American Latvian Association

The American Latvian Association (ALA) is the main representative organization for the Latvian American community. Through 163 member organizations, churches, clubs, and some 6,000 individual members, ALA represents over 100,000 people of Latvian descent living in the United States and is a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational, and cultural organization registered as a private and voluntary organization with the US Agency for International Development.

ALA supports cultural activities and facilitates cooperation within the Latvian American community, while also promoting the study of Latvian language, history, and culture and ensuring the availability of Latvian schools, books, and teaching materials for children. ALA also assists newcomers with information about the USA, in addition to providing humanitarian aid to people in Latvia.

ALA seeks to facilitate the peaceful and democratic development of Latvia by promoting understanding and support for Latvia through informational efforts in the USA.

About LNFC

World Federation of Free Latvians

The World Federation of Free Latvians (PBLA) is the international umbrella organization of Latvian central organizations comprising the American Latvian Association, the European Latvian Association, the Latvian Federation of Australia and New Zealand, the Latvian National Federation in Canada, the South American and Caribbean Latvian Association, and the Russian Latvian Congress.

The main mission of the PBLA is to unite Latvians in their efforts to strengthen Latvia’s independence and promote Latvia’s development in the democratic, cultural, and economic spheres; support Latvian communities internationally, and facilitate connections among Latvians around the world.

PBLA activities are funded by voluntary contributions to the individual member organizations of the World Federation of Free Latvians, as well as the Latvian Freedom Fund.

The PBLA Educational Council was established in 1976, with the aim of promoting and coordinating Latvian education outside Latvia. The PBLA Cultural Fund was founded in 1972, to support the safeguarding and development of Latvian culture (including Latvian educational activities) in Latvian communities abroad.

The PBLA has offices in Rockville, Maryland and Rīga, Latvia.

PBLA website (in Latvian)

Canadian Ethno-Cultural Council

Founded in 1980, the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC) is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of national ethnocultural umbrella organizations which, in turn, represent a cross-section of ethnocultural groups across Canada. The CEC's objectives are to ensure the preservation, enhancement, and sharing of the cultural heritage of Canadians, the removal of barriers that prevent some Canadians from participating fully and equally in society, the elimination of racism, and the preservation of a united Canada.

LNJAK

LNJAK represents Latvian youth in Canada.  We operate mainly in Latvian but will offer information in both Latvian and English. LNJAK is a non-profit organization that unites young Latvians living in Canada, by holding events and acting as a contact point. We have a scholarship fund, a newsletter, and a yearbook. We work closely with other Latvian organizations around Canada, linking the generations and geographical space between us.

LNJAK contacts

General: lnjak.lnjak@gmail.com

Facebook: LNJAK

Twitter: @lnjak

Central and Eastern European Council in Canada

The Central and Eastern European Council in Canada is a national council of elected representative groups of Canadians of Central and Eastern European heritage representing the interests of over 4 million Canadians. Members include the Albanian Community in Canada, Czech and Slovak Association, Estonian Central Council, Hungary Congress Canada, Latvian National Federation in Canada, Lithuanian Canadian Community, Canadian Polish Congress, and Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Latvia Relief and Development Fund

The Latvia Relief and Development  Fund (LRDF) is a registered Canadian charity that provides Canadians with the opportunity to support aid projects in Latvia.  

The LRDF and its agents:

  1. Carry out programs to relieve poverty in Latvia and provide humanitarian aid;
  2. Carry out programs to support the elderly and handicapped;
  3. Carry out educational programs, especially for young people.

Since 1990, the LRDF has funded fifteen projects. In the last six years, the LRDF has supported projects in Latvia with close to $800,000. Of these fifteen projects, three are still active and in need of support:

  1. the Pasaka summer camp for orphans;
  2. post-secondary scholarships through the Vītolu Fonds;
  3. Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.

These projects need your support!

Cheques can be made out to the “Latvia Relief and Development Fund”. If you are contributing to a specific project, include the name in the "note" portion of your cheque. Individual donors will receive a receipt for income tax purposes.

Address: “LRDF”, 4 Credit Union Drive, Toronto ON M4A 2N8

LRDF Board

  • Chair: Roberts Klaiše
  • Vice-chair: 
  • Vice-chair: Andris Kesteris
  • Treasurer: 
  • Director, Membership & Secretary: Arnis Markitants
  • Director: 
  • Director: Auseklis Zaķis

Audit Committee

  • Daina Brauna
  • Vilis Miklašēvics
  • Sibilla Korule