A new play was debuted during the 107th Universal Congress in Montreal, in the main theater of the congress, the historic theater Cinéma Impérial. The author Yevgeniya (Ĵenja) Amis “brings back” Mr. Mann from the past to talk about the International Esperanto Congress of 1910 in Washington – the congress attended by L.L. Zamenhof (the creator of Esperanto).
MONTREAL, QC, August 22, 2022 – The 107th World Esperanto Congress, which opened on August 6, officially came to an end on Saturday, August 13th, with the traditional official closing ceremony, held in the presence of Mrs. Silvia Costantini, Consul General of Italy in Montreal, who received the flag symbolizing the passage from one Congress to another. This was the second World Congress to be held in Canada, and the first in Eastern North America since the 6th Congress (Washington, 1910). The 108th World Esperanto Congress will be held in Turin, Italy, from July 29 to August 5, 2023. […]
The 746 participants in the 107th World Esperanto Congress, which convened in Montreal, Canada, from August 6-13, 2022, addressed as our central theme “Language, life, land: The Decade of Indigenous Languages.” […]
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTREAL (QC), August 1, 2022 – The 107th World Esperanto Congress will take place from August 6th to August 13th at UQAM, in Montreal. Esperanto is a language developed to foster mutual understanding between peoples and respect for linguistic and cultural diversity. The essential basis of the language was first published by L. L. Zamenhof, a native of Białystok in modern-day Poland, in 1887.
The Congress, organized by the World Esperanto Association (in Esperanto, Universala Esperanto-Asocio, or UEA), is a unique cultural event, where all activities take place in the Esperanto language. Several hundred participants from dozens of countries are expected.
Under the symbolic auspices of Huron-Wendat historian, Georges Sioui, the official theme will be “Language, Life, Land: The Decade of Indigenous Languages”. Addressed through a series of special talks and chosen in reference to the Decade of Indigenous Languages declared by UNESCO for the period 2022-2032, it is fully in line with the UEA’s commitment to furthering cultural and linguistic rights, as well as with current social concerns in Canada.
The internationally- and interculturally-flavoured program will also include:
The World Esperanto Congress is the largest annual gathering of Esperanto speakers in the world. The first Congress was held in 1905 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, and has been held every year since, except during the two World Wars – and over the last two years. This is only the second time it will take place in Canada, following the 69th Congress, held in Vancouver, in 1984.
About the World Esperanto Association
The UEA is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1908 to promote the international language Esperanto. It also maintains official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO.
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Program outline: https://esperanto2022.ca/fr/apercu-du-programme/
Anbout Esperanto: https://esperanto.net/en/
For questions and interview requests: n.viau@esperanto2022.ca
During the 107th Universal Congress of Esperanto this year there will be a traditional ecumenical service, following the strong tradition of the Universal Congresses – Zamenhof himself attended ecumenical services! This time the service will take place in the Anglican cathedral (Christ Church Cathedral).
MONTREAL (QC), June 6, 2022 – It is less than three months now until the World Esperanto Congress, which will take place at UQAM from August 6 to 13, 2022. Nearly a thousand participants are expected. Through the World Esperanto Congress, Montreal will welcome delegates from dozens of countries around the world, communicating in a neutral language aimed at respecting linguistic and cultural diversity. Esperanto is a constructed language for international communication, first published by L. L. Zamenhof, a native of present-day Poland, in 1887. Montreal will have the honour of welcoming Margaret Zaleski-Zamenhof, great-granddaughter of L. L. Zamenhof, who speaks Esperanto fluently and will officially represent the Zamenhof family.
Esperantists visiting Montreal will have the opportunity to discover the country in all its diversity, including its many indigenous cultures. The Congress will in fact deal with the theme: “Language, Life, Land: the Decade of Indigenous Languages”, with reference to the Decade of Indigenous Languages declared by UNESCO for the period 2022-2032. Congress attendees, in partnership with the indigenous Festival Présence taking place the same week, will be invited to take part in the Parade of Nations in downtown Montreal.
The presence of so many Esperanto speakers in Montreal is an opportunity for the Montreal population to discover the international, open – yet often overlooked – culture, which has been nurtured by Esperanto for over 130 years with its music, books, magazines, and more. Beginners’ courses will be offered ahead of the Congress for people wishing to improve their knowledge of Esperanto before participating.
The World Esperanto Congress has already received the support of several local personalities: journalist and author Jean-Benoit Nadeau, the Huron-Wendat historian Georges Sioui, founder of the First Peoples’ Festival André Dudemaine, musician Yves Desrosiers (who released a show in Esperanto in 2020), filmmaker Matthew Rankin, author Claudia Larochelle, singer Bïa and artist Chlag.
Quotes
“The year 2022 is an opportunity for renewal: Montreal will host the first in-person World Esperanto Congress since 2019, and we have managed to create many links with local stakeholders, including indigenous ones. These links forged between cultures are at the heart of the Esperanto project.” – Duncan Charters, President of the World Esperanto Association.
“It is an honour to represent the Zamenhof family at the first World Esperanto Congress held since the pandemic. I am also happy that it takes place in a city where other members of the Zamenhof family lived at the beginning of the 20th century.” – Margaret Zaleski-Zamenhof, physician and French Esperantist, great-granddaughter of L. L. Zamenhof.
À propos de l’espéranto
Esperanto, with a rich tradition spanning 134 years, is a language developed to foster mutual understanding between peoples and respect for linguistic and cultural diversity. It does not belong to any people or country in particular. July 26th marks the anniversary of the language’s original publication, in 1887, by its initiator, L. L. Zamenhof, a native of Białystok in modern-day Poland.
À propos de l’Association mondiale d’espéranto
The World Esperanto Association is an independent organization which aims to promote its knowledge and use throughout the world. In addition to organizing its annual World Congress, it maintains official consultative relations with the UN and UNESCO.
This press release is issued by the local organizational committee for the 107th World Esperanto Congress. For more information or interviews: contact@esperanto2022.ca
MONTREAL (QC), July 19, 2021 – As Esperanto speakers around the world prepare to celebrate Esperanto Day on July 26th, which marks the anniversary of the publication in 1887 by L.L. Zamenhof of the first book publicly presenting this internationally oriented language, preparations are intensifying for the organization of the 107th World Esperanto Congress, due to take place in Montreal from August 6th to 13th, 2022.
The World Esperanto Congress, the largest gathering of Esperanto speakers worldwide, coming from dozens of countries, usually takes place each year in a different city and country. Originally planned for Montreal in 2020, it had to be postponed by the World Esperanto Association due to the pandemic.
The theme of the 2022 edition will be: “Language, life, land: the Decade of Indigenous Languages“. This refers to the Decade of Indigenous Languages declared by UNESCO from 2022 and will be officially presented on July 24th, the last day of the Second Virtual Esperanto Congress taking place throughout this week. This theme fully fits the World Esperanto Association’s commitment to furthering cultural and linguistic rights and a sustainable development which respects the needs of minority groups. In particular, the organizers of the Congress intend to collaborate with Land InSights’ First Peoples’ Festival, due to take place in Montreal at the same time.
The program will also include lectures on a host of historical, cultural, political and other topics, and will also allow participants to discover Montreal, Quebec and Canada.
Montreal had officially been selected to host the World Congress as early as 2017. The project had already received the support of various public figures during preparatory activities in 2016, including that of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Quotes
“This Congress will be one of the first major international events to take place in Montreal after the pandemic. In this sense, it will fully participate in the city’s recovery. We look forward to welcoming Esperanto speakers from all over the world, who for several years have shown a strong interest in Montreal, Quebec and Canada.” – Normand Fleury, president of the local organizing committee of the Congress
“The theme of the Congress, namely the situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada, the Americas, and throughout the world, including cultural and linguistic aspects, is of special significance in a context in which Indigenous issues have become ever more prevalent in Canadian public debate. It is a message of fraternity sent to all people, in a spirit of reconciliation.” – Duncan Charters, president of the World Esperanto Association.
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About Esperanto
Esperanto, with a rich tradition spanning 134 years, is a language developed to foster mutual understanding between peoples and respect for linguistic and cultural diversity. It does not belong to any people or country in particular. July 26th marks the anniversary of the language’s original publication by its initiator, L. L. Zamenhof, a native of Białystok in modern-day Poland.
About the World Esperanto Association
The World Esperanto Association is an independent organization whose aim is to raise awareness about and promote the use of Esperanto. In addition to organizing its annual World Congress, it is in official consultative relations with the UN and UNESCO.
This press release is issued by the local organizational committee for the 107th World Esperanto Congress. For more information or interviews: info@esperanto2022.ca
Dear friends,
As you already know very well, the UK-2020 could not happen due to the global coronavirus pandemic. To give Esperantists the opportunity to speak, listen to lectures, enjoy music and art, and just be together and support each other when most in-person meetings and congresses are cancelled, UEA, in collaboration with E@I and Vinilkosmo, set up a World Festival (MondaFest’ 2020). It is a series of virtual events worldwide that will continue for about 3 months. Many iconic events and congresses will take place as part of MondaFest’ (including Parallel Universe, NASK, IJK, SEP, etc.).
MondaFest’ will begin on June 20 and end on September 20, 2020 – the dates having been chosen with much symbolism. Please note that, on Saturday, June 20 as part of the Summer Opening of MondaFest’, the LKK members of the Montreal UK will have a few minutes to greet participants – this will take place at around 13:00 UTC (9:00 AM in Montreal). We cordially invite you to join and attend this historic event, the first World Esperanto Festival, and also to support the Montreal LKK with your presence – it will be extremely important to us. Participation is free, and there will be some notable contributions from Montreal to this virtual event (including a Canadian Virtual Cinema, lectures, etc.). Note also that, within MondaFest’, the Virtual Congress of Esperanto (VK) will take place between the 1st and the 8th of August 2020 – the dates when the UK 2020 should have occurred in Montreal. Participation in the VK will be free for all UEA members.
More information:
MondaFest’ website: https://mondafest.net/
Program for MondaFest’ at Event Service: https://eventaservo.org/e/
UEA press release about MondaFest’: uea.org/gk/884a1
In friendship,
Montreal’s Local Congress Committee (LKK)
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Last updated: April 14, 2020
MONTREAL (QC), April 14, 2020 – The 105th World Esperanto Congress, scheduled to take place from August 1 to 8, 2020 at the Sheraton Center in Montreal, is postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced the World Esperanto Association on April 11 through a press release to the international Esperanto-speaking community, citing the latest restrictions recently disclosed by the Government of Quebec. The Association had already revealed, during the previous week, that the Congress would be postponed to a later date given the worldwide health situation.
“It is of course regrettable, but protecting the health of all is essential,” said Normand Fleury, chairman of the local committee assisting the World Association in its organizational tasks. “Esperanto speakers from Quebec and Canada were eagerly awaiting this Congress, a unique opportunity to meet the diversity of the world through Esperanto and to present the invaluable cultural contribution of this language to the general public.”
The Congress planned a rich program of conferences, artistic presentations and visits to the region to allow Esperanto speakers from around the world to discover the local culture and history. More than 800 people were already registered in early March, five months before the event. “We are however happy to still be able to welcome participants in two years’ time,” added Mr. Fleury. The 2021 Congress has already been planned since last year to be held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The first World Esperranto Congress took place in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in 1905. Until now, only the two world wars had prevented them from taking place. Only one other Congress had been prepared, and could not take place on the scheduled date: that of Paris in 1914, cancelled due to the outbreak of the First World War. As a sign of the times, the Association is planning to hold a fully virtual event this year broadcast worldwide and retaining some of the elements of the classic Congresses.
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About Esperanto
Esperanto, with a 133-year tradition, is a constructed language aimed at bringing nations together and respecting linguistic and cultural diversity. First published in 1887 by its initiator, L. L. Zamenhof, originally from Białystok (present-day Poland), it does not belong to any particular people. The World Esperanto Association is an independent organization which aims to promote the knowledge and use of Esperanto around the world. In addition to the organization of its annual World Congress, the World Esperanto Association is notably in official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO.
Press release issued by the local organizing committee of the 105th World Esperanto Congress: www.esperanto2022.ca. For more information or an interview: info@esperanto2022.ca
The World Esperanto Association (UEA: Universala Esperanto-Asocio) plans to postpone the World Esperanto Congress in Montreal due to the coronavirus pandemic. More information (in Esperanto): https://esperanto2022.ca/eo/uea-planas-prokrasti-la-montrealan-uk-on/