Alpen Club facts for kids
The Vancouver Alpen Club is a special cultural organization for German Canadians in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's a place where people celebrate German and Austrian heritage. Their main building, which includes a community hall and social center, is located on Victoria Drive and 33rd Avenue in East Vancouver.
Contents
History of the Club
The Vancouver Alpen Club was started in 1935 by Sebastian Schmidt, an immigrant from Bavaria, Germany, along with other German and Austrian immigrants. The club officially became recognized in 1938. Its main goal was to keep the German language and culture alive. It was very important to the founders that the club stayed away from politics.
How the Club Started
A big reason for the club's early success was the Schuhplattler dance. This is a traditional German folk dance that comes from the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps mountains. This dance is why the club was named "Alpen Club." Their first slogan was "Get away from politics and let's schuhplattle," which showed how much they loved dancing and staying non-political.
The club first met at a house rented by Schmidt. As more people joined, they needed bigger places. They held meetings at different halls around Vancouver, like Homer Hall and Hamilton Hall.
Club Activities Over Time
The club offered many fun activities. These included folk dancing, concerts, and a choir. They also had German language classes and exercise classes. Members could also enjoy German food and drinks. In 1936, the club's Schuhplattler dance group won a trophy for being the best folk dance group at a festival in Vancouver.
The World War II Period
The Vancouver Alpen Club was the only German club in North America that stayed open during World War II. This was mainly because they had always focused on dance and culture, not politics. During the war, the club faced challenges. They could not serve drinks, and their dances stopped. German language classes also ended. In 1941, the club's hall was closed for a time. By January 1945, club members started raising money to buy their own building.
After the War
By the end of 1946, the club bought property on Victoria Drive and 33rd Avenue. Over time, they bought more land, owning eight lots in total. Their new building officially opened on October 19, 1950.
More German-speaking immigrants came to Vancouver after the war, and the club's membership grew a lot. In the 1950s, the club put on stage plays and supported local soccer teams. Their choir also continued to perform.
The Vancouver Alpen Club Today
Today, the Vancouver Alpen Club has a restaurant called Deutsches Haus. It serves traditional German food and drinks. The club also has different groups for members. These include the Alpen Plattlers, who are a Schuhplattler dance group, as well as choirs and card-playing groups. It continues to be a vibrant place for German culture in Vancouver.
