Heritage Festival Day One - Large Success

The first day of the Edmonton Heritage Festival is now done! 

The popular German Pavilion!

The organizers of the German Pavilion, as always the German-Canadian Association of Alberta led by president Heinz Kleist, have been working hard to get ready for this annual opportunity to highlight German food and culture, and at last it is upon us.  The German Pavilion is at site #23 (near the park entrance), and continues Sunday and Monday (31 July and 1 August 2011) at William Hawrelak Park.

The day was a beautiful one, and despite competition from the Edmonton Capital Ex and Taste of Edmonton events, Saturday was well-attended!  The many volunteers today has a lot of fun grilling sausages, stirring sauerkraut and serving our visitors! The Brabec duo from Calgary provided excellent accordion music throughout the day. Thanks to all our volunteers, and a shout out to Franz Friesacher who celebrated his birthday while volunteering! 

Please tell all your friends and make your way to the German Pavilion on Sunday or Monday!

Here are some photos.  More pictures here!

President Heinz Kleist removing the empty sauerkraut containers.

Some of the volunteer men on duty!

The Brabec duo entertaining the audience!

The lovely volunteer ladies!

A toast to volunteer Franz Friesacher on his birthday!

Franz, Uwe and Heinz take a well-deserved break!

Susan and Shelly wearing the German flag in style!

Blauen Funken General Uwe Welz is always ready to pose for a photo with eager visitors to the German Pavilion!

Loretta and Franz behind the grill!

Alexandria, Frank and Loretta trying some chocolate-dipped banana (from the neighboring Peru tent... these are NOT chocolate-dipped bratwurst!).

More pictures here!

Blauen Funken car in Edmonton Capital Ex Parade

Princess Lisa and Prince Rob of the Edmonton Blauen Funken, along with Past President Harald Bodenberger, were part of this year's Edmonton Capital Ex Parade! Klaus Maier donated the use of a BMW for the occasion, and served willingly as chaffeur!

Volunteers needed for German Pavilion at Heritage Festival - UPDATE!

 We are urgently looking for volunteers!

The German-Canadian Association of Alberta is looking for volunteers for the German Pavilion (site # 35, near the park entrance) at the Edmonton Heritage Festival running 30 and 31 July and 1 August 2011 at William Hawrelak Park.


Specifically, people are still required for the following time slots, to prepare food (sausage grilling and sauerkraut) and to serve the public.

• Saturday, 30 July 2011 - 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM (3 on food prep & 3 servers) 
• Sunday, 31 July 2011 - 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM (5 on food prep)
• Sunday, 31 July 2011 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (5 on food prep & 3 servers)
• Monday, 1 August 2011 - 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (3 servers)
• Monday, 1 August 2011 - 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM (5 on food prep)

Please contact us at 7890-465-7466 or by email at mail@gcaa.ca
 

Feier Abend at the German-Canadian Cultural Centre Edmonton

The GCAA is pleased to advertise this member event!

Attention - Feier Abend  - 3. Friday of the month – this Friday at 8 p.m.

Hello everybody,

This is just a reminder – that this Friday is the next Feier Abend/Pub Night.

It is summer – that means we will be having the Feier Abend outside on the patio (or if it is raining we retreat under the root or go inside – don’t forget a sweater and mosquito repellant). Just step through the restaurant, through the Oak room out on the deck or go around the building. That is where the music, the fire pit and the “gute Stimmung” [good atmosphere] is.

So don’t forget to come to the Feier Abend and let’s talk about exciting things or discuss the last space shuttle launch or upcoming holiday plans – and - have a beer and make new friends.

Don't forget Feierabend is a free event and everybody is welcome. So bring your friends (the more the better the merrier) and spread the word. And if you have some music requests or something else just fire off an e-mail.

The event is open to everyone. You don't have to be German or speak German. Did I mention that there is no admission. All you have to bring is friends, colleagues, sisters or brothers and come in a good mood. The rest will come by itself. The location is 8310 Roper Road (51. Ave) and the party will start around 8 p.m. 

See you at the Klub,

Gruss,
Ole Berger

German Radio Program on World FM 101.7 Edmonton

President Heinz Kleist on German Radio Wed & Thurs 5 -6 pm


Producer/host Christiane Gluth and her team - Heinz and Rudi – provide the German Kaleidescope program on 101.7 FM World FM in Edmonton.

Weekdays 5pm - 6pm, Saturdays 5pm - 6pm, Sundays 8:30am - 9am

Listen LIVE here

German Cultural Day 2011 - Victoria Soccer Club

The GCAA is pleased to advertise this member event!

The Victoria Soccer Club is holding its annual Deutscher Tag (German Cultural Day) on Sunday, 17 July 2011. The location is 14020 - 142 Street, Edmonton. Admission is free!

There will be a BBQ and refreshments on site. All are welcome... bring the whole family! Spend a sunny summer Sunday at the Victoria Club among family and friends.

Schedule
11:00 am Frühschoppen (a German tradition!)
12.00 noon Soccer games begin
1:30 pm Entertainment by The Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton, the German Male Choir Liederkranz and the Ladies Choir Wildrose.
3:30 pm "Ricky & Horst” duo play in the Victoria Club's Sport Lounge.

For more Information call 780-457-3759 or email vicclub@telusplanet.net. See you there!

GCAA President's Greeting - April 2011

HEINZ KLEIST is the current president of the GCAA, now serving his 8th year.

The German Canadian Association of Alberta (the umbrella association for the province) held its annual meeting on 2 April 2011; this time in conjunction with the German Canadian Club of Red Deer’s Fruehlingsfest at the Westerner Park Chalet.
The turnout of clubs was great considering that southern Alberta encountered severe snowstorms, and some Calgary clubs were unable to attend.
In 2011 there are many member clubs who celebrate milestones: The Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton (40th anniversary Maifest in May), the German Canadian Club of Calgary (80th anniversary in June), Schlaraffia Rocky Mountania Calgary (40th) and the Victoria Soccer Club of Edmonton (60th in October). Congratulations from the GCAA to all clubs for persevering in reaching these plateaus, as it takes a lot of volunteer hours and dedication.
Discussions such as the future of German Days and Heritage Festival were held.
As per the recently amended by-laws of the GCAA, the number of directors required was reduced from 10 to 5, with specific regional identification of directors having been removed.  The current executive is as follows:

• President: Heinz Kleist [Edmonton]
• Vice-President: David Gelsinger [Calgary]
• Secretary: Monika Roch [Edmonton]
• Treasurer: Klaus Zerulla [Edmonton]
• Past President: Rita Schuetz [Red Deer]
• Director: Philip Roeder [Edmonton]
• Director: Ursula Poole [Calgary]
• Director: Alison Dowling [Edmonton]
• Director: Peter Holmes [Edmonton]
• Director: Ron Link [Edmonton]

We welcome newly-elected GCAA Vice-President David Gelsinger (also president of the Singgemeinschaft Calgary) to the board.  We thank outgoing V-P Rudy Klein of Calgary.The position of Assistant Treasurer was eliminated under the amended bylaws; we thank Elaine Monk who previously held this position. Congratulations to new directors Alison Dowling (also President of AGBEE, Peter Holmes (President of the University of Alberta German Club) and Ron Link (President of the Spree Asse Skat Club).
We wish to thank all outgoing directors for their participation and hard work of the past years: Alexander Schurnig, Dr. Helen Unger, M. Rohrer, A. Roeder & Günther Vielguth.