Irena creates and organizes events, educational programs, tours and participates in literary readings.

 

Literary Readings

Writers Unplugged: An Open Mic Night organized by Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society. Reads excerpts from Gershon's Kiss and The Walk to Some Stranger's House, in-person and over Zoom — January, 2019 to Present

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Flywheel Reading Series organized by filling Station magazine. Together with Josephine Lore and Kim McCullough. Read a chapter from Gershon’s Kiss — April 11, 2019

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(YYC) WGA VOICES: Pub Night, Readings & Panel Discussion (On Writing) organized by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Together with Ian Kinney, Kat Main, Bob Stallworthy, Moji Taiwo and Erin Emily Ann Vance. Read a chapter from Gershon’s Kiss — March 28, 2019

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Heritage Park Historical Village

Develops and delivers training modules for fellow interpreters as part of Montefiore Institute training at Heritage Park — 2015 to 2019, 2023, 2024

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2024

Organized and introduced Rabbi Nisan Andrews for his talk, “The Five Forms of Jewish Prayer." Held in the Little Synagogue, Heritage Park — August 28, 2024

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Moderated two events for When Words Collide (August 16-18, 2024) held at Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary South and organized by the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society: 
Ask an Agent with The Rights Factory with panelists: Wayne Arthurson (Literary Agent), Stacey Kondla (Literary Agent), Jennifer Chevais (Associate Agent) and Sam Hiyate (President & CEO) — August 17, 2024
Dispelling the Myths of the Book Seller and Author Relationships with panelists: Julia Lutchman (Found, Cochrane), Shannon MacNaughton (Slow Burn Books, Calgary), Brandi Morpurgo (Daisy Chain Book Co., Edmonton) and Sarah Pratt (Owl's Nest Books, Calgary) — August 16, 2024

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Organized and introduced Rabbi Mark S. Glickman for his presentation, "These are a Few of My Favourite Books: Show and Tell from the Rabbi's Library." Held in the Little Synagogue, Heritage Park — August 11, 2024

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Pitched idea, organized and introduced the concert, "Best with Schmaltz: Songs and Stories of Romance, Jewish Historical Style" presented by Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta Performers. Two performances held in the Little Synagogue, Heritage Park — June 23, 2024

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Guest speaker telling the story, "The Barron Building: It Could Have All Gone to Edmonton!" in honour of Canadian Jewish Heritage Month hosted by Heritage Park — May 28, 2024 

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Guest speaker telling the story, "The History of Jewish Farming, From the Argentine Pampas to the Canadian Prairies" in honour of Canadian Jewish Heritage Month hosted by the Calgary Public Library, Central Library — May 21, 2024 

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Moderator host, "Crafting Brilliance: Manuscript Review & Editing for  Publishing" with Susan Forest, Rosemary Nixon and Gail Anderson-Dargatz presented by the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, cSpace Marda Loop, Calgary — May 9, 2024

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Moderator host, "Dispelling the Myths of Literary Agents" with Naomi Davis (Book Ends Literary Agency), Jennifer Chevais (The Rights Factory) and Stacey Kondla (The Rights Factory) presented by the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, cSpace Marda Loop, Calgary — April 25, 2024

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Moderator host, "Dispelling the Myths of Self-Publishing" with Sandra S.G. Wong (Author), Angela Ackerman (Author & Story Coach) and Rebekah Raymond (Author) presented by the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, cSpace Marda Loop, Calgary — February 27, 2024

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Moderator host, "Dispelling the Myths of Publishing" with Aritha van Herk (University of Calgary Press), Kit Dobson (NeWest Press) and Netta Johnson (Stonehouse Publishing) presented by the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, cSpace Marda Loop, Calgary — January 11, 2024

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2023

Guest speaker telling the story, "The Heritage of Jewish Farm Colonies, From Argentina to Canada" at the Hazak Lunch & Learn speaker series hosted by Beth Tzedec Congregation, Calgary — March 15, 2023

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2021

Interviewed over Zoom Dr. Bonnie J. Kaplan and Dr. Julia Rucklidge at the launch of their book, The Better Brain. Event hosted by Owl's Nest Books, Calgary — July 5, 2021

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Co-chaired and moderated over Zoom, "Tikkun Olam: Healing yourself as essential for healing the world with Dr. Allan Donsky," for B'nai Brith Calgary Lodge #816, Calgary — June 6, 2021

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Presented over Zoom "The Little Synagogue on the Prairie" at Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, Winnipeg — May 30, 2021

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2020

Guest speaker telling the story, “The Little Synagogue in Me: How the Montefiore Institute came to Heritage Park” to grade 3 students and teachers at Calgary Jewish Academy, Calgary — February 28, 2020

 

2019

Gave a talk “The Montefiore Institute Turns 10 at Heritage Park,” part of Historic Calgary Week 2019, to an audience of 60 at the Railway Orientation Centre at Heritage Park, Calgary — August 5, 2019

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Developed and presented Calgary Heritage Tour for Seniors organized by Calgary JCC and Jewish Family Service Calgary. Toured cSpace King Edward, Eau Claire and McDougall Centre where the group met the Honourable Lois E. Mitchel, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Calgary — July 18, 2019

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Pitched idea, developed program and presented talk to PJ Library families on the 10th Anniversaries of PJ Library in Calgary and The Little Synagogue on the Prairie at Heritage Park. Program was followed by a concert in the Montefiore Institute where Irena introduced the three musical acts: Seniors Quartet, Paul Finkleman and the JCC Klezmer Band, Calgary — June 23, 2019

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Pitched idea, developed program and was one of the educators (nursery and pre-kindergarten, kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3 and 4, grades 5 to 8) for a year-end school trip by Halpern Akiva Academy on the 10th Anniversary of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie at Heritage Park, Calgary — June 20, 2019

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Guest speaker telling the story, “The Little Synagogue in Me: How the Montefiore Institute came to Heritage Park” to students (grades 2AB, 3A, 4A, 4B, 5) and teachers from Calgary Jewish Academy, Calgary — May 31, 2019

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2017

Guest lecturer on The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project to students in "Introduction to Museum and Heritage Studies 201" class in the Faculty of Art at the University of Calgary, Calgary — November 29, 2017

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Developed and presented Calgary Heritage Tour for Seniors organized by Calgary JCC and Jewish Family Service Calgary. Tour included visit to Reader Rock Garden, Eau Claire, Lougheed House Gardens and Memorial Park, Calgary

— July 25, 2017

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Presented tour of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie to members of the P2G Committee (from six Canadian Jewish Federations and Northern Israel, from Metulla, Kiryat Shmona, Mevo’ot Hermon Regional Council, Upper Galilee Regional Council and Yesod Hama’ala) during their meetings hosted by Calgary Jewish Federation, Calgary — May 15, 2017

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2016

Guest lecturer on The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project to students in "Introduction to Museum and Heritage Studies 201" class in the Faculty of Art at the University of Calgary, Calgary — November 29, 2016

 

Presented tour of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie to exchange students visiting from Har Vagai in Israel and their hosts, students from Calgary Jewish Academy, at the Montefiore Institute, Heritage Park, Calgary

— November 9, 2016

 

Presented talk on The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Turns 100 part of Historic Calgary Week 2016 (July 22 — August 1, 2016) at Temple B’Nai Tikvah, Calgary — July 26, 2016

 

Spoke on a panel about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie (Montefiore Institute) at Community Day, part of the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies Conference, co-sponsored by Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta, at Calgary JCC, Calgary — May 29, 2016

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2014

Guest speaker about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie at Sharing Bread and Stories event organized by The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews held in the Montefiore Institute at Heritage Park, Calgary — June 19, 2014

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2013

Presented talk, “The Exciting Life and Times of JB Barron and the Barron Building” part of Historic Calgary Week 2013 (July 26 — August 5, 2013) at Temple B’Nai Tikvah, Calgary — August 1, 2013

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Presented talk, “The Oil Barrons: How the Oil Industry was Anchored in Calgary” to an ESL class at the Bertha Gold Seniors Apartments, Calgary

— June 18, 2013

 

Presented tour about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie at a meeting of The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews at Montefiore Institute, Heritage Park, Calgary — June 13, 2013

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Presented talk, “The Oil Barrons: How the Oil Industry was Anchored in Calgary” at a weekly breakfast meeting of Rotary Club of Calgary Centennial at Danish Canadian Club — May 1, 2013

 

Presented joint talk (with Ali Tork), “Jews of Persia: Their History and Rug Weaving Techniques” part of Shalom Salam: A Celebration of Persian Jewish and Bukharian Culture (February 20 — March 9, 2013) at Calgary JCC, Calgary

— February 28, 2013

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2012

Presented talk, “The Oil Barrons: How the Oil Industry was Anchored in Calgary” part of Heritage Weekend 2012 (October 19 & 20, 2012) at John Dutton Theatre, Central Library, organized by Calgary Public Library, Calgary — October 20, 2012

 

Presented talk, “The Exciting Life and Times of the Barron Building” part of Historic Calgary Week 2012 (July 27 – August 6, 2012) at Central United Church, Calgary — August 1, 2012

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2011

Pitched idea to Calgary Heritage Initiative, created concept, emceed and chaired event, Adaptive Reuse Community Heritage Roundtable at Temple B’Nai Tikvah, Calgary — November 24, 2011

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Guest speaker for seniors clients of Jewish Family Service Calgary at the Montefiore Institute, Heritage Park, Calgary — June 30, 2011

 

Speaker about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project at Community Heritage Roundtable at Central Library, Calgary — March 17, 2011

 

2010

Speaker at PechaKucha Night Calgary #6 at Central Library, Calgary

— November 24, 2010

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Guest speaker at Seniors Cultural Exchange Project (with Ismaili, Chinese and Jewish communities) at Temple B’Nai Tikvah, Calgary — October 21, 2010

 

Guest speaker at Knights of the Round Table lunch at the Ramada Hotel, Calgary

— September 28, 2010

 

Chaired event and presented at 4th Annual General & Special Meeting of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project Society at Selkirk Gallery Room, Heritage Park, Calgary — September 21, 2010

 

Presented talk on The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project part of Historic Calgary Week 2010 (July 23 — August 2, 2010) at Temple B’Nai Tikvah, Calgary — July 25, 2010

 

Guest speaker for grade 4 students of Calgary Jewish Academy at the Montefiore Institute, Heritage Park, Calgary — June 7, 2010

 

Speaker and tour guide of the Montefiore Institute at Pump Up the Volume National Young Leadership Retreat (May 14 — 16, 2010) organized by Calgary Jewish Community Council and UIA Federations Canada, Calgary

— May 16, 2010

 

Guest speaker about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project at B’nai Brith Calgary Lodge #816 monthly dinner meeting at Calgary JCC, Calgary

— March 16, 2010

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2009

Chaired event and presented at 3rd AGM of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project Society at Calgary JCC, Calgary — October 14, 2009

 

Chaired and organized the Grand Opening Celebration of the Montefiore Institute and gave speech along with other dignitaries at Heritage Park, Calgary

— June 28, 2009

 

Chaired event and gave remarks at Mezuzah Ceremony in the Montefiore Institute at Heritage Park, Calgary — June 16, 2009

 

2008

Sod Turning Ceremony at Heritage Park, Calgary — October 16, 2008

 

Chaired event and presented at 2nd AGM of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project Society at Heritage Park, Calgary — August 21, 2008

 

Guest speaker about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project at Beth Tzedec Congregation, Calgary — February 23, 2008

 

Guest speaker about The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project at Temple B’nai Tikvah, Calgary — January 18, 2008

 

2007

Chaired event and presented at 1st AGM of The Little Synagogue on the Prairie Project Society at Calgary JCC, Calgary — September 25, 2007

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