|
As summer came to an end, a bevy of activities swept over the
city. Communities met in the streets and everywhere else they
could congregate, mix and mingle. (See our front page, depicting
Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto)
Surely we all remember Caravan, the ethnic folk fest, which for
years offered ethnic communities an opportunity to share their
culture with the rest of the population. They took place in the
various clubs owned and operated by the individual communities.
In its 15th year I started to participate in the
“Berlin Pavilion” in the German Club Harmonie on Sherbourne Street; and for
the first time the club won some major awards under the artistic
direction of Fekko von Ompteda, and I had an opportunity to
portrait Claire Waldorf and Marlene Dietrich. That year we
celebrated the Berlin of the 20ies and the following year I produced/directed
Berlin Salutes Hamburg and Hamburg salutes the World
with Shanties in a live show
that was put on many times a day. That show also won awards.
Shortly thereafter we lost the club for lack of continued
financing. Companies which had bought bonds for the club pulled
them out when they matured and the individual members, who did
not want to pull them out were not strong enough to hold on to
the very big building. One by one we saw changes also in other
clubs and disappearing organizations.
In our heyday we revelled in those past opportunities to
celebrate our heritage as guaranteed by our Charter of Rights
and Freedoms. We got government grants to organize ourselves and
in the German community that is how the Canadian German Congress
got founded, first nationally and then provincially. I was one
of the founding members of Ontario and sat on the board for a
long time.
All those entities are now in the decline and are being replaced
by other forms of cultural expression. Different needs have
arisen and we as a people of Canada have become more
cosmopolitan, are not so much living in our ghetto mentality
anymore. We have taken a huge leap forward and are embracing the
world around us as it is and we know we are a part of it. We are
still holding on to some of our clubs, and a great thing that
is, but we are integrated into a homogenous whole, or at least
our children and grandchildren are. For our intimate cultural
activities that is a sad occurrence, because the very young have
other interests and more demands are made on them to volley for
places to study, play sports, get a job and so on. All that does
not leave much time for old fashioned play in the style parents
and grandparents envision their culture will live on.
It has been a few years now that we reported on the annual
Ukrainian festivities. This year I also went myself to see what
all the hoopla was about. I cannot believe I had never attended!
| Street scenes at the
Ukrainian Festival |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
| Vendors galore |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bloor Street between Runnymede and Jane was filled with vendors,
stages, restaurant outlets and merchandize stalls of all
descriptions. What a showcase of the local merchants! Of course
they were not all Ukrainian, but the mood certainly was and the
food and culture were well represented.
| Introducing Ukrainian
performers |
 |
 |
 |
A full stage program
introduced Ukrainian performers over 2 days. The weather was
balmy and sunny; people came out in droves and enjoyed what felt
like summer. We observed a true Canadian celebration of life at
its best: communal spirit among people, and opportunity to look
and eat and play.
| Great
entertainment |
 |
 |
 We ran into a non Ukrainian wedding party near the Brandt Meat
kiosk, met up with some German friends and shared a glass of
wine with Manfred Fleischmann and his wife and friends. We talked
to strangers and wished each other well.
 A young girl was happy
to introduce us to her doll, dogs wanted to be petted, and we
sampled foods and rifled through fashion items and jewellery.
 When we could walk no more we headed for the car and drove
towards Roncesvalles Ave. The front page will tell you all you
have to know how well that festival was received. Wall to wall
people attest to its success, which was much needed after the
street repairs that had paralyzed traffic for over a year in the
area. The friendly young police officer at the street barrier
had heard about the Ukrainian fest and asked me for directions.
It seems that folks from the Roncesvalles event wanted to also
cover the other one, just like we did, only in reverse. This was
just like at Caravan times, except people do not go to another
club, they go to another neighbourhood and enjoy the
presentations and offerings of other cultures.
We left for home very happy, the sound of a trumpet playing Ave
Maria traveling through the air, trailing behind us.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
|
|
