Discover TLPA’s First Thursdays for lunch, learning and connection

Eestlased Kanadas | 18 Dec 2024 | Mara GulensEWR

Looking for interesting things to do in the New Year? Pencil in the first Thursday of each month for TLPA’s (Toronto Latvian Seniors’ Association) lunch and learn English edition.

The season kicks off on January 9 with a Vienna-style lunch, followed by an exploration of Vienna’s architecture, music and other delights. On February 6, gain firsthand insights into Baltic defence from a Latvian reservist and a Canadian Army officer working with NATO.

Events are held on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at the Toronto Latvian Centre. The English edition is on the first Thursday of the month and is open to everyone, especially our Estonian neighbours.

First Thursdays

TLPA has been hosting monthly events in English since the fall of 2024, specifically to provide non-Latvian speakers with opportunities to connect and learn.

The day begins at 10:00 a.m. with choir practice and group activities such as puzzles and card games. An exercise class starts at 11:30, followed by a gourmet lunch at noon. Special programming—concerts, presentations, and workshops—runs from 1:00 to 2:00.

The First Thursdays initiative makes it easy to remember when to attend! The 2025 dates are January 9, February 6, March 6, April 10, May 1, and June 5.

For those who can’t make it in person, TLPA events are accessible via Zoom and are livestreamed on TLPA’s Facebook page.

40 weeks a year

While First Thursdays are in English, TLPA offers a mix of Latvian and English programming 40 weeks a year.

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Recent highlights include a presentation on how AI is transforming photography, a concert by 19-year-old virtuoso violinist Anna Štube, and an exploration of how the traumatic events of 1944 have shaped collective memory.

If you’re already at the Latvian Centre banking at NBCU or making a purchase at Lett’s Shop, why not stop by for a Thursday with TLPA?

For more information, visit https://latvianseniors.org/, or email tlpasaieti@gmail.com.

2025 First Thursdays

January 9: Glorious Vienna: Architecture, music, and other delights Michael Wood will guide us through the enchanting streets of Vienna in a slideshow presentation. “But most importantly,” he emphasizes, “I’ll discuss delights such as coffee, pastries, music, and dance.” The presentation will include clips from comic operas like Die Fledermaus. In English. Vienna-style lunch. (Register by January 5 by contacting Maruta Freimuts: 416-233-9552, mfreimuts@gmail.com. TLPA members $25, guests $30.)

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February 6: Baltic defence – firsthand insights What does it truly mean to defend a border? Anna Priedīte-Priede spent three weeks in military training for the Latvian reserves, while Canadian Army officer Rowan Leach completed a seven-month deployment with NATO forces in Latvia. Go beyond the headlines and hear these powerful stories from the front lines. In English. Gourmet lunch. (Register by February 2 by contacting Maruta Freimuts: 416-233-9552, mfreimuts@gmail.com. TLPA members $25, guests $30.)