Czech Weekend and the 70th Congress of the CSAC

At the end of October 2025, Ottawa hosted the “Czech Weekend” marking the 107th anniversary of the founding of independent Czechoslovakia. The event, organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa in cooperation with the Czech and Slovak community, featured cultural, social, diplomatic, and sporting activities.

On Friday, October 24, the weekend opened with the Gala Evening of the Czech and Slovak Association of Canada (ČSSK), where Czech Ambassador Martin Tlapa delivered a speech. During the event, the Masaryk Awards – granted since 1985 to individuals and organizations for their contributions to the Czech and Slovak community in Canada – were presented to Martin Jelinowicz, Miloš and Linda Králík, Miloslava Minnes, Robert Tmej, and Romana Zemanová.

The following day, October 25, the 70th Congress of ČSSK took place. Delegates reviewed activities from the past two years and elected new leadership. Michelle (Míša) Čipera was elected chair, succeeding David Beneš. The congress also discussed greater involvement of the younger generation and plans to modernize the organization’s communication channels. A message from Jiří Krátký, the Special Envoy for Czechs Living Abroad at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was read, and representatives of Camp Hostýn presented their traditional Czech-Slovak summer camp near Montreal, inviting children to attend in 2026.

As part of the celebrations, the embassy hosted a concert of Czech music at Knox Church in Ottawa. The performance featured opera singer Whitney Leigh Sloan and the piano Duo Zumi (Zuzana Šimurdová and Mikołaj Warszyński). The program included the Czech and Canadian national anthems, works by Antonín Dvořák, and other Czech compositions. More than two hundred guests attended the concert, followed by a reception at the Czech Embassy.

The weekend concluded with the fifth annual “Run for the Republic,” organized by Sokol Ottawa with support from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite the cold morning weather, dozens of runners of all ages participated. Participants received medals and traditional Czech and Slovak refreshments.

2025 Masaryk Award Laureates

The Masaryk Award is the highest recognition and honor awarded by the Czech and Slovak Association in Canada based on the recommendation of the headquarters and branches of the Czech and Slovak Association in Canada.

This award is given to Canadians of Czech or Slovak origin recognized in some field of endeavor for outstanding achievement, and to persons of organizations of whatever origin who made a significant contribution to the cause of free Czechoslovakia, or who have enriched the life of Czechs and Slovaks in Canada. Find out more about the Masaryk Award here.

In 2025, the Masaryk Award is presented to:

Martin Jelinowicz

Martin came to Canada with his parents during the post-August wave of emigration. He studied civil engineering. From the start, his family was active in the Czech and Slovak community life in Toronto — in Sokol and in the Czech and Slovak Association. For many years, he has dedicated his time to the Toronto branch, serving as chair and in other roles, and contributing to the publication of the community magazine Nový domov (New Home). He also wrote and performed in the program Dobrý den (Good Day) and later his own publication Nový den (New Day). Martin is a very selfless yet humble person.

In recent years, he has shown great acting talent. In collaboration between ČSSK and the group Skvosty, he participated in the filmed projects Journey with Cyril and Methodius and The Cloverleaf. Martin played the roles of Methodius and Tomáš G. Masaryk (the latter on stage during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s founding). These are demanding roles, but audiences can see that he is a seasoned and accomplished performer. Martin is the grandson of the famous Czech writer Karel Poláček, whose death in a Nazi concentration camp marks 80 years this year.

Miloš and Linda Králík

They concluded their work at their successful flower shop More Flowers and one of Ottawa’s first wholesale and greenhouse flower businesses. Yet they have never ceased to nurture the Czech and Slovak community. For more than fifty years, they have brought people together through beloved traditions — from St. Nicholas parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations to Christmas caroling at the Old Lime Kiln on St. Stephen’s Day and performances featuring traditional and tramp songs. Their selfless work, quiet dedication, and joy strengthen the bonds within our community and embody the spirit of service and togetherness that this award honours.

Miloslava Minnes

Mrs. Miloslava Minnes was born in Jeseník and grew up in Javorník, a picturesque region surrounded by the Rychlebské Mountains. For nearly twenty-five years, she has served as a local employee of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ottawa. Throughout her service, she has been an indispensable link between the embassy and Czech and Slovak organizations across Canada. She is a graduate of Palacký University in Olomouc, where she earned the degree of PaedDr. after studying at the Faculties of Education and Arts. Her academic background reflects a deep interest in language, culture, and education — interests that also shape her work with the expatriate community in Canada.

Thanks to her dedication, many organizations have successfully received support and grants from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through her professional commitment and personal enthusiasm, she has contributed to the realization of numerous cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and educational programs that strengthen Czech-Slovak heritage and mutual bonds.

Beyond her professional duties, Mrs. Minnes has long been involved in the Czech community. In the 2010s, as part of the International Languages Program, she taught Czech language, history, and music, leaving a lasting impression on both children and their parents. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she enriches Ottawa’s cultural life — performing in local choirs and occasionally with friends and musicians in Czech folk repertoire.

Her humility, devotion, and kindness make her one of the most respected figures in the Czech and Slovak community in Canada.

Robert Tmej

Although born in Canada to Czech parents who were Sokol members, and though he communicates more comfortably in English than in Czech, Robert is deeply engaged in the life and culture of the expatriate community. From a young age, he participated in Sokol activities in Toronto. Over time, he became a lead instructor and served on several committees within major Czech organizations: CSAC, the Masaryk Memorial Institute, and Sokol. He served as president of MMI from 2008–2009 and again from 2019–2022. He is currently the president of Sokol Canada.

Since 2009, he has been active in the Memorial to the Victims of Communism project and serves as the liaison between the Czech and Slovak communities and the organization Tribute to Liberty, which is responsible for the monument in Ottawa. It is challenging work, as the group has faced many bureaucratic obstacles. The project is now nearly complete, and participants of the congress will visit the memorial. It is remarkable that a second-generation Czech like Robert has devoted so much time and energy to promoting and preserving Czech culture. May there be more people like him among us.

CSAC Launches New Website: Modern Design and Local Focus

The Czech and Slovak Association of Canada (CSAC) is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website at www.cssk.ca. The redesigned site features a refreshed logo and a modernized look that reflects the vibrant spirit of the Czech and Slovak community in Canada.

One of the main goals of the new site is to keep visitors engaged with up-to-date information. Regularly updated events, news, and articles will ensure that there is always something new to discover. This approach not only keeps the audience informed but also encourages active community participation and content sharing.

The website has also been streamlined for clarity and simplicity. The previous structure was complex and occasionally outdated. The new version consolidates the most valuable content, focusing on what CSAC does, its history, and ongoing activities. Much of the new material will be shared in the form of articles for better accessibility.

A key innovation is the personalization of local branches through geolocation. When visiting the site for the first time, users are automatically shown events and news relevant to their nearest branch. A simple menu switch allows visitors to change their location manually, and their browser will remember the setting for future visits.

Across the site, visitors will also notice invitations to join the CSAC community, with banners linking directly to a sign-up form. This call to action is a cornerstone of the new design, reinforcing the organization’s mission to grow and connect Czech and Slovak Canadians.

CSAC welcomes feedback, ideas, and suggestions for further improvement. You can reach us at webmaster@cssk.ca.