Toronto

Though this summer has left something to be desired, it seems that the weather gods regret the harsh treatment they doled out month after month, and are giving us a chance to warm up before winter is upon us again. From 25 September onward you will be kept warm by the CAANS events planned, until May takes over the job again.

29 January: Kirsten den Hartog will talk about her book The Occupied Garden (McClelland and Stewart, 2008) about the German occupation of Holland which many of us have read. She will discuss the way she went about researching the facts and gathering information in Holland, and will answer any questions we may have for her. Kirsten will bring copies of her book for sale to those of us who do not own it already. Incidentally, she will also bring one of the dramatis personae in her book: her father, who lives on his sailboat and just happens to be in Toronto at this time. After Kirsten’s presentation, perhaps her father will answer a few questions from those of you who are (or were) sailors.

5 March: The Dutch-Canadian photographer Antoni Harting will present a show of photographs entitled Looking at People in the South of France, 1951 to 1961. He will show many black-and-white photos made in those years and tell a few anecdotes and stories behind some of them. Toni will also tell us how and why he made the shots, and will be open to questions from the public.

9 April: Peter Lowensteyn (webmaster of our CAANS website) comes from Montreal to give a talk entitled DNA en Genealogie. “Het papieren pad van een stamboom gaat maar zover. Als je geluk hebt en je voorouders behoren tot een belangrijke familie waarvan de genealogie al vele jaren is onderzocht en waarvan er veel documenten bestaan, dan kan je wellicht terug gaan tot aan het einde van de middeleeuwen, maar alleen adellijke families kunnen nog wat verder. Met een DNA onderzoek kan je veel verder terug, 70.000 jaar terug! Niet dat je dan de namen weet van je voorouders, maar je weet dan wel waar je oorspronkelijk vandaan komt en hoe je uiteindelijk terechtgekomen bent in je land van geboorte. Over die lange tocht gaat de lezing.”

14 May: Annual General Meeting. The treasurer will report on the financial health of CAANS Toronto Chapter, the president will give a brief report on the past year’s activities, and there will be an opportunity for the members to make observations and suggestions or ask questions. A slate of officers will be presented, and anyone who would like to nominate him/herself or another person for office may send their choice to Tony Grabowski, secretary/treasurer CAANS Toronto Chapter, 14 Campbell Crescent, Toronto, ON, M2P 1P2 before 10 May. Alternatively, you can come to the AGM on 14 May and make your nomination in person. Please remember that before nominating anyone other than yourself, you must consult your candidate and receive her/his permission.

After the elections we will show several of the short documentaries we received from the Consul General’s office and proceed to enjoy the festive edibles, potables, and ‘polite conversation’ that have become our favourites for concluding a successful year.

Books read and discussed by members of the CAANS book club

During the second half of last year the CAANS book club discussed the following books, as described by Willemina Seywerd. CAANS members are encouraged to borrow any of these titles, by phoning Willemina at 416 266 6420.

HET HUIS VAN DE MOSKEE - Kader Abdolah.
Shahbal tells the beautifully written story in the Dutch language of Aga Djan, a tapestry manufacturer/trader and a wise, thoughtful man, who in the course of the years, sees his family split up in supporters and opponents of the Iranian revolution of the seventies. Life in the
small town seemed to offer little change but eventually all family members were affected by carrying out government policies and the absence of justice.  A spellbinding read!

TACHTIG - Jaap Scholten
Frederik, a young man studying in Rotterdam, travels to Twente to help celebrate the 80th birthday of his grandmother, head of an
important family in the textile industry. He feels out of sorts, is aware of his absent father, the black sheep, who disappeared long ago. In a speech at the celebration he refers to this absence and comes to a certain understanding - allowing him more perspective on his life.

TWEE VROUWEN - Harry Mulisch
The author describes in this book the fatal love between Laura, a
divorced art curator and the young woman Sylvia. One of Mulisch's  most accessible novels of literary merit of 1975  was re-issued in 2008 for the Public Library and reads like a thriller.

SUEZKADE - Jan Siebelink
Central figure is Marc Cordelius, French teacher at the Hague Gymnasium, who gets involved in a relationship with the young student Najoua. He is a young man of much charm, living in the house of his wealthy grandmother. He obtains the trust of the principal, who permits him to use a classroom for display of personal material for his French lessons. However, the promising beginning eventually results in a tragic downfall. Drawing upon his own experience, the author reveals intrigues and politics in the school environment.

EEN BED IN DE HEMEL - Tessa de Loo
A sensitively painted story of an event originating in the second world war cast its shadows on a doubly unrealizable love in the second half of the twentieth century. A veil of the past is lifted when brother and sister discover the true origin of their relationship. The carefully crafted development brings their journey to an honest conclusion ending in Budapest.

We look forward to seeing you on 29 January!

For further information about CAANS Toronto Chapter in general please contact Mariette van der Meer (416 923 3208), or Marja Bernelot Moens (416 690 2831).