Skopje, 10 May 2025 (MIA) – Macedonian folklore ensemble “Ilinden", from Canada’s Mississauga, won first place at the International Festival of Folklore in Lloret de Mar, Spain.

“This triumph is not only a victory of the ensemble, it is also a historic moment for Macedonian culture from the diaspora. “Ilinden” is the first Macedonian folklore ensemble from the North American continent that has won such a recognition at an international competition vying alongside renowned ensembles from Indonesia, India, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, etc,” the ensemble said in a statement. 

Established in 1984, the Macedonian folklore ensemble “Ilinden”, which is part of the St. Ilija Macedonian orthodox church in Mississauga, is considered one of the most important cultural pillars of the Macedonian diaspora in Canada. 

Over the years, it has performed across the United States, in New York, Chicago, Washington, Akron, Buffalo, Detroit, and in this country. 

Photo: Macedonian folklore ensemble “Ilinden" - Canada’s Mississauga