Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada
2185 Stavebank Road L5C 1T3 Mississauga, ON, Canada

Our Stories - Marija Gudelien Marija was born in Lithuanian in 1915. Her journey after WWII was a long one, to Canada via Denmark. Hear her story in her own words in the Our Stories section of our website.

Our Stories - Felix Mockus We've just posted our latest story in the Our Stories section of the website. Felix' story is an example of the incredible work effort put in by immigrants everywhere, first to get to Canada and then to establish a life here. We've posted a full video interview in English and a transcript in English and Lithuanian.

Did you know that forests can sing?

In an interview with LRT, the Lithuanian Ambassador in Canada describes how we are managing the COVID situation and talks about projects underway including one with our museum-archive.

Interesting object - interesting story Highlights of our collection With war about to descend, what does a mother giver her child as a priceless keepsake? Aldona Kemežait-Vaškeviien was given a small bit of sand from her home in Kudirkos Naumiestis, lovingly wrapped in a scrap of cloth with Lithuania‘s national colours. Along with a crucifix, it was sewn into her coat and eventually reached Canada. In Jurbarkas, Jonas Vaškeviius was given a prayer book originally published in 1912. This priceless momento, given by his mother, was something Jonas carried with him his entire life.

Drive-thru exhibition Our second drive-thru exhibition is ready for this Sunday, Nov. 1st. Lithuanian Martyrs' Church is holding the traditional fall cemetery visitation from 10am to 4pm. As you wait in your car for your order of drive-thru cepelinai, check out the lawn signs with QR codes. The code will take you to a digital exhibition "St. John's Lithuanian Cemetery - 60th Anniversary". The windows at Anapilis Hall will be displaying the amazing chapel gates designed by Telesforas Valius. If you can't make it on Sunday, visit our website to see the digital exhibtion: https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/st-johns-cemetery-annive/

Some photos from our drive-through exhibition yesterday. After a brief chronology of key events in the 60 year history of St. John's Lithuanian Cemetery, each hall window has a poster of the individual gate panels that were designed by Telesforas Valius. Thanks to Daina Puteriene (Photovisions) for printing the posters. The QR code lawn signs connected to the full digital exhibition on our website.

First families arrive at Pier 21 What a surprize to learn that families from Lithuania were on the first ship of immigrants to arrive at Canada's Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship arrived on March 8, 1928 and the passenger list included J. Sarpiene (Šarpiene) with her 3 daughters, the Jacobson family from Šiauliai and 3 young men, Senrankis, Lenkausaks and Svetlikauskas. The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is hoping to make contact with any relatives of these families. For more information check their website:https://pier21.ca//cara-macdonald/first-families-of-pier-21

Interesting object - interesting story Highlights of our collection An unexpected item in our archive is the menu from a Reception and Banquet held to honour the arrival of Lithuania's President, Antanas Smetona to the United States. President Smetona and his family arrived in New York March 10, 1941. The Banquet was held 3 days later at the famous Hotel Pierre. There is a photo from the banquet in an exhibition prepared by the Historical Presidential Palace Museum in Kaunas and written up in Pasaulio Lietuvis: https://pasauliolietuvis.lt/prezidentas-antanas-smetona-eg/

We continue to expand the Our Stories section of our website. This month's new post features an interview in English with Joe and Dana Petronis. Joe and Dana met on the dock as both were about to sail to Canada. How did that turn out? Listen to their interview in Our Stories. And both Joe and Dana will tell you about the value of cabbage.

How did Canada and the Lithuanian Canadian community help implement Lithuania’s independence in 1987-2004? To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this unforgettable period in Lithuania’s history, we put together a digital exhibition of newspaper headlines from major Canadian and Lithuanian Canadian newspapers. Follow the historic events through a journalistic lens and see how Lithuanian Canadians stepped up and responded. https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/canadas-contribution-to-/

Who doesn’t miss summer camp? For the full Lithuanian summer camp experience in the Toronto area, we have a film of Camp Aušra. Filmed in the 1960's, it was held at the Franciscan Fathers Camp in New Wasaga, Ontario. To set the mood, Lithuanian campfire songs recorded at Scout camp Romuva play along. Lithuanians in the Toronto area were lucky enough to be able to choose from 3 summer camp locations: Franciscan Fathers Camp, New Wasaga ON, Camp of the Good Shepherd, Spring...hurst ON and Camp Romuva, Huntsville ON. Visit our website to see the full Camp Aušra film and short films from each of the other camps. https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/lithuanian-summer-camps/

Interesting object - interesting story Highlights of our collection One of the first commercial Lithuanian newspapers published in the United States was Vienyb Lietuvnik 1886-1921. It printed news from Lithuania, the US, Europe and from Lithuanian American parishes and societies. It also published works of fiction, academic texts, poetry, short stories and plays. The newspaper used the Polish alphabet and the Lithuanian text was full of Polish expressions. Editors and the p...olitical orientation changed frequently. Take a look at the cover page for 1895, the table of contents and a sample ad for a Lithuanian business. See more

Our art collection grows We recently received a donation of 3 lithographs by international authority on Lithuanian folk art Antanas Tamošaits and his wife Anastazija who was an authority on Lithuanian folk textiles. They spent a large part of their lives in Gananoque Ontario, true artisans living on their Lithuanian farmstead.The first lithograph, 'Saultekis' and the second untitled work are by Antanas. The third, 'Thunder' is by Anastazija.

Sharing Our Stories - Steponas Šetkus This is Steponas Šetkus in 1935. In Canada he was an engineer, a talented artist and active in the community. But he didn't start out to be any of these. Read the story of how he transitioned to his new life in Canada on the museum-archives website in Our Stories. Included is a gallery of a few of his paintings.

In her own words - Anastazija Šepaviien tells her story of coming to Canada in letters sent to her family. You can find this story and others in the Our Stories section of our website. Have a look!

Interesting object - Interesting story Highlights of our collection 19th century objects Antique cigarette case... Silver cigarette case presented to our donor's uncle a Catholic priest. Engraved cover has a flower pattern and inscription in Russian 'From his Excellency Emir Bucharski'. Lorgnette Pair of spectacles with a handle. The lorgnette was usually used as a piece of jewelry rather than to enhance vision. They were popular in the 19th century. See more

Interesting object - Interesting story Highlights of our collection This is a very fragile copy of an ad for the 7th Agriculture and Industry Exhibition of Lithuania which was held June 28-July 3, 1928. Note that the young woman is dressed in a national costume. Lithuania had declared independence 10 years earlier so appeals to national pride were everywhere.

In case you missed our previous exhibitions