2021-12-01

Hungarian ambassador pays visit to Brooklyn’s Varnus Hall

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a full day of meetings in Halifax, the Hungarian ambassador to Canada took a side trip to Brooklyn, Queens Nov. 25 to visit a Hungarian icon.

In her first visit to the province since being appointed as the new ambassador last summer, Dr. Maria Eva Vass-Salazar met with the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Joseph LeBlanc, Premier Tim Houston and Halifax Mayor Michael Savage during the day. She then travelled to Brooklyn for an evening tea and reception at Varnus Hall to meet, among others, the world renowned Hungarian organist Xaver Varnus.

Along with Varnus at the tea were about 30 invited guests, including Region of Queens Municipality Mayor Darlene Norman and members of council, who welcomed Vass-Salazar to the community.

"I'm personally truly humbled and privileged to meet Xaver in person," said Vass-Salazar in an interview with LighthouseNOW. "I want to express my appreciation in person to him, because, since I was a child I have known of him and have listened to his wonderful music. Certainly, for Hungarians, Xaver is an absolute treasure, almost a national treasure for us."

In turn, Varnus expressed his appreciation for the ambassador's visit.

"It is a very great honour. She's not just a wonderful lady, but she is the official representative of my native country and that's important for me," he said. "I grew up there and somehow my heart and mind is divided between Europe, Hungary and Canada. Now, I am less homesick that she is here."

Vass-Salazar, who was also travelling with Gergo Bodnar, the first secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Ottawa, noted there are about 3,000 people in Nova Scotia who indicated they are of Hungarian-descent in the last census.

Vass-Salazar has been a diplomat for her country for about two decades. She and her family moved to Ottawa in the summer of 2020.

"This is the first country where I represent Hungary as an ambassador and I'm very pleased it is Canada, because the country is so special and important for Hungary," she said. "We have a wonderful Hungarian-Canadian community here and it was a dream come true to come here."

As ambassador, she wants to enhance relations further between the two countries. She noted there are no sister cities between Nova Scotia and Hungary.

While in Halifax, Vass-Salazar took time to inaugurate a Hungarian honourary consul, Lori Colvert.

"We are very confident that she will do a tremendous job in terms of promoting Hungary here and promoting Nova Scotia back in Hungary," she said, adding she herself would like to pair Halifax with another Hungarian city.

"I'm very impressed with the community here, the warmth of the people and also the charm of the landscape and the environment here," said Vass-Salazar. "I'm very pleased to visit Nova Scotia and I certainly will come back."

She also expressed her willingness to help Varnus, and referred to a music festival he wants to organize.

Varnus purchased the former Pilgrim United Church in Brooklyn in the fall of 2020. His dream was to make it not only a concert hall for himself, but for others to enjoy.