LNAK goals
1
To represent, support and serve those of Latvian descent or affiliation, and to promote active co-operation and dialogue between Latvia and Canada
2
To support and promote the wellbeing of the Republic of Latvia in accordance and with universal democratic principles
3
To promote the dissemination of accurate and relevant information about Latvia, its people and culture
4
To provide financial support for promoting Latvian culture in Canada directly and through like minded organizations
5
To promote the spiritual, societal, material and cultural well-being of those of Latvian descent or affiliation in Canada
6
To support and promote co-operation among Latvian organiations in Canada and other countries.
LNAK Leadership
LNAK Board
President
Dr. rev. Fritz Traugott-Kristbergs
Vice-president
Ingrīda Mukāne-Zemīte
Treasurer
Māra Leja
Secretary
Mirdza Avens
Public Affairs
Jānis Lielāmers
Culture
Laura Smith
Education
Agra Asmus-Vāgnere
Communications
Dace Veinberga
Committee members
Ādams Grāvītis, Jānis Ivsiņš, Rev. Ilze Kuplēns-Ewart, Nicholas Jirgens, Markuss Zichmanis
Audit Committee
Gunta Krūmiņa
Patrick Rundāns
Annual General Meeting Organization Committee for the 2027 AGM
President
Rev. Ilze Kuplēna-Ewart
Vice-presidents
Linda Bāliņa
Inga Upeslāce
Secretary
Velta Zvīdre
Representatives to the World Federation of Free Latvians (PBLA)
LNAK representatives on the PBLA executive committee
Dr. Rev. Fritz Traugott-Kristbergs (LNAK President)
Agra Asmus-Vāgnere
Ingrīda Mukāne-Zemīte
PBLA Cultural Fund Canadian representative
PBLA Education representative
Laura Smith
Agra Asmus-Vāgnere
Local Representatives
Edmonton
Zane Gare
Guelph
Arnis Miķelsons
Halifax
Ingrīda Šķetris
Hamilton
from the HALO committee
Quebec
Andrejs Vītols
Manitoba
Elmars Dīriķis
Ottawa
Toronto
Sarma Merdian
Agra Asmus-Vāgnere, Gunta Krūmiņa, Ilze Maksiņa, Gunta Reynolds
LNAK Divisions
Education
Agra Asmus-Vāgnere
Culture
Laura Smith
Jānis Lielāmers
Representative in Ottawa: Aija Auziņa
Members: Dace Veinberga, Ingrīda Mukāne-Zemīte
Mandate Committee
Jānis Lielāmers
Patriks Rundāns
Astrīde Sīls
LNAK representatives to other Canadian organizations
Latvian Song Festival Board
The board consists of community leaders, whose purpose is to meet every five years to determine the date, place and organizers of the next Latvian Song Festival in Canada.
The LNAK representatives are:
Dr. Rev. Fritz Traugott-Kristbergs
Iveta Bertovska
Laura Smith
Canadian Latvian Cultural Centre
The LNAK representative is Ingrīda Mukāne-Zemīte.
Central and Eastern European Council (CEEC)
The LNAK representative is Fritz Kristbergs.
Kristus Dārzs Retirement Home
Kristus Dārzs Retirement Home is a non-profit longterm nursing home in Woodbridge, Ontario.
The LNAK representative on the Christ’s Garden Council is Dr. Rev. Fritz Traugott-Kristbergs
Baltic Federation in Canada
The Baltic Federation in Canada, established in 1949, is the umbrella organization for the Baltic community in Canada, bringing together:
- The Estonian Central Council in Canada
- The Latvian National Federation in Canada
- The Lithuanian-Canadian Community
The LNAK representative is Fritz Kristbergs.
LNAK Structure
LNAK is the central organization representing Latvian Canadians. LNAK initiatives are determined by LNAK members who have paid their annual dues. Organizations and individuals can be members. Members meetings are held at least once a year. Members vote on resolutions, that direct the work of LNAK.
LNAK is lead by a board and an audit committee.
Ar 2026. gada pilnsapulci stājās spēkā jauni statūti, kas bija pieņemti 2025.g. pilnsapulcē.
The History of LNAK
After the Latvian immigrants settled in the centres of the major Canadian provinces and after the establishment of local associations and congregations, the central Latvian organisations began to emerge, one of the first of which was the Latvian National Federation in Canada. Two of the founders were Konrāds Dobelis in Edmonton and Mariss Vētra in Halifax.
Dobelis had already arrived in Canada in 1927, and as soon as Latvian refugees started to arrive in Canada after the Second World War, he worked to help them with legal matters and accomodations. In 1947 he founded the Edmonton Latvian Society “IMANTA”.
1947./1948. Local Latvian organizations were also established in Toronto, Montreal, London, Hamilton and Winnipeg.
In 1947, Vētra, a soloist with the Latvian National Opera, came to Halifax from Sweden and tried to help the young Latvian immigrants with the practical problems of settling in Canada.
On the initiative of Dobelis, on September 25, 1948, the local Latvian organizations came together in Toronto. The twelve delegates founded the Canadian Latvian National Association with Konrāds Dobelis as its president. The purpose of the organization was twofold, to help the Latvian refugees who had come to Canada, and to fight for Latvia to regain its freedom. In order to prevent parallelism in the work of relief, the Canadian Latvian National Association and the Latvian Relief Association leadership, on May 6, 1950, the Latvian Relief Association of Canada (LRAC) convened delegates to a joint meeting at which they agreed to establish a joint Latvian central organization called the Latvian National Federation in Canada (LNAK). J. Preisbergs was elected as the first president.
At the time, the statutes of the organization stated that the membership consisted of all Latvians living in Canada.
