Ambassador Egidijus Meilūnas Presented Lithuanian State Award to Alain Stanké
On April 5 in Montreal, the Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada, Egidijus Meilūnas, presented a Lithuanian state award—the Order of Merit for Lithuania—to prominent Canadian Lithuanian writer, journalist, publisher, sculptor, and public figure Alain Stanké (Aloyzas Stankevičius).
While presenting the award, ambassador thanked Alain Stanké for many years of dedicated work in promoting Lithuania’s name worldwide and fostering Lithuania–Canada bilateral relations.
“Thanks to you, Lithuania has become more widely known in Canada. You have also actively contributed to strengthening the friendship between our two countries,” said E. Meilūnas.
In 1944, Alain Stanké fled westward with his parents to escape the approaching Soviet occupation. He lived in France before moving to Canada in 1951. Over the course of his career, he has authored more than thirty books, worked as a correspondent and commentator for television, radio, and various publications in France and Canada, and actively contributed to the Canadian Lithuanian community. He also produced a number of short films about notable individuals and major world events. After successfully managing several well-known publishing firms, he founded and directed his own company for over twenty years.
In 1998, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of being a “multi-talented individual who has both entertained and challenged us throughout his career.” In 2003, he was named a Knight of the National Order of Quebec.
