SNA aktivnosti u 2013.
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The SHA Board, objectively speaking, had an exceptionally difficult year. Facing many challenges, the new Board demonstrated enthusiasm, energy, self-sacrifice and optimism, trying to achieve, in a relatively short time, as many as possible of its goals and plans. It could be said that they have succeeded to put the organization on a sound foundation and to attract the attention of the Serbian community.
One of the most critical problems for the organization was the inheritance from the old Board, which became evident only when the new Board took over. The old Board, besides not being active in the domain of cultural activities, it seriously breached some of the Canadian laws and regulations, which a registered humanitarian organization had to adhere to rigorously. The Charity Directorate in Ottawa had decided to withdraw the Charity Status and remove the SHA from the Register of humanitarian organizations, which meant, in effect, the extinguishing of the Academy and confiscation of its property. After a prolonged and formal correspondence and meetings with the personnel of Canada Revenue Agency and the Public Guardian and Trustee of Ontario, pleading with them that it would not be fair to drastically punish the entire organization and practically force it to dissolve itself because of impropriety of a few of its members, we finally succeeded. Rajko Radojević, the Secretary General of the SHA, had as his most important problem and duty to be the liaison with the government offices, and at the end succeeded to preserve the original legal status of the organization. A Compliance Agreement was signed with CRA by which the SHA Board took upon itself to fulfil plans and work on projects, which have been declared in the original document in the By-Laws of 1981, which are in agreement with the Canadian Laws. This was agreeable to the Academy, as its original, basic goals were unchanged: to work in the field of enlightenment, education and culture. After the Slava celebration of St. Sava and the feast of St. Nikolaj in month of May, and the blessing of the SHA building, performed by V. Rev. Vasilije Tomić, a member of the SHA since 1981, the Board started to re-organize and decided on the priorities within the planed goals. The solemn ceremony of paying tribute and expressing gratitude to the founders of the SHA was performed at the Slava and special plaques of recognition and appreciations were handed to: Nikola Pašić, Sofija Škorić, Dušan Bijelić, Nikola Alexeichenko and posthumously to Pavle Pavlović. The Readers Club “People Say,” established six years ago, voted to merge with the Academy because of the common cultural goals, thus its journal for literature and culture became the official publication of the SHA. At the Exhibit in Windsor the following artists were included: Nevenka Rajković from Kruševac, Djuro Lubarda from Hamilton, Bogdan Miščević from Baltimore, Dragica Didi Gađanski from Toronto, Boban Bursać from Carmel, CA., Olgica Stefanović from Novi Sad, Zoran Rajković from Kruševac, Marina Gavanski Zisis from Montreal, and sculptors Rev. Vojislav Bilbija from Rotherdam and Željko Rodić from Oakville. |
The Fall (2013) issue, double issue (19/20), published original texts by exceptional contributors from around the world. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Rade Baturan, the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board and contributors from all continents, these issues are rich in contents, diversified, dynamic, and as such present an interesting reading in two languages, in Serbian and English.
The journal was promoted last fall throughout the Serbian lands, at important cultural institutions such as Matica Srpska in Novi Sad, in Banja Luka, Podgorica, at the Association of Writers of Serbia in Belgrade, and in many libraries in Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska. At the promotion at the Association of Serbian Writers in Belgrade, Rajko Radojevic, the SHA Secretary General, delivered a detailed lecture on the history of SHA, while Dr. Baturan did the same at other promotions of the Journal in 18 cities throughout the Serbian lands. Djuro Lubarda, a member of the Board, organized a group Art Exhibition during 2013 in Hamilton and Milton, while a year ago the same exhibit was presented at the Consulate General of the Republica of Serbia in Toronto. The following artists were represented: Veljko Mihailović from Belgrade, Olgica Stefanović and Branislav Marković from Novi Sad, Branko Hadži Nikitović from Višegrad, Djuro Lubarda from Hamilton and Zorica Bogdanović and Vladimir Stjepanović from Toronto. During the summer months Djuro Lubarda participated actively in art colonies at Pale, Višegrad and Herceg Novi, as well as contributing his art at an auction for sick kids in Toronto. Also, as President of the Society “Stjepan Vukčić Kosača“ on November 21st 2013 he presented a gift to the Parliamentary Library in Ottawa of three volumes of the reprint of the Goražde printing shop (Službenik, Psaltir and Molitvenik), as well as a piece of his own original artwork, a picture of St George Church in Goražde. Ljilja Otašević , member of the SHA, a well-known Toronto sculptor, author of a representative sculpture “Mobilous”, erected at one of the main squares and a small park in Toronto (Yonge & Eglington), together with her husband Dragan Gavrilović, volunteered to plan and renovate a space in the SHA building to be used as an art gallery. The journal “People Say “devoted a whole chapter in the fall issue “The Story about the Artist“(in Serbian and English), with 20 illustrations of Otašević’s art. The Journal “People Say” and the Academy continued the tradition of presenting Exhibitions at promotional events. Accordingly, last summer an Exhibit of “The painters of ‘People Say” was opened at the City of Windsor Library. Painters that were included were those to whom the Journal devoted special chapters “The Story about Artists” with illustration samples of their art. |
The exhibition was organized by Željko Rodić, Art Editor of the Journal, and was opened eloquently by Dušan Bijelić, the art historian, one of the founders of the SHA and its Life Member. The Academy and the Journal will continue this traditional exhibition of artists who have been presented in the Journal.
Members of the Board Dragica Veljović Braunstein, Katarina Kostić and Djuro Lubarda established contacts with the Prosvijeta , and at festivals in B&H and Herceg Novi, Andrić City and the Smederevo Poetry Evenings spoke up about the SHA. Rajko Radojević, while visiting Belgrade, received an understanding, encouragement and written support from His Excellency Roman Waschuk, Canada's Ambassador in Belgrade for our planned projects marking the centenary of the beginning of the Great War in Toronto and Belgrade during 2014. Thus, again, the Academy like in the old days, established formal cultural contacts with people in the Mother Country, with those who are striving to preserve the Serbian culture and traditions, who represent the healthy core of the Serbian nation. Directors of the literary association "Desanka Maksimović" expressed the wish to come under the umbrella of the Academy, and, together with the Academy to strive to promote our talents in Canada. The Academy supported the ceremony of the Association "Desanka Maksimović" which took place at the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Toronto, titled "An Evening with Desanke Maksimović", which took place on May 23, 2013, which was organized and MC'd by Dragica Veljović Braunstein. Poet Stojanka Radenović Petković held the promotion of her latest publication of poems, also at the Consulate, in 2013. In late April 2013, Mrs. Dragoslava Dragić, widow of Predrag Dragić Kijuk, our renowned Orthodox philosopher, writer and historian, was invited as guests for the promotion of her husband's posthumously published book, "Christianity without Christ". SHA, the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and the Journal "People Say" organized jointly three very successful promotions of this book at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Milton, in Kitchener and Mississauga. Rev. Ljuba Rajić, Radovan Gajić, Dr. Davor Milićević, Dr. Radomir Baturan, Katarina Kostić, Miloš Posavljak and Djordje Jovanović presented their literary reviews and thoughts on the book. It was a moving experience to hear Mrs. Dragić recount how her husband wrote and published his monumental work "Catena Mundi" with great sacrifice and hardships. The hosts to our esteemed visitor were Katarina Kostić, Miro Miketić and Dr. Baturan. |
Renovation of the SHA Building
In order that the Academy could function as it was intended, planned, and promised to the government bodies, it was a priority for the small, old, neglected building, but in a good location (Bloor/Dundas), across the street from a subway station, to be renovated and equipped so that it could be used for cultural purposes. We appealed to our members and the Serbian community in general to help us financially and with their trade skills. To our great fortune, many wonderful Serbs responded, first for the clean-up bee, to clean the premises, and then the contractors and craftsmen responded: Žarko Brestovac, Dragan Gavrilović, Dragan Ivić, Momir Nedić, Dragan Marić, Jelenko Tubić, Zoran Miletić, Željko Rodić and Ranko Stupar, who unselfishly shared their professional knowledge, time, energy, and the labor of their workers, so that the Academy only had to pay for the materials used. These good, honest Serbs were heaven-sent. The Academy will never be able to thank them enough for their donations. They are a shining example of what the Serbs can accomplish when they band together, when they want to create miracles. It was expected that the building would be completed by the fall 2013, but it was not possible for objective reasons, primarily due to insufficient time and finances.
Njegoš Jubilee celebrations
The Academy, together with the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, bishop, a great Serbian poet and the ruler of Montenegro, with a grand ceremony at the University of Toronto, on November 17, 2013.
Again, the Academy, as in its glorious years, represented our culture on the high academic and artistic level, thanks to the mutual participation of many zealous participants, not all members of the Academy.
His Grace Bishop Georgije blessed the gathering and spoke about Njegoš as a Christian thinker, and Rajko Radojević addressed the assembly on behalf of the Academy, talking about Njegoš as a historical figure, in respect of his patriotic and heroic idea of liberation and unification of all Serbs. Two prominent guest professor from Belgrade University, Prof. Dr. Milo Lompar, today's most competent Njegošolog and free thinker in Serbia, and Prof. Dr.Radojka Vukčević, one of the founders and first president of the Matica Srpska in Montenegro, spoke about Njegoš knowledgebly and with inspiration.
The Academy also organized a scholarly symposium on November 19, 2013, again at the University of Toronto, with the participants the two guests from Belgrade, Prof. Dr. Milo Lompar and Prof. Dr. Radojka Vukčević and local scholars: Dr. Baturan and Dr. Davor Milićević. They delivered academic lectures and contributed to the perception of the value of Njegoš's works from today's perspective.
The two Professors from Belgrade were then participants at the Slavic convention in Boston (ASEEES), where two sections were organized: Njegoš's anniversary and the anniversary of Miloš Crnjanski. The expenses of the trip to Boston were generously absorbed by the "Studenica" Foundation of San Francisco.
The cultural part of the program for this event was provided by the Choir "Kir Stefan the Serb" with Kristina Bijelić soloist and Ivan Jovanović on the piano, under the baton of Jasmine Vučurović. Actors Ksenija Vučević, Ljiljana Marković, Dimitrije Porobić, Đorđije Živković and Gojko Roglić took part reciting verses from Njegoš's poems. A blend of the spiritual, academic and artistic was very successful and on a high level of our former organization. Not surprisingly, the "Vesti", the largest Serbian language daily in the Diaspora reported on its front page that the Toronto Serbs "saved the honour to Njegoš" and dedicated a whole page to this event.
This first event of SHA in its renaissance was greeted and welcomed by the demonstrated support of the Serbian community in general. It's wonderful and encouraging that the auditorium was full of spectators comprised of different generations, from those old members who well remember the old Academy and its successes, the many members of the middle generation, i.e. from the new immigrants from the nineties, to the youngest, the students of Slavic studies at the University of Toronto. The event was attended by representatives of our culture and intelligentsia of Toronto and the surrounding area, venerable clergy, representatives of cultural and humanitarian organizations, known and respected entrepreneurs. Also, the diplomatic representatives of Serbia, headed by Consul Spasoje Milićević, as well as the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ottawa, Ms. Biljana Gutić-Bjelica honoured the gathering with their presence. It is definitely an indicator that better times are coming, and it gives hope of a successful co-operation with the Mother Country in the future.
This gathering, heterogeneous across generations and preferences, was united by Njegoš. It demonstrated that the Serbs are not so divided as some, out of their maliciousness, would like to portray the Serbian community. The diversity and the sheer numbers is basically the real wealth of the Serbian community in Canada. SHA relies on their need for culture and sense of pride in their origins and background, convinced that the Serbs spiritually united, regardless of which parts of the former Yugoslavia they come from, or if they were born and raised here, because they belong to the same cultural heritage, patriotic spirit remains in them, is passed from generation to generation, lives and is cultivated no less in the Diaspora, where the pressures of assimilation are enormous.
On the occasion of the Njegoš jubilee, the "Istočnik" (herald of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada) and the Serbian National Academy of Canada jointly published a book by Dr. Ivan Radović "Njegoš above the Lovćen".
Another project was well prepared jointly with the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and Trinity College, University of Toronto, to commemorate the celebration of 1700 years of the Edict of Milan, which is tied to Niš, the Serbian city where Emperor Constantine was born. Marking this anniversary was scheduled for December 14, 2013. Unfortunately, the heavy snowstorm caused us to cancel the program that evening. It had to be postponed till some later date.
Vision of future SHA missions
The rebirth of SHA as a cultural organization, has just begun. Important steps have been undertaken, pride has been reawakened, and new volunteers are stepping forward, young intellectuals, capable and talented. The latent, dormant forces are uniting in a common action that is simple, with the main objective that all that is good in the Serbian community should be encouraged and supported, nurtured and preserved, promoted, and shared with Canadians, our fellow citizens. One needs to turn to the future and, in the tradition of other ethnic groups in this country, to create a basis for advancing the entire Serbian community, for its recognition in the Canadian society and in the Mother Country, to create the conditions for success in all fields, particularly in the cultural and economic, equally for our community as a whole, and our talented and diligent individuals.
The Academy has identified as one of its important objectives, as it used to be, during the difficult times when single-minded communist ideology was in power, a cultural bridge between Canada and Serbia, between Serbs wherever they live and work. "Serbian nation without borders" is still an important motto of the Serbian Diaspora. Words and help from the Diaspora were and still are important to our people. Contacts between our people must not be cease. They need to be nurtured, maintained and we must remain in constant contact and work together whenever possible.
The SNA Board of Directors accomplished an enormous and difficult task in 2013. Every beginning is difficult, especially when there is little time and a lack of finance. But many obstacles have been overcome thanks to the dedication and hard work, to great optimism and belief that the work in the cultural field is of paramount importance.
The Board and membership will continue with the revival, with many important cultural projects, including the priority given to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, when the martyred and heroic Serbia once again achieved the world respect as a true example of heroism and patriotism, which is noted in all encyclopaedias of the world.
We will be able to achieve all this if the majority of the Serbs in Toronto and Canada experience SHA and its programs as a "Serbian home" that works for its people. It is important that all Serbs help this Serbian home and contribute with whatever means they have at their disposal: with donor's work, with their crafts, money, books, pictures, songs and poems, compositions, plays, articles in newspapers and on portals, programs on radio and television, and computer equipment. Only then will SHA in Canada become the gathering focus and source of preserving Serbian culture and identity for future generations of many Serbian communities in Canada and in the large Serbian Diaspora world-wide.
How to join the SNA
In order to fulfill all the plans in the future there has to be unity, benevolence, endowment, active participation, volunteering. No Board of Directors can ever achieve the declared objectives if the membership does not participate actively, nor can it be successful if it does not reflect the values, ideals and opinions of the majority of the community.
We therefore invite all Serbs of goodwill to join this organization to become its active component, to engage in the work of the various committees, to work towards the realization of projects which are of general cultural significance.
Sign up. Renew your membership.
Come forth with your ideas. Ideas and dreams run the world.
Together we are all stronger and more durable. Together we will succeed. "Brothers working in harmony built a house, but the discordant ones destroy it", says Serbian folk wisdom.
Let us be good Serbs and Canadians. Encourage the young, respect the elderly.
The Academy and its future depend on the active support of its members and the entire Serbian community in Canada.
SERBIAN HERITAGE ACADEMY OF CANADA, the SERBIAN CULTURAL HOME, is calling you!
In order that the Academy could function as it was intended, planned, and promised to the government bodies, it was a priority for the small, old, neglected building, but in a good location (Bloor/Dundas), across the street from a subway station, to be renovated and equipped so that it could be used for cultural purposes. We appealed to our members and the Serbian community in general to help us financially and with their trade skills. To our great fortune, many wonderful Serbs responded, first for the clean-up bee, to clean the premises, and then the contractors and craftsmen responded: Žarko Brestovac, Dragan Gavrilović, Dragan Ivić, Momir Nedić, Dragan Marić, Jelenko Tubić, Zoran Miletić, Željko Rodić and Ranko Stupar, who unselfishly shared their professional knowledge, time, energy, and the labor of their workers, so that the Academy only had to pay for the materials used. These good, honest Serbs were heaven-sent. The Academy will never be able to thank them enough for their donations. They are a shining example of what the Serbs can accomplish when they band together, when they want to create miracles. It was expected that the building would be completed by the fall 2013, but it was not possible for objective reasons, primarily due to insufficient time and finances.
Njegoš Jubilee celebrations
The Academy, together with the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, bishop, a great Serbian poet and the ruler of Montenegro, with a grand ceremony at the University of Toronto, on November 17, 2013.
Again, the Academy, as in its glorious years, represented our culture on the high academic and artistic level, thanks to the mutual participation of many zealous participants, not all members of the Academy.
His Grace Bishop Georgije blessed the gathering and spoke about Njegoš as a Christian thinker, and Rajko Radojević addressed the assembly on behalf of the Academy, talking about Njegoš as a historical figure, in respect of his patriotic and heroic idea of liberation and unification of all Serbs. Two prominent guest professor from Belgrade University, Prof. Dr. Milo Lompar, today's most competent Njegošolog and free thinker in Serbia, and Prof. Dr.Radojka Vukčević, one of the founders and first president of the Matica Srpska in Montenegro, spoke about Njegoš knowledgebly and with inspiration.
The Academy also organized a scholarly symposium on November 19, 2013, again at the University of Toronto, with the participants the two guests from Belgrade, Prof. Dr. Milo Lompar and Prof. Dr. Radojka Vukčević and local scholars: Dr. Baturan and Dr. Davor Milićević. They delivered academic lectures and contributed to the perception of the value of Njegoš's works from today's perspective.
The two Professors from Belgrade were then participants at the Slavic convention in Boston (ASEEES), where two sections were organized: Njegoš's anniversary and the anniversary of Miloš Crnjanski. The expenses of the trip to Boston were generously absorbed by the "Studenica" Foundation of San Francisco.
The cultural part of the program for this event was provided by the Choir "Kir Stefan the Serb" with Kristina Bijelić soloist and Ivan Jovanović on the piano, under the baton of Jasmine Vučurović. Actors Ksenija Vučević, Ljiljana Marković, Dimitrije Porobić, Đorđije Živković and Gojko Roglić took part reciting verses from Njegoš's poems. A blend of the spiritual, academic and artistic was very successful and on a high level of our former organization. Not surprisingly, the "Vesti", the largest Serbian language daily in the Diaspora reported on its front page that the Toronto Serbs "saved the honour to Njegoš" and dedicated a whole page to this event.
This first event of SHA in its renaissance was greeted and welcomed by the demonstrated support of the Serbian community in general. It's wonderful and encouraging that the auditorium was full of spectators comprised of different generations, from those old members who well remember the old Academy and its successes, the many members of the middle generation, i.e. from the new immigrants from the nineties, to the youngest, the students of Slavic studies at the University of Toronto. The event was attended by representatives of our culture and intelligentsia of Toronto and the surrounding area, venerable clergy, representatives of cultural and humanitarian organizations, known and respected entrepreneurs. Also, the diplomatic representatives of Serbia, headed by Consul Spasoje Milićević, as well as the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ottawa, Ms. Biljana Gutić-Bjelica honoured the gathering with their presence. It is definitely an indicator that better times are coming, and it gives hope of a successful co-operation with the Mother Country in the future.
This gathering, heterogeneous across generations and preferences, was united by Njegoš. It demonstrated that the Serbs are not so divided as some, out of their maliciousness, would like to portray the Serbian community. The diversity and the sheer numbers is basically the real wealth of the Serbian community in Canada. SHA relies on their need for culture and sense of pride in their origins and background, convinced that the Serbs spiritually united, regardless of which parts of the former Yugoslavia they come from, or if they were born and raised here, because they belong to the same cultural heritage, patriotic spirit remains in them, is passed from generation to generation, lives and is cultivated no less in the Diaspora, where the pressures of assimilation are enormous.
On the occasion of the Njegoš jubilee, the "Istočnik" (herald of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada) and the Serbian National Academy of Canada jointly published a book by Dr. Ivan Radović "Njegoš above the Lovćen".
Another project was well prepared jointly with the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and Trinity College, University of Toronto, to commemorate the celebration of 1700 years of the Edict of Milan, which is tied to Niš, the Serbian city where Emperor Constantine was born. Marking this anniversary was scheduled for December 14, 2013. Unfortunately, the heavy snowstorm caused us to cancel the program that evening. It had to be postponed till some later date.
Vision of future SHA missions
The rebirth of SHA as a cultural organization, has just begun. Important steps have been undertaken, pride has been reawakened, and new volunteers are stepping forward, young intellectuals, capable and talented. The latent, dormant forces are uniting in a common action that is simple, with the main objective that all that is good in the Serbian community should be encouraged and supported, nurtured and preserved, promoted, and shared with Canadians, our fellow citizens. One needs to turn to the future and, in the tradition of other ethnic groups in this country, to create a basis for advancing the entire Serbian community, for its recognition in the Canadian society and in the Mother Country, to create the conditions for success in all fields, particularly in the cultural and economic, equally for our community as a whole, and our talented and diligent individuals.
The Academy has identified as one of its important objectives, as it used to be, during the difficult times when single-minded communist ideology was in power, a cultural bridge between Canada and Serbia, between Serbs wherever they live and work. "Serbian nation without borders" is still an important motto of the Serbian Diaspora. Words and help from the Diaspora were and still are important to our people. Contacts between our people must not be cease. They need to be nurtured, maintained and we must remain in constant contact and work together whenever possible.
The SNA Board of Directors accomplished an enormous and difficult task in 2013. Every beginning is difficult, especially when there is little time and a lack of finance. But many obstacles have been overcome thanks to the dedication and hard work, to great optimism and belief that the work in the cultural field is of paramount importance.
The Board and membership will continue with the revival, with many important cultural projects, including the priority given to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, when the martyred and heroic Serbia once again achieved the world respect as a true example of heroism and patriotism, which is noted in all encyclopaedias of the world.
We will be able to achieve all this if the majority of the Serbs in Toronto and Canada experience SHA and its programs as a "Serbian home" that works for its people. It is important that all Serbs help this Serbian home and contribute with whatever means they have at their disposal: with donor's work, with their crafts, money, books, pictures, songs and poems, compositions, plays, articles in newspapers and on portals, programs on radio and television, and computer equipment. Only then will SHA in Canada become the gathering focus and source of preserving Serbian culture and identity for future generations of many Serbian communities in Canada and in the large Serbian Diaspora world-wide.
How to join the SNA
In order to fulfill all the plans in the future there has to be unity, benevolence, endowment, active participation, volunteering. No Board of Directors can ever achieve the declared objectives if the membership does not participate actively, nor can it be successful if it does not reflect the values, ideals and opinions of the majority of the community.
We therefore invite all Serbs of goodwill to join this organization to become its active component, to engage in the work of the various committees, to work towards the realization of projects which are of general cultural significance.
Sign up. Renew your membership.
Come forth with your ideas. Ideas and dreams run the world.
Together we are all stronger and more durable. Together we will succeed. "Brothers working in harmony built a house, but the discordant ones destroy it", says Serbian folk wisdom.
Let us be good Serbs and Canadians. Encourage the young, respect the elderly.
The Academy and its future depend on the active support of its members and the entire Serbian community in Canada.
SERBIAN HERITAGE ACADEMY OF CANADA, the SERBIAN CULTURAL HOME, is calling you!
