WHO ARE WE ?

  German Society of Winnipeg an introduction.

Mission Statement.

Executive: Year 2002.

Presidents Message.

GERMAN SOCIETY OF WINNIPEG

AN INTRODUCTION

The German Society of Winnipeg ( founded 1892) is one of the oldest cultural societies in Manitoba, indeed Canada, mirroring the cultural aspirations of hundreds of thousands of Manitobans of Germanic origin. The German Canadian community is the second largest ethnic group in Manitoba and the third largest in Canada. German Canadians make up approximately 22% of the population of Manitoba and about 12% of the population of Canada.

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:

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 )

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Mission Statement

The German Society of Winnipeg (GSW) is a non-profit, non-partisan and none-sectarian organization. The aims and objectives of the society are as follows: