Folklorama Named Official CIOFF Festival

This past November, Folklorama Executive Director Ron Gauthier and Agency Producer Christian Hidalgo-Mazzei visited Papeete, Tahiti to attend the annual International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art (CIOFF) conference.

CIOFF, an international, cultural, non-governmental organization (NGO) was created in 1970 with an objective to safeguard, promote and disseminate traditional culture and folklore. Folklorama has been involved with CIOFF International for the past five years, which has opened the doors to international performing groups coming to our festival, as well as our member performing groups performing abroad.

At this year’s conference Folklorama was named an official CIOFF festival. “Being recognized as a CIOFF festival gives Folklorama a stronger international identity, which allows us to further pursue our mission of celebrating diversity and promoting cultural understanding,” says Gauthier.

Last year, Gauthier was given a seat on the CIOFF Legal Commission. He remains one of the five members of this commission, which looks at membership, governance structure, voting and fees among other responsibilities.

Hidalgo-Mazzei is the secretary for the CIOFF Folkloriada working group, an international committee tasked with planning the CIOFF World Folkloriada, a worldwide festival that aims to bring together representatives of intangible cultural heritage through the performing of folk arts like dancing and singing. Folkloriada 2012 will be held in Anseong, Korea.

For more information about CIOFF and Folkloriada, please visit www.cioff.org and www.2012folkloriada.com.

Vol. 12, Issue 1 January/February/March 2011

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“Being recognized as a CIOFF festival gives Folklorama a stronger international identity”

Traditional Tahitian performance

Gauthier and Hidalgo-Mazzei with Tahitian dancers

Folklorama would like to welcome the members that joined us over 2010! We are happy to have the following new members on board:

Aboriginal School of DanceÇa Claque!Marco Castillo & Brazilian BeatsPanjab Foundation of Manitoba Inc.Tango Project

A warm welcome back to all of our returning members as well. We are looking forward to a fantastic year full of all of the cultural entertainment Folklorama has to offer!

Welcome New Members

Cambrian is proud to sponsorthe Folklorama Ambassador Program.

11 branches serving Winnipeg and Selkirk I 925-2600 I www.cambrian.mb.ca

Folklorama would like to congratulate Leo Ledohowski and Andrijko Semaniuk for being recognized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

For his contributions in raising awareness of Ukrainian issues and philanthropy, Ledohowski received the Shevchenko Medal, the highest form of recognition that can be granted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which recognizes individuals of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian descent, as well as institutions and organizations, for their outstanding national contribution towards the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community. Ledohowski produced the Holodomor documentary “Vichna yim pamyat”, has made significant contributions to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and promoted Canada’s multicultural character by supporting Ukrainian Canadian Arts. He was one of 16 medal recipients for 2010.

Semaniuk was one of four recipients of the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Leadership Award, which recognizes young adult Ukrainian Canadians for outstanding leadership which significantly contributed to the broader Ukrainian community and the betterment of Canada. Semaniuk has been active in the Ukrainian youth group CYM and sits on their national executive. He is also a member of the musical troupe Zrada, which has traveled across Canada and the U.S., performs with the Hoosli male chorus, and was a Folklorama youth ambassador general in 2005.

Congratulations!

Annual General Meeting Folklorama’s Annual General Meeting is on Thursday, March 31, 2011 and all members are encouraged to attend. The meeting will start at 7:00pm. The location has yet to be determined. Check our website for details.

Happy new year! With 2011 now upon us, I’d like to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year. As we build on our past momentum and success and look ahead to the future, 2011 will no doubt be an exciting and productive year for Folklorama.

A major task Folklorama will be undertaking this year is the creation of a five-year strategic plan, to be implemented in 2012. Under the direction of a third party consultant, we will gather input from our stakeholders and set the direction for the organization through to 2017.

The board and staff are already busy preparing for Folklorama 2011. With a focus on quality and consistency at all pavilions, we are continuing to work on setting quality standards for entertainment and will be implementing the finalized cultural display standards on a trial basis for the upcoming festival.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is fast approaching and on behalf of the organization, I’d like to personally extend an invitation to each and every member to attend. It’s also not too late to consider running for the board. The nominating process is still underway and I encourage all interested members to apply before the January 28 deadline. Following the AGM, the various new committees will also be established. Please contact the office if you are interested in serving on a committee.

As president, I’d like to thank my fellow board members for their hard work and commitment. What a rewarding year it has been. I’d also like to thank the staff, all of whom are a pleasure to work with.

All the best,

Mohamed Ismath

Message from the President

Staff

Ron Gauthier, Executive DirectorLeigh Enns, Marketing CoordinatorMurray S. Greenfield, Director of TourismChristian Hidalgo-Mazzei, Agency ProducerSheri Jack, Director of Festival ServicesRobert Jones, Director of Finance & AdministrationAllison McKinnon, Office Assistant /ReceptionistEdson Novoa, Agency CoordinatorLianne Riddell, Tourism CoordinatorKelly Rybachuk, Director of Marketing & CommunicationsTanya Santini McClelland, Festival Services CoordinatorJo-Anne Swanson, Executive Assistant

Folklorama2nd Floor - 183 Kennedy Street Winnipeg MB, Canada R3C 1S6 P 1.204.982.6210 F 1.204.943.1956 TF 1.800.665.0234 E info@folklorama.ca www.folklorama.ca

Mohamed Ismath, PresidentJim Court, Chair, Finance and AuditDr. Rayleen De Luca, Chair, Member Relations Yvonne Hawryliuk, Chair, Youth, Chair, ScholarshipGary Sarcida, Chair, Review Amelia Sheocharan, Chair, Festival Development and LicensingTracy Balagus, DirectorAngie Boehm, DirectorJulian Giubega, DirectorShubha Mathur, DirectorBarbara Nepinak, DirectorAshley Sharpe, Director

Board of Directors

What Members Should KnowFolklore de mi Tierra Dance Group

Winnipeg Art Gallery Sunday, January 9, 1:30pm and 3:15pm Call Nancy Jimenez at 204.230.3686

2011 Plast & Rusalka Malanka

The Fairmont Winnipeg Friday, January 14, 6:00pm - 1:30am Celebrate the Ukrainian New Year in style! Tickets: Adults $90, Students $75, Zabava $40 Call 204.774.8052

7th Anniversary Party for Folklore de mi Tierra

North Kildonan Community Centre 1144 Kingsford Place Saturday, January 15, 8:00pm - 2:00am Tickets are $12 (includes dinner) Call Nancy Jimenez at 204.230.3686

A Night to Remember in Spain Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Gala 2011

Winnipeg Convention Centre Thursday, February 3, 6:00pm Tickets are $195/person or $1,950/table of 10 Call Kim at 204.943.6622 ext. 212 or email mardero@alzheimer.mb.ca

“Student Night Saturdays”

Irish Association of Manitoba 654 Erin Street Starts Saturday, January 15, 9:00pm - 1:00am Come down for great drink specials, music and prizes! Must be 18 years old and over.

Llama Tales is also available on our website at www.folklorama.ca

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SIGN-UP FOR E-NEWSSimply go to our website and register for our E-news and you will receive up-to-date information and announcements of events throughout the year.

FOLKLORAMA INFORMATION EVENINGFolklorama will be hosting an information evening on January 20, 2011 at the Folklorama office on the 2nd Floor - 183 Kennedy Street for members interested in running for the board of directors.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGFolklorama’s Annual General Meeting is on Thursday, March 31, 2011. The meeting will start at 7:00pm. The location has yet to be determined. Check our website for details.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Folklorama is on Twitter! Get all the up-to-date goings on by following us on Twitter. Visit www.twitter.com/Folklorama and click “follow”. If you don’t have a Twitter account, you can join for free.

NEW FACEBOOK PAGEFolklorama has created a new Facebook page! We have deleted the old one so make sure you visit the new page and switch over.

NEWSLETTER SCHEDULEFolklorama’s Llama Tales has started a new schedule. It will remain quarterly but will be distributed in January, April, July and October.

For advertising rates, article submissions or comments, please contact Leigh Enns, Marketing Coordinator, at 204.982.6230 or email ennsl@folklorama.ca. Advertising and article deadline for April/May/June 2011 issue is Wednesday, March 9, 2011.