June 2002 - Nr. 6
Festival Roundup
– Destination Germany –
So much to see, so much to do. Being part of it was the biggest reward; especially when it has to do with children do I really get excited. The Kinderfest of the German School was a smashing success.
Consul
General Dr. Hochschild opened it with a few well chosen words, reminding us
that these children from the German School represent our future, growing up
in an academic environment that teaches tolerance and prepares them for
living in a different world from the one we knew. He personally kept a keen
eye on the vital security of this event to which the Canadian Federal
Government had sent its top security agents.
But
none of that was apparent to the participants. There was music and laughter
throughout. Many innovative games had been set up for small children.
Somewhat older ones enjoyed building a birdhouse or a toolbox with a Home
Depot kit.
A huge buffet, made up of sweet things from lots of volunteers and Mövenpick Restaurants took care of lots of empty tummies.
None
of the children got bored, nor did the parents show any sign of fatigue all
day long. Some of the children performed for the other kids and at another
time they introduced themselves to onlookers. It was truly amazing to hear:
My name is…. I am 6 years old and speak German, English and some French….
There
was a puppet show and I had the opportunity to read German fairy tales to
the kids. Six intensive hours of pure pleasure with a blue sky overhead
hopefully raised a nice piece of money for the school.
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The
soul of this endeavour, in fact of the German School, is of course
Christiane Eichhorn. She had worked for months tirelessly to make this
happen with the help of lots of volunteers. It was a day that made many of
memories for lots of happy parents and children. I saw cameras of all
descriptions in full use. This was a truly happy day, and a great success.
Destination Germany
If
only the weather god would have been kinder! After the kick-off inside Roy
Thompson Hall the special hospitality of Rhine regions and the Black Forrest
were being celebrated in the sunken Garden of the symphony hall.
To
jazz from the Stephan Bauer Group folks could sit and enjoy a light lunch or
fine wine and beers from Germany.
On
the one day that the sun was shining warmly the patio in front of the
exhibits was continuously filled with happy people indulging German
specialties and admiring the Mercedes display of fine cars. (See front page)
And
even on days were a cold wind blew, as long as it was not raining some hardy
Torontonians enjoyed German hospitality and the chance to win some fine
prizes, including flights to Germany by Air Canada and Lufthansa, a Viking
KD Cruise on the Rhein and visits to some of the finest cities in Germany,
to be gotten to by rail.
Ingrid
Scherer-Mohr, director for Canada of the German National Tourist Office, and
her helpers in fabulous Black Forrest costumes made everyone feel very
welcome. Perhaps next year a weatherproof location can be scouted out.
Nevertheless, Toronto learned a bit more of Germany in the five days that
the exhibit lasted.
Soccer friendship game
There
was considerable pain but no gain on this unfriendly field of green. The
Toronto Lynx were quite proud to have a distinguished German team – TSV 1860
Munich- coming for a special friendship game. Right from the start at the
North York University Stadium, after Dr. Hochschild kicked off the ball,
they displayed an aggressive style of playing, which was to the German crew
reminiscent of rugby.
The
referee was generally called incompetent and unfair by onlookers. It appears
that at first he let everything go through and then he handed out nothing
but yellow cards, sometimes for fouls only he perceived. This was also
disruptive to the flow of the game, which never quite found its successful
rhythm.
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The
Lynx started enthusiastically and surprised the Germans with their rough and
tumble game. Right in the first 15 minutes one German player had his nose
cracked and one his shin severely hit; and the first and only goal was shot
by a Lynx player (Irasto Knights) in the 16th minute.
It
took the German team a while to swallow this bitter pill, but then they
showed that they were the superior team afterall. They hardly lost the ball
in the second half, but unfortunately never managed a goal. The Lynx had
efficient defence to play for time and hold their advantage.
On
this day, too, the weather god was unfriendly. It was cold, even wet
occasionally, and very windy. Not ideal conditions for a soccer game, even
though players prefer cooler weather to a hot day. The performers had a hard
time. The choirs sang their hearts out but could hardly be heard. The strong
wind blew the words right off their mouths. The dancers were shivering in
their short-sleeved Trachten.
Despite
of it they lend a homey yet festive flavour to the proceedings. But hardest
was the weather on the spectators, some 2800 of them, who all wished they
had donned their fur coat one more time.
Since then the Lynx only won one out of 6 regular season games. Their home season opener will take place at Centennial Stadium on June 9th. (416-251-4625)
But before the Munich team left for Germany they had to make
the rounds in the sponsor community, and of course see a bit of Ontario. We
spoke to them at the Danube Swabian Club, where fans had an opportunity to
meet the soccer players close up and relaxed. We asked them what hey liked
and noticed and what was different from the USA, where they also had played
and won against Milwaukee.
The most notable thing about Canada mentioned was how clean
it is in comparison to the USA. The players also found it very nice that
Torontonians were so interested in them as people.
And when they went to Niagara Falls they mostly had the same feeling all of us had when we saw the falls for the first time: Pretty, but that’s all?
Somehow every visitor has the same experience. In ones mind the idea of Niagara Falls has created a gigantic image, huge falls that have water cascading down forever. We know that the reality is quite different. It takes a while to appreciate the amount of water and the force with which it shoots over the edge.
Much information changed hands. The players were talkative
and happy to exchange ideas, while the head coach was very leery of the
press and not very informative at all. I guess he had bad experiences
elsewhere with the media. The best part of course was the distribution
photos of individual players and posters of the whole team, all autographed.
Some fans will have great memories to show later.
Round up
There were many other events taking place. A theatre play here and in Kitchener was well received. You can read about it from our correspondent in Kitchener, Herwig Wandschneider, who also covered a soccer game there. He will also report on the finishing event of the 5 weeks, Germanica in Kitchener. Concerts and another exhibits, as well as panel talks at North York University rounded out the proceedings, making for 5 weeks of interesting cultural fare. The big question is if these events would have taken place anyway and was it all worth it? Again and again it could be heard that no one ever before managed to pull something like this off. This is not entirely true, nor is it entirely untrue. Many of these events would have taken place anyway, just separate from each other. But to incorporate them and make them a cohesive entity, something that could be called a festival, and to bring industry, commerce and some of these academic, cultural and commercial organisations together, that in itself is an incredible and noteworthy accomplishment for which credit has to be given to the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Ulrich Hochschild, together with some of his staff and many, many community volunteers.
Improvements can be made, which will only help any future events this community might have. And perhaps Kitchener and Toronto can see how working together is beneficial to both cities.
During a casual meeting between members of the German Canadian Congress prior to the evening gala event we heard that the problems ailing our German communities and clubs are still the same as they were 20 years ago when I first entered the scene, the lack of younger people willing to carry on the traditions. They are still the same complaints I dealt with and helped to alleviate when the DKK was founded and when (and why) we started Echo Germanica 13 years ago, which gives rise to the question: when are we going to get off our high horse, forget that German culture is not just German language, but can be anything that has its origin in that culture. When are we going to survey the young people that want nothing to do with these older organisations? When are we going to give them what they want; and when are we going to stop telling them that they are too young to understand anything, have no right to their own opinion and outlook on life?
Well young folks, we want to hear from you!
What do you want? What can we do for you? What are you willing to contribute, your style, and your way? Echo Germanica wants to be your paper. Let us make use of the most powerful problem solver of all time: communication! Let us be pro active!
And let us not forget that we are living in Canada, that we
have duties towards this country. Our Queen is celebrating her 50th
anniversary on the throne. And right here, right now, our federal government
is doing summersaults. There is nothing wrong with celebrating one’s roots,
as long as we do not neglect our democratic duties at home, our new home,
Canada.
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
