Events

Remembrance Day Service - Volkstrauertag

Sunday, November 19, 2023
2:30 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery
119 Arlington Blvd., Kitchener

PROGRAM

Master of Ceremonies
Harry Drung, President GCRS
Invocation
Rev Rick Orlowski
Laying of wreaths by Consul General, representatives of the Federal, Provincial, Regional and Municipal Government, veterans and representatives of German Clubs and German Associations
Zapfenstreich (tattoo), played by Ron Schatz, bugler

Should you or your organization wish to lay down a wreath please contact the German-Canadian Remembrance Society.

AFTER THE SERVICE

Please join us for Kaffeeklatsch

LINKS & DOWNLOADS

FACEBOOK LIVE - Video of 2022 Event (Or, see Facebook feed below)

2 ANNUAL EVENTS

German Pioneers Day ~ October

Celebrated in Kitchener, Ontario, after Thanksgiving

Volkstrauertag ~ November

Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

German Pioneers Day

This public celebration was designed to recognize achievements of German families, people, organizations, businesses and festivals who have made valuable contributions to their communities. Initially, GCRS worked together with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft under the leadership of Gerhard Griebenow. German Pioneers Day Act, Bill 28 was passed in 1999. The Bill proclaims that in Canada the day after Thanksgiving Day in each year as German Pioneers Day. All are welcome. The ceremony takes place inside Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. The official program includes:

Music by Transylvania Brass Band & Concordia Children's Choir (under the direction of Angelika Werner)
Exhibits from various German Clubs and organizations
Dignitaries from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Canada

In 2016 Transylvania Club, Ahrens Family and City of Waterloo were recognized.

In 2017 Rumpel Family, Alpine Club and Joseph Mausser were recognized.

In 2018

In 2019 Jakob Ritz Printing, Petsche Shoes (founded in 1954), Christkindl Market (founded in 1997), and Ken Seiling were recognized.
(Read the 2019 Program)

In 2020 The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volkstauertag - Remembrance Day

This public event is a state memorial celebrated each year since 1952. It is one of Germany’s “silent days” to remember their fallen soldiers and victims of tyranny of all nations. The memorial ceremony is held at Woodland Cemetery on the Sunday following Remembrance Day at 2:30 pm. Immediately following the memorial, members are invited to a German Club for coffee and cake (alternating clubs from year to year: Alpine, Concordia, German Candian Hunting & Fishing, Schwaben and Transylvania).

"These are men who risked their lives, serving their country," said Thomas Schultze, consul general of the German government. He asked that people think about solidarity, courage, and hope.
"Never again. Our duty is to live up to this promise."

“We must nurture the hope that one day, peace will prevail.”

Werner Schlueter, past president of the German-Canadian Remembrance Society

The annual ceremony is always about more than the Germans who perished.

Photo: echoworld.com