In all settlement periods, German immigrants
to North America (USA & Canada) generally either
joined existing clubs, or they established new
ones. Some of these clubs or associations were
religion-based; others were not. Some
associations united all Germans, whether they
came from Germany proper or from other regions
of German settlement (Banat, Batschka, Russia,
Volhynia, and many others). Other clubs were
more narrowly defined (Danube-Swabian clubs;
Transylvania Saxon clubs; Lieblinger clubs,
etc).
Many associations did not survive the
anti-German campaigns associated with both world
wars; others survived and provided post-war help
to their countrymen in need.
In Canada, Danube-Swabian clubs were established
as follows: In Montreal (1929); in Kingsville ON
(1930); in Niagara Falls ON (1934); in Kitchener
ON (1934); and in Windsor ON (1935). [ON =
Canadian Province of Ontario].
In Eastern Canada, the following were active in
1992 (and many have websites today):
Teutonia Club Windsor;
Parish of St.Michael, Windsor;
Rhine-Danube Club Leamington;
Niagara German-Canadian Club;
Kitchener Schwabenclub;
Alliance of Danube Swabians, Toronto;
St. Michaelswerk Toronto;
Danube Swabian Park Waldheim;
Donau-Deukania Montreal.
An umbrella organization called Trans-Canada
Alliance of German-Canadian (TCA)
existed from 1952 to the late seventies. Its
successor is the German-Canadian Congress (GCC)
established in 1984. In 1994 the GCC had
branches in Ontario, Quebec, and British
Columbia, plus some 550 member organizations
across Canada (130 churches, 100 German-language
schools, 20 senior citizens' homes, plus art
associations, museums, theatres, and
credit unions, etc. including Mennonites and
Hutterites).
Like in the USA, there were many German-language
newspapers in Canada, as German-speakers were
the third largest ethnic group in Canada (after
English and French).
[Nick
Tullius]
From: Nick Tullius
Subject: Re: [DVHH] social clubs - Canada
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008
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