Hello! My name is Gustavo Puente and I am from Peru. I am currently living in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick and I have had the privilege of knowing this wonderful city since 1994. I have been also working for a Canadian company called CARIS since 2001.
My job position as a Marine expert gave me the opportunity of travelling around the world and
experiencing many cultures that are very fond of the rich Latin ethno culture and its values.
I have been involved with the New Brunswick Latino Association Inc. since 2002 and I have had the opportunity and pleasure of working with people that, from all around the world, form now part of my new family in Canada.
I am very proud of representing and having the pleasure of leading this wonderful group, and I hope to make the 2009-2010 a very successful year for the New Brunswick Latino Association Inc. I look forward to meeting new members that will join our association this year.
Best regards,
Gustavo Puente
President of the New Brunswick Latino Association Inc. 2009-2010
Helena Rubio-Alba, Is a Systems Administrator with Post Degree in Public Law from Los Andes University in Colombia, her home Country. She worked on the field for 13 years with the Compagnie General des eaux du Paris and Water Supply Company in Bogota. She landed in Canada as professional with her family in July of 2001 and settle in the city of Saint John where she studied English as a second language and worked with the Canadian Red Cross and IBM.
In 2006 called by Mr. McKelvey she joined the Saint John Board of trade Forum, called Hall of Opportunities for Latin Americans (HOLA) as team leader for the Social Committee supporting our vibrant and growing Ibero and Latin-American community and recently has been voted Vice-president of NBlatino for the season Nov.2009-Nov.2010.
Peter F. McKelvey,P.Eng. is an engineer and biologist with over 20 years experience. Mr. McKelvey worked as a field biologist on the environmental survey for the Point Lepreau Generating Station. He subsequently studied Bio-Resources Engineering at the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1978, Mr. McKelvey has worked with an engineering consultant in British Columbia and for Connor's Bros. Ltd., firstly as an engineer, and later in middle management.
In 1984, Mr. McKelvey joined the New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council where worked on projects in the resource industry and environmental sectors. In 1989, Mr. McKelvey became a principal of Fundy Engineering & Consulting Limited, a consulting firm offering geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. He pioneered the company's efforts in the field of environmental site assessment energy auditing and building condition assessment. As a principal of the company, Mr. McKelvey is part of the group responsible for supervising a staff of 40 people. Over the years Mr. McKelvey has pursued many community interests.
He has studied languages and speaks advanced level French and intermediate level Spanish. He has participated in a New Brunswick cultural exchange with Dialogue New Brunswick. In recent years he had taken an interest in Latin American language an culture and has traveled extensively in the region. In 2006 he was helped found HOLA Saint John, an organization aimed at supporting and growing the Spanish speaking community in Saint John. Mr. McKelvey is currently Co-chairman of HOLA Saint John, a member of the Saint John Environment Committee, Vice Chair of the Saint John community Arts Board and member of the Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick.
Marisa RojasMarisa spent all her life in Colombia where she is from originally, she is a Social worker. She worked for many years in the education field in different lcapacities such as like: as a professor in four different Universities, and in the administrative area, she worked for the “Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento la Educacion Superior” (Colombia Institute for the Superior Education) for 5 years, and as a director of one the branch of Universidad Nacional Abierta y A distancia De Colombia (Open and Distant National University) for seventeen years.
She moved to Canada in 2001 with her two son, she start her live getting involve as a volunteer in many programs and organization around the Fredericton area: Devon Middle School, YMCA, Children International Summer Village, CISV, Multicultural Association Of Fredericton, Art Learning Center, she is a founder member of the NB Latino Association, Core member of the Immigrant Women Collective, and was a participant of the YMCA Leadership Programs, Women in the Business.
She is the co-owner of COCUY Latino American Cultural Centre, that have a purpose to promote the Latino American cultural in Fredericton and surrender areas , through the Spanish classes and the Latin dance classes.
She is currently the coordinator of the Immigrant and Refugee Women Project at the Multicultural Association of Fredericton. (MCAF).
Mami Osanai was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Her parents are from Peru and Japan. She arrived to Fredericton, NB, Canada in September 2001 to study at St. Thomas University. Mami graduated from STU in 2005 with a BA in Criminology. She currently works at Skillsoft as Spanish Technical Support and enjoys being involved in activities of a small community.Mami has been involved with NBLatino Association since the beginning of 2002. During her university years, she was also involved with the Latin American and Spanish Society at the University of New Brunswick and St.Thomas University, were she helped to plan several activities partnering with NBLatino Association. Mami also worked for the NBLatino Association temporary in 2006 where she helped to coordinate the Annual Latin Gala partnering with NB Film Co-op.
Mami is currently involved with helping the association and preparing projects/events that will involve Latin American and Spanish families in New Brunswick.
Eugenia DietrichDirector of Cultural Projects
Eugenia Dietrich was born in Tucumán, North West Argentina. She was teacher and researcher at National University of Tucumán, for more than seventeen years, her professional achievement included the creation of the Organic Greenhouse Model for students. She moves to New Brunswick, Canada with her family of four children, in 2000.
She contributes to the cultural community of the province as Founder Member and Director of Cultural Projects of the NB Latino Association of New Brunswick, as well as creator and coordinator of the nationally recognized Spanish Book Club, which runs weekly during the winter time. She is a Life Member of The Registro Creativo of the ACH (Asociación Canadiense de Hispanistas), where she adds her token with her art work and poetry. She is an Associate Member of the Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New Brunswick.
Also, she takes part in other cultural circles related to the visual art community, joining art groups in Fredericton and exhibiting in shows and galleries. She joins the Drawing Live Studio at the NB College of Craft and Design. She was Vice President of the Fredericton Society of Artists for two years. She is a member of Gallery Connection, Beaverbrook Art Gallery and other well known art groups as Turps Club.
Eugenia set her studio at Douglas, NB.
"Today, from this cyber spatial bridge, I have an invitation to anyone interested in the process of inclusion of Latino and Iberian cultures of America and Europe in this new cultural environment. Then I invite you to celebrate and share a pinch of cultures we have inherited from our lands here, our new neighborhood of Atlantic Canada provinces!"
Eugenia Dietrich
eugenia@nblatino.ca
