Dear Reader
Traditionally we featured on the front page of our October issue
a Pioneers Day related photo. This year the day that remembers
the German Pioneers in Ontario is falling through the cracks in
Toronto. We were informed that there are other, more important
fish to fry this year. And while we agree that 20 years of a
re-united Germany is very, very important, we feel, since we do
live in Canada that our Pioneers Day should be equally important
to local politicians, especially Queens Park, where the bill for
this event was passed.
So instead of combining the 2 occasions or arranging for 2
events at Queens Park we only have something German, German
going on, namely a German Flag Raising Ceremony, nothing German
Canadian.
What a shame. After last year’s success and general enthusiasm
and agreement that in order to make this event grow a local
committee had to be formed, and was, the Pioneers Day was bumped
from the agenda in Toronto. Anyone who wants to celebrate our
German Canadian Pioneers Day has to repair to Kitchen the day
after Thanksgiving, where it will be celebrated with usual
vigor.
Perhaps next year the constellation of dates is more conducive
to commemorate the 2 events together again.
In the meantime we go down our own memory lane and do what we
have always done: rejoice in the fact that there is something to
celebrate, regardless of what it is, as long as it relates to
us.
 We certainly did and still do with the various Oktoberfest in
the area. Amazingly we had a call from someone non-German in
Oshawa looking for a Polka band in this busy time. We did what
we could to help, but have no idea if it worked out.
 We attended a few Oktoberfests, but simply cannot manage all of
them. You will just have to go yourself, perhaps to the now
ongoing Oktoberfest in Kitchener, the second largest in the
world. Of course you know that the original one in Munich is the
biggest one and celebrates a 200th Birthday this
year. Awesome!
If you want to know more about German festivities go to the
Website of the German Consulate General. There you will find all
sorts of information on Oktoberfest, the German National Holiday
and various customs and information relating to culture,
language and commerce.
Here in Canada we celebrate next Thanksgiving, which is much
more dominant here then the German Erntedankfest. One day after
that is of course German Pioneers Day. Halloween follows at the
end of October and is another reason to get together for some
ghostly fun.
We shall cover some cultural events such as concerts. You can
read a preview of some offerings under “What’s on”.
Looking forward to giving thanks for all that is good in our
lives I remain yours truly,
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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