The Board
Valerie Blazeski
Valerie Blazeski is a first-generation Canadian whose parents immigrated from Macedonia. She was born and raised in Toronto. She currently lives in Ottawa and works for the federal government. She started her career in government at Parks Canada doing environmental work in national parks and national historic sites. She moved into a communications role during her time at Parks Canada and has continued to work in communications across several other departments since then.
Valerie is very dedicated to her Macedonian heritage. She learned to read and write Macedonian on Sundays at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral and “grew up in the dance groups” at the Church. While she moved away for her career, Valerie continued to be engaged with the Macedonian community in Toronto and she forged new connections through the Macedonian Embassy in Ottawa. She is very excited to support and join the Nova Generation Team and hopes to share some of her experiences so more Macedonians can explore opportunities to work in the federal government.
Luka Petrusevski
Luka Petrusevski is a corporate-commercial and trade lawyer with Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. He also serves on the board of the Association of Law Officers of the Crown, the bargaining agent representing Crown lawyers across Ontario. In this role, Luka contributes to policy development, advocacy, and collective representation, working to strengthen legal institutions and uphold the integrity of public service. He was part of a legal team recognized with Ontario’s prestigious Amethyst Award, and was a finalist for CCCA & Mondaq’s Legal Team of the Year Award.
A proud first-generation Macedonian-Canadian raised in Windsor, Luka is honoured to serve on the board of Nova Generation. He is deeply committed to expanding access to education, strengthening community ties, and empowering the next generation of Macedonian youth. Understanding firsthand the challenges faced by many Macedonian immigrants in pursuing their passions in Canada, he hopes to support families navigating the cross-generational transition with dignity and opportunity.
Luka’s goal is to help Macedonian youth recognize that their cultural identity and heritage are not just points of pride, but powerful tools for educational and professional success.
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.“
Maya Angelou
