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It has been 50 years since a German Canadian Club was formed
at the cusp of Mississauga and Brampton, Ontario. Naming it
after the Hanseatic League – also known as Hansa, was a natural
choice. This historical alliance of trading guilds, that
established and maintained a trade monopoly over the
 Baltic and
North Sea and most of Northern Europe for a time in the late
Middle Ages and the early modern period, between the 13th
and 17th centuries was a perfect model for what the
new world was consisting of. The Hansa League of old included
many members from many
 countries and municipalities and thus it
was a fitting parallel to name the new club "Hansa". It mainly
reflects that members from all over ad all backgrounds are
welcome to join the club and to find here a new "home away from
home", providing them with a warm and hospitable environment.
On March 26, 2008, this remarkable historic fact was
celebrated in a luxurious way at the Hansa Haus in Mississauga.
 The celebrations started with festively dressed guests
enjoying a champagne reception with scrumptious appetizers.
Before the arriving
 people were shown to their beautifully
decorated tables by members of the 50th Anniversary Committee at
the entrance to the delightfully decorated hall, all ladies
received a small wrist-corsage to add to their finery.
| Cheerful décor |
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The club
had never looked finer in its cheerful décor of white and yellow
flowers to complement the white and golden table cloth, the
bright banners and an especially wonderful wreath in the centre
under the roof.
| Friends and
acquaintances |
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| Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
and Ida Brandt |
Helmut & Angelika Gschösser |
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| Nick Zeiss & daughter
Ursula |
Lou Wegner & Sybille |
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After taking it all in it was time to enjoy and
meet up with friends and acquaintances, who had arrived from
many places, including from as far away as Wasaga Beach,
Kitchener and other remote places in Ontario.
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| The Hansa Choir
and its conductor Dieter Wütherich |
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The formal part of the evening started with a performance of
the Hansa Choir with Germany’s and Canada’s national anthems.
Most every one of the guests joined in and then listened to the
Hansa Song, with new text to an old melody. Other appropriate
choices concluded a pleasant song presentation. Conductor Dieter
Wütherich, who had led the choir in days past for a long time,
was back to do the honours and happy to have a listening
audience.
 After this stirring performance, Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
– the Master of Ceremonies this evening – held the welcome
address, introduced the club’s leadership and the attending
media, which were Rosemary and Rolf Meyer, Deutsche Presse;
Helmuth Gschoesser, Ciao Radio and Ulli Jeschke of Chin Radio,
as well as Echo Germanica’s Dick Altermann and Rolf Rentmeister.
She also matched the clubs 50th anniversary with her
40st of her arrival in Canada on this very day. She pointed out
that it was clear that everyone in the room had a story, and
that we were going to celebrate some of them with this club
anniversary. Since it was time for dinner she then introduced Boe Hladysh, Chair of the anniversary committee and
board
member, who provided an Invocation.
 For the occasion an ample crew had been hired to serve a
delicious dinner that started with a very nice mixed salad and
was followed by a tender Rouladen entrée with all the trimmings.
Red wine lovers could indulge in a fine vintage from Reif Winery
and white wine lovers enjoyed theirs from Collios Winery.
Dessert arrived with coffee or tea as a delicious, creamy
chocolate mousse cake.
 During all this time (cocktail hour and dinner) well known
pianist and artistic director/conductor Sabatino Vacca
entertained the audience on his Yamaha keyboard with skilful
versions of classical tunes that evoked treasured musical
memories in most of the guests.
 After dinner an address by Reiner Walter, the club’s
president, reminisced about the club’s history and accepted
congratulatory remarks from special guest, such as Mr. Holger
Raasch, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, who
held the first of the congratulatory addresses this evening.
 Mr. Raasch remarked that he was pleased to be in this club for the
very first time, but it would definitely not be the last and
that he was very impressed but what he had heard and learned
about the club.
 Her Worship Mayor Hazel McCallion of Mississauga was next.
She had already received a standing ovation upon her arrival in
the club and was again warmly received after her colorful
remarks on the clubs history. She once again demonstrated that
she is one of the greatest supporters of "her Germans" and aware
of the fact that they did a lot for Mississauga. She presented
her address with a great deal of humor and promised to continue
to keep supporting, them as always in the past. M.C. Sybille
Forster-Rentmeister remarked that her passion for life was
appreciated and much needed.
 Another great friend of the club attending was the Mayor of
Brampton, Her worship Susan Fennel. She responded
enthusiastically to some of the remarks made by the Mayor of
Mississauga, keeping up the ongoing friendly banter between
them.
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| f.l.t.r.: Holger Raasch,
Consul General of Germany; Hazel McCallion, Mayor of
Mississauga; Reiner Walter, President Club Hansa; Susan
Fennell, Mayor of Brampton; Boe Hladysh; Guy La Plante |
 The congratulatory addresses concluded with Anton Bergmeier,
the Canadian National President of the German-Canadian Congress
with Past-President Ernst Friedel by his side.
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A
plaque from the German Canadian Congress
f.l.t.r.:
Tony Bergmeier, Reiner Walter, Ernst Friedel |
A
plaque from Brampton
f.l.t.r.:
Reiner Walter, Susan Fennel, Boe Hladysh, Guy La Plante |
Recognitions by Reiner Walter and the inauguration of Nelly
and Manuel Lopez into the "Honorary Member" league, which is
about 60-strong by now, and recognitions for Inge Freier as
being a member since 1958, a model citizen and good friend to
all members ended this part of the program.
| Honorary Members |
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| Inge (Ingeborg)
Freier |
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| Nelly and Manuel
Lopez |
 Among others who
were recognized for their part in making the club a success were Irmgard Walter, the staff and volunteers and of course the
wait-staff, and the many generous sponsors.
Performances of the Weiss-Blau Bayern - Seniors and
Juniors and the Almrausch Dancers rounded out the official part
of the evening. Some of the younger members of the groups
fascinated the audience and their performances were passionately
applauded.
| Weiss-Blau Bayern
Juniors |
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| "Glockenspiel"
par excellence |
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| Almrausch Dancers |
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| Weiss-Blau Bayern
Seniors |
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But before the casual part of the evening really
began there were a couple more presentations made to the club.
One of them was a beautifully carved coat of arms of the Hansa
Club, which is meant to go into the new addition. It was
presented by Rita Murkin of the Hansa Choir, whose son has this
amazing carving talent.
| Code of Arms and Plaques |
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| A Code of Arms
presented by Rita Murken |
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| Reiner Walter receives a
plaque from Guy La Plante, K.G. Hansa |
A plaque with a heart from
Karl-Heinz Schafenberg |
The other presentation made of a special
piece of wood from a long time ago, when Karl-Heinz Schafenberg
was instrumental in building the club. A beautiful plaque with
wood grain resembling a heart was kept by him for just this kind
of special occasion.
| On the dance floor |
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| The Golden Keys |
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 The rest of the evening was danced away
to the fabulous sound
of the Golden Keys and their rich palette of beloved and
unforgotten oldies, while others watched a DVD/CD (available to
members for a $20.00 contribution) presentation of the clubs
history in the new addition to the club, where photos and many
commemorative pieces of memorabilia were displayed.
 This historic event will most likely not be forgotten by the
attendees, since everyone received a beautifully rendered and
detailed full-color memorial brochure to take home. A chance to
relive the festivities again and again – during the next fifty
years!
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