The Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation (CHEF) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), as well as a board meeting on December 14, 2007 at the Hilton Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau, Québec. The AGM included the re-election of the foundation’s current board of directors, a diverse group composed of individuals from a range of professional backgrounds. Judy Young-Drache, the foundation’s president, worked for years at Multiculturalism Canada, while Gábor Csepregi, CHEF’s vice-president, heads the Dominican University College, in Ottawa. Catherine Bélanger and Mark Curfoot-Mollington, the foundation’s directors, both bring years of experience in public service to CHEF, while Christopher Adam, the organization’s secretary, is a PhD candidate in history, at the University of Ottawa.
The foundation’s main activities in 2007 were focused around the development of a website aimed at exploring the contributions of Hungarian Canadians to all aspects of culture and society in Canada. The site, which went live earlier this year at www.hungarianpresence.ca, will continue to be expanded and developed in 2008, with special emphasis placed on creating and presenting content in such a way as to attract students and younger audiences. CHEF will also be actively promoting the site at cultural events throughout the country, as part of an official launch.
Starting in 2008, CHEF will be looking at ways to facilitate educational and cultural exchanges between Canada and Hungary, as part of the foundation’s on-going effort to create and support programs that promote dialogue between the two countries. A number of possible educational programs are currently being considered and more information will be made available on our website early next year.