Already the first Time that Kitchener celebrated the German Pioneers Day it was a pretty wonderful event. Over the years it became bigger and better all the time and has grown into a class act with politicians volleying to send their greetings for the program if they cannot come in person. All the way up to the Prime Minister of Canada the congratulatory notes pour in. What a wonderful feeling it is to have our German communities’ contributions to this province so well acknowledged.

Perhaps it is time to work on making this day after Thanksgiving an all Canadian German Pioneers Day and demonstrate that our Charter of Rights and Freedoms is truly in effect.

The festivities started as usual at 3:30pm with music from the Transylvania Brass Band, and displays of various German heritage backgrounds.

The National Anthems with the Pensylvania Brass Band

The official program began at 5:00pm with a welcoming speech by the event Chair Mr. Gerhard Griebenow and was followed by Pastor Walter Hambrock’s invocation and the national anthems if Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and personal greetings by Ken Seiling, Chairman of the Region of Waterloo; Carl Zehr, Mayor of Kitchener; Brenda Halloran, Mayor of Waterloo and Stephanie Benke, German Consulate General.

Personal greetings

Introduction by the Oktoberfest & Club Princesses by Helene Schramek

A lovely musical interlude by children of the German Language School Concordia under the direction of Angelika Werner made everyone smile.

German Language School Concordia Choir

14 Letters of greetings were noted and could be read in the program and then the guests of honour were introduced, all 22 of them, and those were the representatives of German Canadian cultural organizations and local politicians. In fact there were many more important people of the community there, but too many to all be mentioned.

As every year the important part consists of honoring pioneers and or their descendents for their contributions to the province.

Commendations to the Benton Street Baptist Church

This year 2 churches were commended for their services to the community. Benton Street Baptist Church was introduced by Senior Pastor Gary McNitt, and the presentation was made by Anton Bergmeier, President of the German Canadian Congress National.

Commendations to the Central Baptist Church

Joe Ferber introduced the Central Baptist Church and the presentation was made by Ernst Friedel.

The Transylvania Choirs under Dieter Conrad

There were 2 more presentations to come. In between the Transylvania Choirs under Dieter Conrad performed some wonderful songs, after which Walter Hachborn, Founder of the Home Hardware Association Empire, was honored by Werner Schlueter for his brilliant retailing ideas.

Walter Hachborn, Founder of the Home Hardware Association Empire honored

Absalom Schade was honored in memoriam for his partnership with a Scottish lawyer, William Dickson, as the co-founder of Galt and Dumfries. The introduction was made by Judy Penteker and the presentation was made by Helene Schramek.

Absalom Schade honored

The communal singing of Canada’s anthem signaled the end of the event after which people left quickly to other duties, as there were many that day we were told.

Many of the German dignitaries and their guests went to the Concordia Club for a special supper, where more congratulations, also for Oktoberfest participations, were made.

It will be interesting to see how the two events in Kitchener and Toronto develop from now on.

See you next time

Sybille Forster-Rentmeister