LERINSKO ORO 2003

On Saturday November 15th, the Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario held its annual “Lerinsko ORO” in Clement Hall at the Macedonian church, St. Clement of Ohrid in Toronto.

As usual, the Lerin Region Association delivered another great night with the songs of Pando Nikolaidis accompanied by Chris Klashoff and the Boys from Bouf. Pando was the Lerin Association’s guest from Boreshnitsa, Lerinsko invited especially for this occasion. The singer and band were a great combination and gave an outstanding performance lifting everyone’s spirits with traditional Macedonian songs and music.

Unlike last year’s ORO, which happened to take place during a bad snowstorm, this year the weather was perfect and the ORO attracted a record crowd. “We came to meet the singer” was the common theme among the delighted guests. Nicknamed “Top Gun” Pando exceeded expectations with his energy, and beautiful voice.

Among the guests attending the ORO were, representing the Republic of Macedonia, General Consul Stefan Nikolovski, Consul Petar Dimovski, Prota Jovan and Prota Trajko Boseovski, Risto Cackirovski President of the Association of Refugee Children and five officers from the Army of the Republic of Macedonia who are attending English classes at Base Borden in Ontario. Among the officers was Captain Toni Sedmakov who in his speech informed the Lerinsko ORO audience of his mission here in Canada and of the important role the Macedonian Army plays in the defense of the Republic of Macedonia. The officers will be going home this December and the Lerin Region committee would like to wish them well.

Everything went perfectly tonight, says Risto Stefov, the Association’s President and we would like to thank everyone for coming to the event. A special thanks goes to the Lerin Region committee who worked very hard, to make the ORO a success.

ANOTHER GREAT LERINSKI PICNIC

No one could have asked for a better day as the Lerin Region Cultural Association of Ontario held its annual traditional picnic on Sunday August 17 at the beautiful St. Ilija Mississauga Park. The temperature was a cool 25C with partly cloudy skies, just perfect weather for dancing to the Macedonian traditional melodies played by the group Makedonija.

Besides the free boiled corn on the cob happily served by the Lerin Region Committee and the ice cream donated by Circa Foods, the picnickers were treated to a variety of programs.

The Canadian Macedonian Historical society with president Alex Nitsis at the helm, treated us with a variety of historical pictures of artifacts, books and photographs depicting the Ilinden era and our Macedonian history and culture in general. The Historical Society’s booth was professionally displayed and a delight that not only informed us of our history and culture but enriched the picnic with its presence.

The keynote speakers at the picnic were General Consul Stefan Nikolovski representative of the Republic of Macedonia, Risto Cackirovski president of the Association of Refugee Children from the Aegean Macedonia, Canadian Chapter, Petsi Sider president of the Canadian Macedonian Literary Group Brakja Miladinovtci, Alex Nitsis president of the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society, Dragi Stojkovski Chairman of the Macedonian National Fund and representing the United Macedonians of Canada and, Chris (Risto) Stefou president of the Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario and host of the picnic.

While Risto Cackirovski, a child refugee himself, informed the audience about his recent trip back home, Petsi Sider delivered a memorable poem linking events of Ilinden 1903 to events of Ilinden 2003, highlighting the progress the Macedonian people have made in the last 100 years. Stefan Nikolovski impressed upon us the importance of our Macedonian culture and how it flourishes through picnics and other events. Dragi Stojkovski emphasized the importance of maintaining our cultural impetus and offered us a fundraising banquet to be held on October 4, 2003 at St. Clement. The $50 a ticket proceeds will go towards building a Macedonian cultural center and opening a Macedonian Radio station in Lerin. This is a very important event that we all must attend.

Risto Stefou expressed his thanks to his guests, to Annie Wood for volunteering to take photographs and to his all volunteer committee for making the picnic a great success.

Risto wishes everyone a happy Ilinden day and hopes to see you at the Traditional LERINSKO ORO on November 15, 2003 at St. Clement. The Lerin Committee will bring you a “top gun” singer from the Lerin Region, stari krai who along with the melodies of the Boys from Buf will dazzle you and give you a great night’s entertainment.

HAPPY ILINDEN