The Canadian Macedonian Historical Society (CMHS) transformed this year’s Annual General Meeting into a deeply resonant cultural experience. In a special collaboration with the Macedonian Film Festival, members were treated to a screening of the evocative documentary Story of Vasilka. Directed by Giovanni Princigalli, the film is a masterclass in narrative storytelling, weaving together intimate family photographs with rare archival footage from the Kinoteka (Cinémathèque) of Skopje to create an authoritative and emotionally charged historical record.

A screening was set up in the dining hall of CMP after the meeting. The CMHS would like to thank the staff at the CMP for allowing the society to show the film and assisting in the set up.

The documentary provides a poignant real-life portrait of Vasilka, an 84-year-old Macedonian matriarch residing in Quebec. Her life story serves as a mirror to the turbulent history of the Balkans, spanning the Nazi-fascist occupation and the complexities of the Communist era, ultimately leading to the arduous journey of emigration. The film candidly explores the scars of the past: her father’s and husband’s sacrifices in the struggle for Macedonian independence, the weight of those memories in a new land, and the daunting challenge of raising three children in a French-speaking society with a husband deeply traumatized by his experiences.

The film is a real-life portrait of Vasilka, an 84-year old Macedonian now living in Quebec, chronicling her family’s history as it unfolds alongside the history of Yugoslavia and its people, from Nazi-fascist occupation, Communism, and finally to emigration and difficult integration into Canada.

Her family history which included her father and then her husband’s fight for Macedonian independence and what they suffered as a result was part of her story. As a new immigrant to a strange country, which included her struggle in overcoming those memories became part of her story. She had little language and three young children and a husband that was forever damaged by his past experiences. Apparently, her husband had some knowledge of French, and thought by immigrating to French Canada it would be easier to assimilate.

The highlight of the afternoon was an intimate Q&A session with the film’s subjects. The CMHS was honored to welcome both Vasilka and her son, Dr. Gligor Delev, who traveled from Montreal for the event. Dr. Delev, a Canadian physician of Macedonian descent, originally commissioned the film as a legacy for his children, ensuring their grandmother’s resilience would never be forgotten.

Acknowledgments

• The Delev Family: For their presence and willingness to share such a personal narrative.

• Tony Markovski: The CMHS President expressed the society’s deep appreciation, presenting our guests with a token of gratitude for their efforts.

• Canadian Macedonian Place (CMP): For their hospitality in hosting the screening and their technical assistance in the dining hall.

Through this screening, the CMHS continues its mission to bridge the gap between personal memory and collective history, celebrating the enduring spirit of the Macedonian diaspora.