Alpen Club facts for kids
The Vancouver Alpen Club is a special place for German Canadians in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's a cultural club where people can celebrate German traditions. You can find its main building, a community hall, and a social center in East Vancouver, on Victoria Drive near Kingsway.
Contents
Discovering the Vancouver Alpen Club's Story
The Vancouver Alpen Club was started in 1935 by Sebastian Schmidt, who came from Bavaria, Germany. Other German and Austrian immigrants joined him. Their main goal was to keep German language and culture alive in Canada. They wanted the club to be a fun place, not involved in politics.
The club became popular very quickly because of the Schuhplattler dance. This is a traditional German folk dance from the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps. This dance is why the club was named "Alpen Club," after the Alps mountains. Their early motto was "Get away from politics and let's schuhplattle!" This showed how much they loved dancing and fun.
Where Did They Meet?
At first, the club met in a house rented by Sebastian Schmidt. It was located in Vancouver, at the corner of Robson and Cambie streets.
Soon, the club grew too big for that house! They started holding meetings in different places around Vancouver. These included Homer Hall, Winter Garden, the English Bay pier, and Hamilton Hall.
Fun Activities at the Club
The Vancouver Alpen Club offered many exciting activities for its members. These included:
- Folk dancing
- Concerts
- A choir (singing group)
- German language lessons
- Calisthenics classes (exercises to improve strength and flexibility)
- Food and drinks
In 1936, the club's Schuhplattler dance group won a big award. They received the trophy for the best folk dance at the Canadian Folk Festival in Vancouver.
The Club During World War II
During World War II, many German clubs in North America had to close. However, the Vancouver Alpen Club was special because it stayed open! This was partly because the Canadian Folk Society encouraged them to keep dancing. Also, the club had always focused on culture and fun, not politics.
Even though they stayed open, the war still affected the club. Some of their usual activities, like dances and German language classes, had to stop for a while. In 1941, the club's hall was temporarily closed.
By January 1945, club members started planning for the future. They formed a special committee and began raising money to buy their own building.
Growing After the War
By the end of 1946, the club was able to buy property. They found a great spot 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.
After the war, many German-speaking immigrants came to Vancouver. This helped the club's membership grow a lot. In the 1950s, the club continued to be very active. They put on stage plays, supported local soccer teams, and kept their choir strong.
What's Happening at the Vancouver Alpen Club Today?
Today, the Vancouver Alpen Club is still a lively place. It has a restaurant called Deutsches Haus, which means "German House." Here, you can enjoy delicious German food and drinks.
The club also has different groups for members to join. These include:
- The Alpen Plattlers: This is a Schuhplattler dance group that keeps the traditional dance alive.
- Choirs: Groups that sing German songs.
- Card players: People who enjoy playing card games together.
The Vancouver Alpen Club continues to be an important place for German culture in Vancouver.
