Christopher Columbus Strikes Again:  The Rediscovery of North
America in the Esperanto youth movement

Unue, la kebekiaj junuloj okazigis la 48an IJK-n.  Poste, USEJ
renaskigxis.  Cxi-jare, la kanada junularo refondigxis.  Dum la
pasintaj kelkaj jaroj, la junulara movado en nia kontinento
multe kreskis.  Jes, estas ekscita tempo por junaj Esperantistoj
en Nordameriko nun.

Only five short years ago, North America remained one of the
only places in the world where young Esperantists were pretty
much left to fend for themselves.

But the young Esperantist movement in North America was
rediscovered in 1992 (which, by coincidence, happened to mark
the 500th anniversary of the discovery of North America itself),
when Qu‚bec played host to the 48th IJK in Montreal.  The
entusiasm spread south, and USEJ was created that same summer.

Now, the movement here takes another giant leap forward with the
re-creation of a Canadian national young Esperantist
organization and the reorganization of the Qu‚bec association.

Junulara Esperantista Kanado (JEK) has represented Canada in
TEJO since 1976, but little has happened since it was accepted. 
The last work of JEK was planning a program for young people at
the 69th World Congress in Vancouver in 1984—ten years ago!  Now
under the direction of Bruce Arthur and Luc Goulet, the
organization has a chance to continue what was started nearly
two decades ago.

Because its small membership is spread throughout all of Canada,
JEK isn't planning too much for its first year.  However, it has
already started printing its own newsletter, Juna Alumeto, which
is sent out by its parent organization, Kanada Esperanto- Asocio.

Despite hosting the world convention, the Kebekia Esperantista
Junulara Organizo (KEJO) was farily inactive during the past two
years, primarily because most of the young people in Qu‚bec were
involved instead with the Esperanto-Societo de Kebekio, the
provincial adult association.

However, a small group of young Esperantists recently came
together to revive the organization once again.  With a newly
elected three-person board lead by Patrice Germain and a
newsletter of its own, Juna Lilio, KEJO has already planned an
ambitious year, which included a masquerade ball on Halloween
and a Christmas party.

USEJ has working relations with both organizations, but
grandiose projects aren't being planned . . . yet!  Of course,
since Qu‚bec is so close to the northeastern United States
(where many of USEJ's members live) frequent, regional
conferences and weekends between USEJ and KEJO are very
possible.  But who knows?  At the rate the movement is
progressing, the IJK just may return to North America some time
soon.

Have a question?  Want to know more about the Canadian movement?
 Here's who to contact :

Bruce Arthur	

Prezidanto, JEK

Box 61

Grenfell SK Canada

S0G 2B0



Patrice Germain

Prezidanto, KEJO

1856 Montee Monette

Laval PQ Canada

H7M 3V5