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ABOUT US
The primary mission of The New Hungarian Voice is to promote Hungarian
culture in Canada, by making our nation’s history, arts, literature,
current events and music more accessible to Hungarian Canadians, new
immigrants and non-Hungarians. Our secondary aim is to help build a strong
community, not only from original immigrants, but including the new
generations who make up the majority of the Hungarian Canadian population.
Just as Hungary has often been in precarious political situations, our
local Hungarian-Canadian community is in a precarious situation socially.
Many ethnic groups suffer similarly for many reasons – primarily, the new
generations have broadened their social circles while the older ones
remain happy with what has become familiar. Aside from the age-old
generational challenges, Hungarians are also faced with conflicts within
the community. Hungarian immigrants have been exposed to political
ideologies that range wildly from extreme right to extreme left, which
have left many with feelings of distrust and fear – when added to an
already passionate national psyche, one can understand that working
together can have its difficulties.
In the few years that I have worked with the Hungarian community I have
met countless people who have long ago thrown up their hands and given up
on the ‘Hungarian cause’ – often stress and heartache is the only reward
for dedicated volunteers. Most children of the original Hungarian
immigrants refuse to have anything to do with their parents’ culture. We
hope to change that trend by offering our information in English, now the
first language of the majority of Hungarian Canadians; and by exposing the
public to the many dedicated Hungarians who quietly and independently
work, not only to preserve their roots and history, but who have the
desire to share their heritage with all Canadians. We hope to present our
heritage accurately and with dignity, while expressing our own original
perspectives in a modern and useful format.
The New Hungarian Voice will regularly include information on local
events as well as pertinent current events from Hungary. Useful reviews,
editorial and information on worldwide events that relate to our community
will be offered. We also hope that Hungarians participate in our project
by submitting articles, information and personal points of view so our
newsletter will become an interactive forum for us all.
We also welcome any information about upcoming events from all
Hungarian associations so we can provide an up to date calendar in each
issue. Advertising is also encouraged, and is paid for by donation – we
hope to promote all of the established Hungarian businesses, while
providing affordable exposure to new ventures. As a service to locals and
new Hungarian immigrants alike, we will provide space for concise
classified ads that are of interest to our community
MEET THE TEAM
Péter Czink VRNT
Editor - Art Director
Although he has a love for anything Hungarian, Czink’s most intense
cultural passion is for Hungary’s military history. He has served as
Vancouver Chapter Leader of the Hungarian Veterans’ Association since
1999, and in 2000 was named Honorary Chapter Leader of the Miskolc chapter
of the Don River Veterans’ Association for his historical and fundraising
work. He spends most of his spare time involved with research and
preservation of military artifacts spanning the 1848 War of Freedom to the
Regency period. He was a key organizer of the ‘This Is Hungary’ festival
where he displayed the historically accurate replica of the Holy Crown of
St. Stephen he had made, and has served as vice-president of the Vancouver
Hungarian Cultural Society. Czink is also a member of the board of
directors of the Canadian Association for Hungarian Arts. For his work for
the veterans and for his staunch advocacy for the preservation of
Hungary’s military history he has been awarded membership in the Order of
Vitéz and the Order of St. László.
Lorraine Weideman
Contributing Editor - Webmaster -
Marketing and Subscriptions
Born in Edmonton, Lorraine may have inherited her exceptional passion for
the ‘Hungarian cause’ from her paternal grandmother, who came to Canada
from the Bánát region of Transylvania. Although she officially held the
position of Production Coordinator for the very well received ‘This Is
Hungary’ festival two years ago, she was without a doubt one of the key
driving forces behind it and one of the main reasons for its success. She
used her business background to update many of the administrative tasks at
the Hungarian Cultural Society while volunteering there and tirelessly
helped with any challenge that was presented to her. Lorraine is currently
on the Board of Directors of the CAHA, and has received a grant from the
Vancouver Foundation for her study of advanced Hungarian wood-carving.
Research of and collecting Hungarian embroidery is among her many
interests.
Anita Bedő
Contributing Editor
Our new NHV team member, Anita Bedő, is no stranger to community
service. She has been involved with stream stewardship programs in
Burnaby – organizing clean-up and educational events; she’s worked with
the BC Wildlife Rescue Association building pens for injured animals and
maintaining grounds, and federal government employee-led initiatives. Her
fascination with ancient history and culture has brought her closer to her
own roots, and her willingness to share her discoveries will serve our
readers well. As an adult she has learned to truly appreciate her
heritage, and her love of music, photography, architecture and travel has
galvanized her passion for her Hungarian roots. Like many of us, she
is like a river that flows back to its source through many meanderings.
Greg Csiszár
Contributing Editor
This young man has already become a ‘fixture’ in the Hungarian community -
from his two decades with the Hungarian Scouts to his involvement with the
local folk-dance group; he can boast a more impressive list of community
service than most people twice his age. Greg’s gentle manner conceals an
intense love and passion for his culture, and he has travelled extensively
throughout Hungary and Western Romania pursuing his study of Hungarian
folk-arts. In both Vancouver and Budapest he helps on the production of
multi-cultural television programming.
Angus MacDonald
Contributing Editor
Angus MacDonald was born in Vancouver and grew up in Ottawa, Arlington
Virginia, Tisdale Saskatchewan, Palo Alto California, Crescent Beach,
Prince George, and White Rock. His maternal grandfather and father were
both gifted newspaper journalists. After high school Angus tried college
and university but wasn’t sure what he wanted to study, so, with the
urging of his mother and her Hungarian partner, he went to Europe to learn
something else. It was in Budapest, in the spring of 1985, that he met
Ágnes. Six years later they got married here in Vancouver. Since then he
worked in the seafood industry, went back to school and finished a BA in
English Literature at UBC, completed an ESL teaching certificate, taught
international students at the downtown YMCA, worked on a feature film as a
production assistant and wrote fiction and poems. He’s been to Hungary
four times: in ’85, ’98, ’05 and ’06. “I am thrilled to be getting
involved with the New Hungarian Voice and meeting the people that make it
happen. Thank you all for this opportunity!”
Ágnes Vashegyi MacDonald
Contributing Editor
Ágnes Vashegyi MacDonald grew up in Budapest, Hungary during the socialist
era. After finishing high-school she was accepted to the Teacher’s
Training College in Budapest. During this three-year program her interest
in student movements gained momentum. Following graduation, she spent a
year in California and Georgia, and then returned to Budapest in 1989 to
work as an English language instructor. She married Vancouverite Angus
MacDonald and decided to stay in Vancouver in 1991. Ágnes began
volunteering, and in September 1993 she secured her first job with the
Vancouver School Board. Later, her interests in art and design led her to
study graphic, interior and store design. Soon a paid position opened at
Volunteer Vancouver, which included facilitating workshops on
volunteerism, training volunteers, and giving public speeches. She was
involved with many immigrant organizations while she completed a program
for facilitating immigrant and refugee support groups. While working
full-time, she took undergraduate courses at UBC in the evening. She was
accepted to the Master of Arts program in Sociology at UBC in 2002, and
completed her thesis that engaged the Hungarian experience with American
consumer culture. In the fall of 2005 she switched programs and commenced
a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. She is an active volunteer at MOSAIC
and on campus. “My husband, Angus, has been giving me tremendous support
during my years in this new land.”
Magda Sasvári
Contributing Editor
Hungary is often portrayed, especially here in North America, as a
distant and far off entity – elegant, cultured, refined – full of wisdom
and knowledge. Magda represents these qualities very well here in
Vancouver, and is one of the most respected pillars of our community. She
started her service as a social worker and interpreter after the
Revolution in the Hungarian Refugee Camps. In Vancouver she has held
several positions, including president at the Vancouver Hungarian Cultural
Society. She chaired the ’This Is Hungary’ festival, is a member of the
Hungarian Veterans’ Association, the World Federation of Hungarians, the
North American Federation of Hungarian Organizations, the Order of St.
Stephen and is currently the president of the CAHA. Translations for the
Encyclopedia Hungarica and the Magyar Front are among her many
contributions to our culture. Magda’s dynamic and cutting edge ideas have
always been geared at modernizing the presentation of our culture, and
have greatly motivated new volunteers for the Hungarian cause.
Andrea Szilágyi
Contributing Editor
Originally from Edmonton, Andi has been involved with the Hungarian
community for over 17 years. She started Hungarian folk dancing at a young
age, and attended her local ‘Hungarian school’ and Scout troop for many
years. Many of you will recognize her as the singer from the popular
Hungarian folk band Cifra, but her high level of expertise and commitment
to the community are sure to make her a ‘household name’ here in Vancouver
as well. Since recently graduating from the University of Alberta with an
English degree, Andi continues to concentrate on languages and literacy –
she has “a particular interest in children’s literature, and hopes to
bring elements of this to the NHV”.
Kristina Tanner
Contributing Editor
Kristina Tanner is always ready to lend a hand or dive right into any
Hungarian project, and her lively enthusiasm and spirit is something to be
admired. She’s usually the first to volunteer her time, and her work has
included teaching the Hungarian language, helping the scouts, involvement
in the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, production of the Hungarian Language
program on Shaw Cable, and much more. Her home is often the central hub of
Vancouver’s most energetic cultural gatherings – good food, energetic
dance and some of Hungary’s finest musicians are often found there –
hosted by this truly authentic Hungarian.
Eddi Wagner
Contributing Editor
Eddi Wagner was born in Torontál county, today Vojvodina province of
Serbia, in a typical Austro-Hungarian multicultural family in which the
Hungarian language and culture were treasured and adored. Diversity,
modesty, acceptance and tolerance were terms introduced to him by his
grandparents very early in his life.
Raised in a number of different countries in Europe, he was fascinated
with the cultural diversity he found in each of them. Rather than
believing in stereotypes about each ethnic group, he quickly absorbed
everything positive each of them had to offer.
Eddi’s broad education includes music, architecture, psychology and
business. He enjoys volunteering, painting, writing, reading, playing
music and travelling. His favourite subjects are history (in particular
the history of Hungary), people, human rights, international affairs,
ecology, nature and animals.
Eddi was fascinated when he discovered the New Hungarian Voice and
anxiously waited for each new edition. When the Canadian Hungarian
Cultural Alliance announced the project commemorating the 50th anniversary
of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, he felt an urge to join in and do
something positive for the local Hungarian community.
Eddi moved to Vancouver 12 years ago. Even though he calls Vancouver
home, he misses Hungary very much – particularly smells and tastes of
Hungary. That is something that will never fade.
Zale Tanner
Distribution
Due to the lack of space, it was difficult to decide which of the many
things to include in this short biography of Zale. He has been a member
and delegate with the World Federations of Hungarians, the president of
the Hungarian Cultural Society of Greater Vancouver, the president of the
Hungarian Memorial Foundation of BC, the president of the Western Chapter
of the Hungarian Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the founder and president
of VMTv (Hungarian Moments, the ‘Hiradó’ and ‘Magyar Világ’), and a member
of the Canadian Hungarian Cultural Committee in association with the
Coalition of North American Hungarian Organizations. Tanner is truly a
renaissance man, and is equally comfortable as an ‘emcee’ in a suit and
tie as he is with his sleeves rolled up stirring a piping hot bogrács
gulyás in his backyard for his innumerable hungry friends.
Mária Vajna
Accounting
It’s difficult to describe the enormity of this lady’s involvement
with our ‘Hungarian cause’ in a few sentences. A ‘pillar of the community’
would be a good place to start – as well as matriarch to some of the most
active and influential Hungarian families in Vancouver. Mária served for
many years with the Hungarian Cultural Society and held several key
positions. She is a dedicated member of Our Lady of Hungary’s Women’s
Auxiliary and has organized and represented our culture for the well known
European Festival from 1998 to 2000. Aside from her duties with The New
Hungarian Voice, she also volunteers for the CAHA, while she continues to
act as a mentor to many Hungarians who are encouraged by her unquenchable
strength and love of her heritage and homeland.
Jordy Starling Cartoon Artist
Jordy Starling has married into Hungarian culture,
literally. Since Andi met Jordy, he has been an enthusiast for all things
Hungarian. In his hometown of Oyama, a small village in the Okanagan,
Jordy's family owns an orchard and is one of the founding families of the
community. With history like that, Jordy can appreciate one's connection
to heritage. Jordy has an extensive background in film production and post
production, with an impressive list of credits to his name. He also has a
knack for cartooning, which is his contribution to the NHV - "Mazsola"
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