On July 19, as part of the Cēsu city festival, JSC “Cēsu alus” and “Cēsu provadas municipality” presented the annual award “Cēsnieks”. This year, the winner of the title “Cēsnieks 2024” is Gunita Bārda, director of concerts and events, volunteer.
Gunita is a creative and active participant – the author and director of countless event and concert scripts. Under her leadership, several Cēsu city holiday events and concerts, dance group, choir concerts and other important events have been conjured up. Also, Gunita herself leads events, concerts and also sings. In parallel with active activities in cultural life, Gunita selflessly and wholeheartedly devotes her time to volunteer work – for several years now, as a volunteer, she has been visiting the patients of the Cēsu clinic and the Vidzeme hospital – seniors, talking and reading fairy tales, and is also the volunteer coordinator of the charity organization Hospices in Valmiera, in the Palliative care department of the Vidzeme hospital.
Agita Kārkliņa, AS “Cēsu alus” communication manager: “This year’s Cēsnieks title candidates were strong, as usual – we appreciated both the achievements of our basketball players, honoring coach Vladimir Kiseļova, and the culture of respectful conversation established by the LAMPA festival for 10 years, as well as the dedication of Natalija Kramas’ professional career to the management and development of the Cēsu Central Library. According to the citizens’ vote, this year, the honorable title of “Cēsnieks 2024” was won by Gunita Bārda. This is thanks to her creative expression in conjuring up countless holidays and events in Cēsis, as well as to the warmth of her heart and the attention she selflessly devotes to volunteering.
Cēsu county council chairman Jānis Rozenbergs: “Congratulations to Gunita Bārdas on the honorable title of “Cēsnieks 2024″! Gunita is a creative and active Cēsniek, who brings a lot of smiles and goodness to our city with her work and selfless contribution to volunteer work. Her contribution to culture and society is priceless. May she radiate as much joy and warmth from her heart in the future!”
The candidates nominated for the “Cēsnieks 2024” award were determined by the jury committee, evaluating the most significant events and activities in the life of the city of Cēsu. Among the candidates for the 2024 “Cēsnieks” award were Natālija Kram, longtime head of the Cēsu library, Vladimirs Kiseļovs, basketball coach, Sarunu festival LAMPA and festival director Ieva Morica and Gunita Bārda, director of concerts and events, volunteer.
From July 2 to 15, every citizen of Cēsis and resident of Latvia had the opportunity to vote for the candidates nominated by the commission and determine the winner of the title “Cēsnieks 2024” on the voting website www.cesnieks.lv.
“Cēsnieks” is an award established by “Cēsu alus” brewery with the aim of honoring persons who have performed their work excellently and from the heart, and whose performance has positively affected the reputation of the city of Cēsu. Since 1999, this honorable title has been awarded to 26 personalities, among whom were representatives of culture, science, business, education, history, sports and social spheres.
