AFFILIATED
GROUPS
The
German Language School:
We
would like to point out that thirty years ago almost every high school
in Manitoba offered German as a language option. This is no longer the
case, today only a handful of schools in Manitoba offer courses in German. German
cultural organizations such as our own are trying to take up the slack
by offering German language courses.
The
German Society of Winnipeg runs and subsidizes a German Language School
which is located at the Gordon
Bell High School.
German
Choir:
Germany has produced some finest composers of lyrics and music in the world. Our award wining choir has interpreted some of the songs and arias of German culture in such a manner that even people of other cultural backgrounds enjoy their rich repertoire from classical to contemporary. The choir performs in a host of concerts at the German Society Clubhouse and of course in the annual Winzerfest.
They
contribute to the multicultural Canadian mosaic by performing at Folklorama,
various senior citizen homes and are in demand to perform at many multicultural
festivals.
Brass
Band:
Oktoberfest
certainly could not be the same, indeed could not succeed without the
performance of a Brass Band. This festival is celebrated all over the
world by Germans and Non- Germans alike. The German Society of Winnipeg
is blessed with one of the finest Brass Bands in Western Canada. In their
colourful uniforms they are well received wherever they play. The band
is composed of players of German background but it is so popular that
it attracts players from the Canadian armed forces and other ethnic
groups. What is so exciting is that the band has a very strong youth element.
As already stated that Germany has produced some of the finest
composers in the world. Therefore,
the Brass Band has a large repertoire of music to choose from. The Brass
Band performs at various club functions, Folklorama
and all over the city. In fact it is in great demand all over the
province and does a wonderful job of fostering understanding right across
the Canadian multicultural mosaic.
Theatre
Group:
This
group is involved in various cultural activities throughout the year.
It is a valuable cultural group that sometimes works closely with other
cultural groups in the city and with various governmental agencies in
Manitoba.
For example, theTheatre Group with the co-operation of the City of Winnipeg put on a festival in Kildonan Park in the summer of the year 2000 and 2001. The festival consisted of a concert (in which our renowned band participated) and a play “Hansel and Gretel” by the Brothers Grimm which was performed by the Theatre Group.
The
proceeds were donated to the City of Winnipeg for the restoration of the
Witches Hut at Kildonan Park.
The
Witches Hut is one of the major
cultural attractions in the city.
The Hut was donated to the
City of Winnipeg by the German community
as a centennial project in
the sixties.
This
is only one example of an activity that reaches across multicultural
boundaries,
fostering understanding and tolerance
within our great nation.
The
Junior and Senior Dancers:
The
festivals and folk dances of Germany are world renowned. Our dancers under
the watchful eyes of their instructors practice every Tuesday in our ballroom.
They, like the other groups, perform at club functions, Folklorama and
all over the province, fostering understanding and tolerance between the
ethnic groups in the Canadian multicultural mosaic.
Mardi Gras Group:
The
rich traditions, the costumes, the medals, are all preserved by the Mardi
Gras Group. This group also has its own dancers and is internationally
known. This group performs at most of the club functions, Folklorama and
community events inside and outside our province.
For
example, they have recently hosted
the interprovincial Mardi Gras Groups Convention in Winnipeg
spreading goodwill and German culture within our country.
Ladies Auxiliary:
This
group is always ready to help out with many charitable tasks in our club
or our community at large. Visiting the sick and comforting the relatives
of the deceased. They are also very active in helping out in Villa Heidelberg
(a senior citizens home) run by the German community.
Skat
Group:
One
of the recreational activities for our members is the card game called
Skat. The Skat Group meets in our clubhouse twice a week.This group hosts
a Skat tournament once a year on our premises.
The
Bowling Club:
Another
recreational activity is bowling. This activity provides comradeship and
exercise for our members.
St. Hubertus Game and Fish:
A
group of German sportsmen that are affiliated with the Manitoba Wildlife
Federation
(www.mwf.mb.ca) .
The club holds its meetings and social functions at our clubhouse. It
manages a conservation area around Libau and is one of the driving forces
in Manitoba for conservation of the environment and our wildlife. It is
heavily involved in safe hunting and firearm handling practices.
St.
Hubertus is the German patron saint of wildlife.
Many non- German Canadians
are members of this club and practice the rich traditions and rituals
of St. Hubertus. The result
is comradeship, understanding
and the fostering of love for the great outdoors.
Camp
Neustadt:
A
Summer Camp ten
kilometres north of the town of Gimli on Lake Winnipeg managed by the
German Society of Winnipeg.
This
is a very popular camp that is enjoyed in the summer by young and old.
( The text was researched and compiled by Karl Kurt Preiss )
