October, 2005 - Nr. 10
Dear Mr. Hegler
I have the great honour and pleasure of presenting to you today in this circle of your guests, friends, colleagues and family
the Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award
This
Award is presented in recognition of and to honour you for more than 3
decades of achievements in German – Canadian cultural relations and for
promoting the German language, a particularly valued and important effort in
Western Canada, where our language is constantly competing with other
foreign language of obvious choice at high schools, post-secondary and
continuing studies institutions.
In various positions and functions within the Teachers of Modern Languages Association you have promoted the German language and supported its status. In all these activities, your bilingualism, your profound knowledge of German culture and history as well as your enthusiasm and motivation were a great asset.
You are a co-founder and essential motivator of the ongoing and successful official high school student exchange program between British Columbia and the German Länder Rhineland-Palatinate and Bremen in existence now for 25 years. Annually, about 40 to 50 students from each side come for a reciprocal exchange, go to school, participate in student activities and live within their host families. When the Province of B.C. opted out of this program and withdrew its financial support 4 years ago, you were most helpful in transferring it to the British Columbia Heritage Languages Association whose president you are today.
Another of your initiatives important to cross-cultural and German language promotion and understanding is the annual "German Host Program" whereby Canadian teachers follow the invitation of the education ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate for a three-week visit.
Even after retirement as a teacher of modern languages on the North Shore you continued to give your time and effort in a very active way promoting German-Canadian friendship and cross-cultural understanding.
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada is honouring you with this Friendship Award in recognition of your untiring efforts in promoting German-Canadian cultural relations.
Let me read to you the text of the award document…
I sincerely congratulate you and would like to ask you and your guests to raise their glasses and to toast to your good health!
