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 August 2009 - Nr. 8

There is nothing quite like summers in Canada to celebrate in the great outdoors. At every opportunity people congregate to celebrate something or other. And even though many of these events are annual ones, they still offer variety or renew a purpose.

Toronto had for 25 years or so a major festivity called Caravan, a showcase of the multitude of cultures in this great diverse city. The German-style culture was represented by not one but three pavilions, the German Pavilion Berlin, The Blue Danube Pavilion for the Austrians, if memory serves correctly, and the Danube Swabians also participated. I am not sure if the Swiss ever had a pavilion.

Somehow after all those years it had run its course and died. However, the smaller communities outside of Toronto gave it a go and these events are still a draw. Mississauga had one and recently the Brampton area had one too, called Carabram. Quite a few different cultures participated and lots of locals and not so locals came out to sample the various offerings.

The Harmonie Brass Showband
The Harmonie Brass Showband
The Harmonie Brass Showband The Harmonie Brass Showband
The Harmonie Brass Showband The Harmonie Brass Showband

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister & Hilde Mrasek applaudingI had the pleasure to MC for the German Pavilion at the Hansa Club. All efforts had been made to re-enact a quite authentic Oktoberfest – in July – and why not, in Munich it is also celebrated in a different month, namely in September. A special committee chaired by Ekko Hildebrandt and Hilde Mrasek collected and arranged all the various parts to a very successful festivity.

The many visitors The many visitors
The many visitors The many visitors
The many visitors The many visitors
The many visitors The many visitors
The many visitors The many visitors

Klaus Wehrenberg on the "Drehorgel"The 3 days brought a lot of traffic to the club and a lot of favourable comments. When the judges came on the busiest day, the Saturday, they said that they had not been more royally entertained, and did not have as much fun as in the Hansa Reiner & Irmgard WalterClub. That does not surprise if you consider that the kitchen under Karin Walter had once again outdone itself. Everything from pork hogs to sauerkraut and sausages, schnitzel and , and, and…deserts galore, including Kaiserschmarren…you name it, it was on the menu in the big hall.

The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers The Almrausch Dancers
The Almrausch Dancers The Almrausch Dancers

The smell of roasted caramelized and roasted almonds and nuts wafted welcoming through the big hall, the music played by the Harmonie Brass Band was pleasing to all and invited to dance, the Weiss Blau Bayern Schuplattler seniors and juniors danced up a storm and let the cowbells ring, the Folkstanzgruppe Almrausch also performed to much applause and the 3 fellows of the brass band played the big Alphorn until their lips fell off.

Playing the cow bells   Playing the cow bells
 Playing the cow bells Playing the cow bells 

Potato pancakesOutside on the patio of the wonderful and new Biergarten Patio German Potato pancakes were fried endlessly. The potatoes ran out several times and someone had to dash to find stores that could accommodate the tremendous demand. In the backroom, the new Albert Dittgen entertains on the patioMembers lounge was ready to receive many visitors with a bar, coffee and cakes, and a viewing room with videos about Oktoberfest and other components of German culture. The décor in all rooms was authentic, with many beer steins, donated by Mrs. Armin Hau, that were filled with flowers.

The Celebrities
Susan Fennell, Mayor of Brampton The Celebrities
The Celebrities The Celebrities
The Celebrities The Celebrities
Gurbax Singh Malhi,  P.C., M.P.
The Celebrities The Celebrities
The judges 
The Celebrities The Celebrities

The table decorIf one considers how much work all this caused before during and after the 3 days for the many workers and volunteers, it is not surprising that Mayor Susan Fennel had only praise for the club. She much enjoyed the dancing and participated vigorously. In a short speech during her visit she said: "Like many Canadians I speak two languages, but I dance in 20." And she proved it and did very well!

Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation  Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation 
 Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation  Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation
Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation   Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation
Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation  Polonaise by the Weiss-Blau Bayern with audience participation 
Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation  Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation 
Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation  Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation 
 Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation Weiss-Blau Bayern Seniors with audience participation 
Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors  Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors 
Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors   Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors
 Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors Weiss-Blau Bayern Juniors 

After this extremely busy weekend many surely wanted to have a short vacation afterwards. I certainly did. Unless one has participated one cannot know how much effort and know how goes into an event like this.

The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling  The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling 
 The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling 
 The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling The Hansa Choir with Dieter Wütherich conducting and Gretel Schauer's great yodeling 

All parties need to be congratulated, even though the Hansa Club did not receive any special award this year. The criteria for that are strange. I had a look at it and it does not quite make sense from my perspective. I feel the club had outdone itself with a grand show of hospitality.



Anna Tuerr Memorial

Since the founding of the Remembrance Society 7 years ago, starting with just 3 founding members, Paul Tuerr, Toni Bergmeier and Klaus Koeppen, the society has grown in leaps and bounds and has fulfilled its mandate admiringly well. Bringing into consciousness to German Canadians all those things that their community contributed to this country and what its members have lived through in the past despite historical blunders, taking care of a heritage in the spirit of love and forgiveness, forging a future that recognizes the dignity of all mankind, in a communal spirit, that is what this society does well.

The Concordia Choir under the direction of Dr. Alfred Kunz 
The Concordia Choir under the direction of Dr. Alfred Kunz 

Klaus KoeppenThis was recognized by the many short yet very effective speeches at the Anna Tuerr Memorial in Mannheim, Ontario, close to Kitchener. Klaus Koeppen, the first president, introduced them all after an opening musical introduction with the Concordia Choir, Dr. Alfred Kunz conducting.

Wayne Roth, Mayor of the Township of Wilmot  Wayne Roth, Mayor of the Township of Wilmot 
Andrew Telegi  Andrew Telegi 
Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament, Kitchener-Conestoga  Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament, Kitchener-Conestoga 
Ernst Friedel, President German Canadian Congress (Ontario)  Ernst Friedel, President German Canadian Congress (Ontario) 
Danuta Grigaitis reads her poem "Please, let there be peace"  Danuta Grigaitis reads her poem "Please, let there be peace" 
Helene Schramek, President of the German Canadian Remembrance Society  Helene Schramek, President of the German Canadian Remembrance Society 
Father Marten Milkulski of St. Mary's RC Church  Father Marten Milkulski of St. Mary's RC Church 

First we heard from Wayne Roth, Mayor of the Township of Wilmot, then Andrew Telegi confirmed the importance of this society’s work. An address by Harold Albrecht, MP Kitchener-Conestoga was followed by Ernst Friedel, President Ontario of the German Canadian Congress, after which Danuta Grigaitis recited her famous poem:" Let there be peace".

Helene Schramek & husbandFinally current president Helen Schramek addressed the gathered crowd, recounting the history of the society and its purpose and reporting also on its progress and activities, such as taking over the care of the graves of German soldiers on the Woodland Cemetery, where annually Remembrance Day is celebrated and also conducted by the society. A prayer was offered by Father Marten Jasik Mikulski, and an invitation to a picnic at Paul Tuerr’s farm was offered.

 The audience protected against a rain-threatening sky The audience protected against a rain-threatening sky 
The audience protected against a rain-threatening sky 

Paul Tuerr & Ernst FriedelThat is where the weather god continued to favour all present, many more than were originally expected. The BBQ was delicious, the silent auction interesting, lots of funds were raised, music was made, songs were sung, conversation was animated and people were happy to be together in a spirit of togetherness and harmony.

 Ernst & Ruth Friedel and Brigitte & Toni Bergmeier Bring your own chair 
Ernst & Ruth Friedel and Brigitte & Toni Bergmeier  Bring your own chair 
Danuta Grigaitis  Nick Zeiss 
Danuta Grigaitis  Nick Zeiss 
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister & Herwig Wandschneider   The Concordia Choirs under Dr. Alfred Kunz
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister & Herwig Wandschneider  The Concordia Choirs under Dr. Alfred Kunz 

We were pleased to be a part of this society and its purpose. It totally aligns with ours.

Until next time

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister





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Sybille reports as a German-Canadian about culture, arts, entertainment, community events from her unique perspective as an artist

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