Kirsten Marie (Buchert) ROY - February 7, 1934 - February 26,2019 

Kirsten passed away suddenly in Nanaimo, Born in Copenhagen, she sought adventure and work in England at the age of 19, where she met her husband Nirmal Roy. In 1956, she moved to India and spent seven years there. She had so many fond memories of and attachment to India and spent seven years there. From 1963 - 1966 she went back to Denmark and then moved to Canada. From 1966 to 2000 she lived in Montreal, and then came to BC to enjoy her grandchildren and the climate. Her husband Nirmal passed away in 1995 in Montreal. Kirsten is survived by her son, Indrojit; daughters, Anita, Nina and Maya. She has loving relatives in India and Denmark; so many friends loved her and will miss her.
Ære være hendes minde - Om Shanti - Rest in Peace

​Dear members and friend,
 
I just received the very sad news that Kirsten Marie (Buchert) Roy passed away. 
 
Kirsten served as director on the board of the Danish Canadian Society 
in Montreal for many years. She was also editor of the newsletter and 
our secretary. She was a key person in the production of the 1997 
history book, FACES OF CHANGE, and spent many hours typing the 
manuscript. The Danish Canadian Society will be honoring her at the 
Seniors Fall Luncheon by adding her name to our Hall of Fame plaque.
 
Best regards,
 
Anne Marie Jørgensen
Secretary
Danish Canadian Society, Montreal

Queen Margrethe spoke of Denmark's progress in her live annual New Year's Eve address. The Queen began by state, "When the clock strikes twelve at midnight, the old year come to an end. At that very moment, we toast the new year and wish each other "Happy New Year". On New Year's Morning, we wake up to embrace new days. They lie ahead of us, waiting for us, but the time that has passed lies behind us. And yet, --all the things that happen to us leave an impact and provide us with experience, good and not so good. We must carry that experience with us further in life". She then went on to discuss the Danish progress including the economy, saying that Denmark is getting richer but questioned if the people were getting any wealthier. Technology was another point with her Majesty giving credit to its positive contributions -- like being able to Face Time family across the globe -- as well as warning against its negative aspects. Her Majesty made sure to acknowledge emergency service personnel, as well. The Queen touched on several topics of the year including her son, Crown Prince Frederik's 50th birthday and the celebrations. The Queen's remarks also addressed her late husband, Prince Henrik's death in February 2018. Queen Margrethe told the Danish people that the Royal Family have much to be thankful for over the past year, "The Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and my 8 wonderful grandchildren together with me have so much to say thanks for. We all feel the warm support which we encounter everywhere, on special occasions, as well as in day-today life." She concluded her speech saying, "Life brings us both sorrows and joys. let us welcome the new year with reflection and consideration. Let us carry our experience --good and not so good -- into the new year and let us embrace the year in a spirit of hope and confidence".
​   -"I wish you all a happy New Year! God Bless Denmark!"

We have just received a supply of the brochures for the upcoming Danish Heritage Seminar that follows the AGM for the Federation of Danish Associations in Canada, to be held in Winnipeg this year. I believe there are already some of our members that have signed up so if you are interested, you should register now and you'll be in good company. More information on the Federation's AGM will follow when we receive it.
 
This is also a reminder that our club is holding the Annual General Meeting at Bowen Park Complex, Room 1 on Sunday, March 3 starting at 1:30 pm. As you may know, March 3 is Fastelavn in Denmark so we have a select group of members that will be baking a variety of delicious Fastelavnboller to be served with refreshments following the meeting. Please note that attending the AGM is FREE! Details of the agenda are in the January newsletter. Hope to see you there.
 
Cheers, Tom Hedekar
Treasurer

Update:
​Our club has agreed to host the Federation AGM here in Nanaimo next year (2020) so there'll be lots of stuff coming forward on that subject. Since we are hosting the AGM next year, Lynn and I have already bought our airline tickets (Westjet had a big sale) so we'll be going to that at the end of May. Stay tuned.

   -Tom Hedekar

​Dear Member of the Danish Federation,

Here we are in 2019, four hundred years after Jens Munk left  
Copenhagen, sailing west, to try to find the Northwest Passage, north  
of Canada to China. The anniversary of this expedition will be  
commemorated at the 2019 Danish Canadian Conference in Winnipeg. The Danish  
Federations' Jens Munk Commemorative Steering Committee, chaired by  
Carl Sorensen of Edmonton, is working on a host of exciting activities  
to bring awareness of this voyage of discovery.

The Danish Canadian Conference will be held at the Hotel Fort Garry in  
Winnipeg from Thursday, May 23 to Sunday, May 26, 2019. The Conferences'  
Theme is The Arctic: Past, Present and Future? with focus on Jens  
Munks' expedition.

The Danish Club in Winnipeg is planning a grand conference which will  
also include a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, as Dannebrog turns  
800-years in June. Moreover, the Danish Ambassador to Canada, H.E.  
Thomas Winkler, will be joining us for our Conference.

Immediately after the Conference, from Monday, May 27, to Saturday,  
June 1, 2019, the Danish Heritage Seminar will be held at the Hotel  
Fort Garry. The theme is "Wanderlust: The desire to explore the  
world". Headmaster will be Pastor Susanne Ivalo Rasmussen of the  
Danish Lutheran Church in Vancouver. Other presentations will be by  
Otto Christensen of Gimli and Aase Christensen of Guelph, as well as  
Charlotte Andersson, a professional musician and singer, who is flying  
in from Copenhagen to join the Seminar, to tell us about Christian  
Winther, the poet who wrote "Flugten til Amerika". The Seminar is in  
English.

Please mark the dates on your calendar and prepare to join us in  
Winnipeg for what promises to be some remarkable days. A Registration  
Package for the Conference is in the process of being prepared. And  
the Seminar Brochure is in the process of being printed.

Regards and best wishes,

- Rolf

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Rolf Buschardt Christensen
President, Federation of Danish Associations in Canada
679 Eastvale Court
Ottawa, Ontario K1J 6Z7
613-747-9764
robuch@ca.inter.net