Basque Festival in Montreal – Update
Last weekend N.A.B.O. made its first trip out to the East coast for the Fall 2011 meeting hosted by the Euskaldunak Quebec Basque Club in conjunction with their 15th anniversary. A sizable group of NABO delegates made the trip east, and it was well worth it for having a chance to experience the city’s charms and to join with the local Basque club in their 15th anniversary celebration. All the guests were appreciative of the marvelous weekend they had planned for them. Some really enjoyed being immersed in the French language as the city and most of the rest of the Canadian province of Quebec speaks primarily French.
The Montreal meeting was unique; a newer member in N.A.B.O., this was the first time NABO held a meeting on the East coast of the continent, where they now have six clubs. Hosted events for visiting delegates included a Friday evening tour of the old part of Montreal, followed by a concert featuring the visiting Basque singing trio Kalakan. Also featured were the Basque photographic exhibit of Angela Meijas “Geroa Ixaropena” (The Future is Hope) and the Basque whaling theme paintings of Michel Hacala, as well as the musical project “Iparraldeko Konpilazioa” (Iparralde Compilation).
The next morning, the Quebec club hosted the 2011 Fall NABO meeting. That evening there was a dinner-dance and the Basque spirit was alive and well in this city! Sunday concluded with a tour of the city’s namesake mountain Mont Royal and a lunch at the Casa de España.
For additional information about the festival and some photographs, visit NABO’s website here.
