Welcome back to a new school year. IHLA is busy getting ready with tons of new activities and new idea to celebrate this special year together. 2013 will mark the 35th Anniversary of IHLA as an association and the 10th Annversary of the International Mother Language Day event. These will be celebrated on Febrary 22 and 23, 2013 at the Italian Cultural Centre. Stay tune to find out more in the next few weeks.
IHLA members elected a new Board of Directors at the past AGM. The new members names and a bit if informatioin about each of them can be viewed on the IHLA website (click here to get there).
You will find below a special welcome message by the new IHLA President, Olga Prokorova. We are busy getting together the next issue of the newsletter, which will host a wealth of information about our upcoming activities and resources. Stay tuned for that.
Finally, a reminder to all IHLA member schools that the online registration for the current year, 2012-2013 is now avilable to all at the following link:
Click on the link and complete all fields in the online form. You will receive a notification to verify that the information you have provided is correct and an invitation to write a cheque for the indicated amount to compelte your registration. The cheque must be made payable to IHLA. Please notice the new rates for membership that now apply for the current school year.
Welcome back and have a great new school year everyone!
The IHLA Board
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Welcome everyone to the new 2012 – 2013 school year!
This school year is very significant in the history of IHLA
as it will celebrate 35 years of operation. During all these years IHLA has
been a supporter of heritage schools operating in Edmonton and Northern
Alberta. All these years IHLA has been doing its best to provide as many
professional activities as possible to heritage schools and their teachers.
As we live in a multicultural society, we know very well the
value of heritage brought by Canadians from their old countries. Humongous part
of this heritage is language! These languages are still alive in our
communities where grand parents can talk to their grand children using their
own mother tongue. Knowledge of mother tongues gives our young generation not
only the opportunity to speak these languages within their communities but feel
itself home while visiting old countries.
Research shows that usage of more
than one language improves brain capacity and makes people more successful in
all fields of activity. All of the above shows the importance of the activities
undertaken by IHLA.
All these years IHLA
has been known as an organization run by many dedicated and passionate
educators thanks to whom our organization has become a well known and respected
one. My hope is that IHLA will continue for many more years its difficult,
interesting and successful journey among many other professional organizations
promoting heritage languages.
As I said, this school year is a very special for IHLA and
it will be celebrated by offering many services to IHLA member schools and
their teachers. As usual in February we will celebrate the Annual Mother
Language Day together with IHLA 35th anniversary. .
On behalf of IHLA and its Board of Directors, I wish success
and prosperity to all friends of heritage languages!
Olga P.
President
