg supported Canadian participation in three important international events in
the region:
- International Book Exhibition - “Neva Book Forum”,
- screening of the Canada-Denmark co-production - “ Olga The Last Grand Duchess”,
- International Trumpet Music Festival .
All were successful events attracting large audiences and well covered by media.
International Book Exhibition “Neva Book Forum”
From June 03 to 07, 2004, Canada participated for the first time in Northwest Russia’s most important book
exhibition “Neva Book Forum” held in St. Petersburg. Canada contributed a collection of 600 books of Canadian contemporary
writers. The collection was part of the Canadian Book Exhibition Project designed and implemented by Kati Rekai, writer and
Co-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Writers Union of Canada. The main goal of the project was to promote Canadian
writers and Canadian literature in St. Petersburg.
Two Canadian writers, Daniel David Moses and Barry Callaghan, participated in the project. Their participation aroused
great interest among Russian participants - writers, translators and publishers as well as readers. Mr Moses and Mr Callaghan
participated in a number of the Forum-related events. Mr Moses and Mr Callaghan made public presentations and met with
readers. During these events, Mr Mosses and Mr Callaghan talked about Canadian literature, introduced their works, answered
numerous questions. They also covered for activities of the Canadian Booth during the 4 days of the Exhibition.
Three additional initiatives were organized as part of the Project:
- Canadian writers visited the Institute of Northern Peoples at the Herzen State Pedagogical University, where during their
meeting with professors and postgraduate students of the Chair of Native Languages and Literatures, they talked
about perspectives of native art and literature in Canada;
- as part of the Alexandre Mackenzie Memorial Lecture Series (special initiative launched by the Canadian Consulate
General in Saint Petersburg in 2003 to promote Canada and its diverse and multifaceted, authentic and dynamic identity), Mr
Mosses, Mr Callaghan and Ms Rekai met with over 70 students from different departments of St. Petersburg State University, the
Canada College and the Canadian Studies Centre. After presentation and readings of their own texts (all in English without
translation), the Canadian writers engaged students in an open discussion;
- and finally, Canadian writers visited the National Library of Russia and met with the Library’s Director, Mr. Zaitsev. The
Canadian Book Exhibition Project donated all the Canadian books that were displayed at the Neva Book Forum Exhibition to the
National Library of Russia. During the meting an official announcement about the donation was made. Canadian guests discussed
with experts from the National Library plans for the preparation of the catalogues and details of the donation project.
In brief, the visit of Canadian writers to St. Petersburg was very productive. The events with the Canadian writers’ participation
helped develop interest of Russian public, as well as of the Russian writers and publishers in Canada’s contemporary literature.
It is expected that new projects could develop as a result of the Canadian Book Exhibition Project, including the translation of
Canadian books, theatre performances of Canadian plays, etc.
Canada-Denmark Film Screening
On June 8, 2004 Canadian Consulate in St. Petersburg organised a screening of the Canada-Denmark co-production “Olga The
Last Grand Duchess” in one of the most famous cinema halls of St. Petersburg - Dom Kino. The screening was organised in
co-operation with the Danish Consulate General and the Danish Cultural Institute in St. Petersburg. Canadian producers
Barbara Brade and Linda Stregger came to St. Petersburg to present the film
along with the Danish Director Sonja
Vesterhold.
The premier screening attracted more then 600 people. During the pre-screening reception which was attended by artists,
diplomats, representatives of different cultural institutions, Ms Brade and Ms Stregger had the opportunity to talk to media. The
event was covered by local TV (5 stories in the news blocks) and local print press (3 substantive articles in the newspapers “Neva
Times” and “Evening Petersburg”). Before the screening, Ms Brade and Ms Stregger spoke from the stage and presented the film to
the Russian audience. After the screening, Canadian producers along with the Danish Director of the film participated in the meeting
with public and answered numerous questions.
Organized in conjunction with two other Canadian events - International Book Exhibition and International Trumpet Music
Festival - the screening of the film in St. Petersburg highlighted Canadian cultural presence in the city. Most importantly, the
participation of Canadian producers in the premier screening related activities allowed Ms Brade and Ms Stragger to make more
professional contacts, which can be developed in the future.
- June 2004, screening of the Canada-Denmark co-production
Right to left: Linda Stregger, Barbara Barde, producers of the film "Olga the last Grand Duchess", Viktor Agranatov, Director, Dom
Kino cinema hall, Elena Astafieva, Cultural projects coordinator, Consulate General of Canada in Saint Petersburg.
International Trumpet Music Festival
From June 07 to 12, 2004, St. Petersburg hosted the II International Trumpet Music Festival.
Two Canadian artists, Fred Mils and Richard Carson Stuart, took part in the Festival playing in the Saint Petersburg State Philharmonic
Hall, St. Petersburg Capella and other famous concert halls of the city.
Participants from 8 countries - Russia, Canada, Germany, Finland, USA, Latvia and others participated in concerts and master-classes.
The Canadian Consulate General in St. Petersburg was presented with a special diploma acknowledging our help and support in the
organisation of the Festival. Canadian musicians had the opportunity to meet with Canadian writers and film producers during the
reception organised prior to the Canada-Denmark co-production film screening.
- September 2004 - concert of Canadian saxophone player Stewart Grant in the famous Saint Petersburg jazz club JFC
September 2004
Canada Days in Saint Petersburg
The largest exhibition of Canadian art ever organized in Russia was opened to the Saint Petersburg public in September
2004. The exhibition, which is being held in the State Hermitage, one of the best known art museums in the world, proudly
features around 60 Tom Thomson paintings from the collections of the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada.
The Exhibition is the result of a long series of negotiations between the most notable art galleries of Russia and Canada, and is
regarded by both its organizers and the public as a major event in the development of the cultural relationship between the two
countries. To celebrate it, the Canadian Consulate General in St. Petersburg declared September 9 and 10 Canada Days in St. Petersburg.
The program revolved around Art, Literature and Music. An exhibition of 500 books donated by the Writers Union of Canada was
opened at the National Library by R.H. Christopher Westdal, Ambassador of Canada in Russia. St. Petersburg Jazz lovers
enthusiastically received Canadian saxophonist Grant Stuart, who performed with virtuoso jazz pianist Andrei Kondakov in the
city’s best clubs.
Canada Days, though brief, enjoyed great success with the demanding St. Petersburg public and received significant
coverage in the local mass-media. The Canadian Consulate General in St. Petersburg is proud to have been able to present some
examples of the rich culture of Canada, both past and present.
- September 2004, opening of the Tom Thomson Exhibition at the State Hermitage museum
- Denis Read, curator of the Tom Thomson exhibition gives interview to the Russian media during the opening ceremony
- Ribbon cutting ceremony. Right to left: Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director, State Hermitage museum, Sergey Tarasov,
Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, Pierre Theberge, Director, Art Gallery of Toronto, Tuy Burt, Vice-Chairman, Barrick Gold
Corporation, Christopher Westdal, Canadian Ambassador to Russia, Matthew Teitelbaum, Director, Art Gallery of Ontario,
Robert Kaszanits, President, The State Hermitage Museum Foundation of Canada Inc.
- opening remarks. Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director, The State Hermitage museum, Sergey Tarasov, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg
- Canadian saxophone player Stewart Grant plays with the Russia jazz trio during the opening of the Tom Thomson exhibition
Alexander Mackenzie Memorial Lecture Series in Saint Petersburg
The three Alexander Mackenzie Memorial Lectures given each year are intended to promote and reflect both current
and historic aspects of Canada’s culture.
In 2004, the Consulate General of Canada organised three very interesting lectures. The first was presented on the occasion
of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University, by Matthew Levin,
Deputy Head of Mission and Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Canada to Russia. Mr Levin spoke on different aspects of Canadian
Foreign policy.
The second lecture was held in the framework of the Neva Book Forum, an international book exhibition. Three Canadian
writers – Bill Callaghan, Daniel David Moses and Kati Rekai read from their books and discussed the perspectives and the tendencies
of modern Canadian and Russian literature.
The next lecture was dedicated to literature as well, but it focussed more on the preservation of cultural heritage. Canadian
researcher Rafi Aaron did a presentation on his book on Osip Mandelshtam, the famous Russian poet. Mr Aaron also shared his
experiences of working with literary documents and archives, as well as with many interesting people – writers and poets – in Canada
and Russia.
In 2005 the Alexander Mackenzie Lectures will continue. See this site for further announcements.
- June 2004, International Book exhibition. Canadian writers at the Canadian booth
- Canadian writers visiting the Institute of Northern People
- Canadian writer Barry Callaghan talking to one of the exhibition visitors at the Canadian booth
- Canadian booth
- Canadian writer Kati Rekai making presentation for students of the St. Petersburg State University
- Right to left: Barry Callaghan, Kati Rekai, Oleg Mukovsky, Director, Canada College, Daniel David Moses, Ildar Ibragimov, Director, Canadian Studies Centre
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