Sarmīte “Sam” Bulte, a Latvian-Canadian member of parliament from the Parkdale-High Park riding of Toronto, has lost her seat in the House of Commons in Canada’s general election.

Bulte, a member of the Liberal Party, lost to Peggy Nash of the New Democratic Party in an election that ended 13 years of Liberal rule in the federal government. Nash earned 40.3 percent of the votes, according to preliminary results reported by Elections Canada, while Bulte got 36 percent.

Two years ago, Bulte easily led a pack of six candidates to retain her seat in the House of Commons. Nash came in second in the 2004 vote in Parkdale-High Park.

Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority government, plagued by scandal, fell on Nov. 29 after a no-confidence vote in Parliament. Now Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper will lead a new minority government.

As the Canadian campaign began in late autumn, Martin’s Liberals seemed assured of a victory. But the Conservative Party, according to media reports, benefitted in part from Canadians simply being tired with Liberal rule. The Conservative Party, according to Elections Canada, received 36.35 percent of the national vote and captured a total of 124 seats in the 308-seat House of Commons.

Bulte was first elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. Among her other political and cultural activities, Bulte has served as a member of the board of the Latvian National Federation in Canada (Latviešu Nacionālā apvienība Kanādā).

A new Latvian association has been formed in Switzerland, home to at least 500 Latvians, and will be based in Zürich.

The Latvian Association of Switzerland (Lettische Gemeinschaft in der Schweiz) was founded on Jan. 18, Secretary Axel C. Scherrer told Latvians Online in an e-mail. The association will be officially chartered when Latvian Ambassador Aivars Groza, who is based in Austria and serves in five countries, visits Switzerland.

About 550 Latvians live in Switzerland, according to 2004 data compiled by the Swiss government. About half as many again live in Switzerland but are not registered, Scherrer said.

Historically, Switzerland was a refuge for Latvians after the failed 1905 Revolution. Among famous Latvians who once lived in Switzerland were the writers Jānis Rainis and Aspazija, who resided in Lugano from 1905 until their return to Latvia in 1920.

The aims of the new association are to maintain contact amongs Latvian of all ages in Switzerland, to promote Latvian culture in Switzerland, to organize regular guest speakers from Latvia, and to help Latvians in need in Switzerland.

The group will be creating a Web site, Scherrer said.

Latvia has an honorary consul, Ragnar Granelli, who is based in Zürich.

For further information about the association, contact Scherrer by e-mail at a.e@scherrer-mst.ch.

Members of two Latvian pop and rock music groups with classical music training have joined forces for a six-city tour of the United States, the American Latvian Youth Association has announced.

During February, Marts Kristiāns Kalniņš and Kārlis Auzāns of Autobuss debesīs and Valters Pūce and Kristaps Bergs of Melo-M will perform classical music concerts in Washington, D.C.; Cleveland, Ohio; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles.

All of the musicians received their training in the Emīl Dārziņš Music High School and the Jāzeps Vītols Music Academy of Latvia. Auzāns also has studied in Cologne, Germany.

Kalniņš, son of popular Latvian composer Imants Kalniņš, is lead singer of Autobuss debesīs, a popular Latvian group formed in 1998. Last year, Autobuss debesīs visited the United States for a short tour.

Melo-M is an “instrumental cello rock” group formed in 2004 by Auzāns, who also performs with Autobuss debesīs. Pūce and Bergs are the other members of the trio. The group released its self-titled debut album in June on the Rīga-based Platforma label.

Concerts are scheduled:

• In Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Latvian Ev.-Lutheran Church of Washington, D.C., 400 Hurley Ave., Rockville, Md. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is USD 25 or, for senior citizens and college students, USD 20. Children and high school studens will be admitted free. The event is sponsored by the Latvian Organizations of Washington. For further information, telephone Anita Juberte at +1 (301) 869-3127.
• In Cleveland on Saturday, Feb. 11, in the United Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church of Cleveland, 1385 Andrews Ave., Lakewood. The charity program includes champagne and refreshments beginning at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m., followed by a ball. Admission to the entire program is USD 50. General admission to the concert and ball is USD 25, admission for senior citizens and students is USD 20. For further information, telephone Brigita Puķite at +1 (216) 577-4370 or Franz Bauer at +1 (440) 320-5959.
• In Kalamazoo on Sunday, Feb. 12, in the Union Bar & Grille, 125 Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo. The concert begins at 4 p.m. In advance tickets cost USD 25 for adults, USD for youth to age 21, USD 5 for children to age 13. Tickets may be ordered by credit card by telephoning the Union Bar & Grille at +1 (269) 384-6756. Ask for the “February 12th Latvian Concert.” Tickets also may be ordered by check, payable to “Kalamazoo Latvian Association,” from Viktorija Krieva, 2526 Bach Ave., Portage, MI 49024. Further information is available by telephoning from Malda Pūtele, +1 (269) 353-8320.
• In Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 18, as part of a Valentine’s Day program and dance, in the Latvian House, 4146 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. A social hour is scheduled at 5 p.m., followed by the concert at 6 p.m., a broadcast of a Latvian hockey game at 7 p.m. and the dance at 9 p.m. General admission to the entire program is USD 35, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 30. General admission to the concert is USD 25, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 20. General admission to the hockey game broadcast and dance is USD 15, but for ALJA members and supporters admission is USD 10. Tables for eight persons may be reserved by contacting Vija Vīksne by e-mail at vijavara@aol.com or by telephone at +1 (310) 850-6940.
• In Seattle on Friday, Feb. 24, in the Latvian Center, 11710 3rd Ave. N.E., Seattle.
• In Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 26, in the Latvian Community Center, 1955 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. The concert begins at 12:30 p.m. Admission is USD 20. Refreshments will be available by donation. For further information, telephone Vīja Vīksne at +1 (310) 850-6940.

The concert series is sponsored by the American Latvian Youth Association (Amerikas Latviešu jaunatnes apvienība, or ALJA). Further information about the concert tour is available by visiting www.alja.org.