Volkstrauertag ~ German Remembrance Day Ceremony
You are invited to join us
Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. Woodland Cemetery
119 Arlington Blvd., Kitchener
Memorial site for German soldiers who died in Canada as Prisoners of War
See Cemetery layout map below for the location of the German War Graves area. Google map/directions link to cemetery
PROGRAM/SERVICE
- Musical Opening by Transylvania Hofbrau Band, under the direction of Ms. Andrea Emrich
- Music by the Concordia Choirs (Choir & Choral Society), under the direction of Professor Beverly Gottvald
- Opening Remarks by the Master of Ceremonies, Harry Drung, President GCRS
- Address by Kristina Thony, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany Toronto
- Prayer by Rev. Davi Schmidt - Pastor Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
- “Amazing Grace” played by Andrew Hutfluss, piper
- Laying of wreaths by Consul General, representatives of the Federal, Provincial, Regional and Municipal Government, veterans and representatives of German Clubs and German Associations
- Last Post and Zapfenstreich (tattoo), played by Ron Schatz, bugler
Should you or your organization wish to lay a wreath, contact German-Canadian Remembrance Society.
After the Service - Kaffee & Kuchen
You are invited to join us for coffee, cake and social. The location for this year's Kaffeeklatsch is hosted by
Kitchener Schwaben Club
50 Scheifele Place, Breslau, ON N0B 1M0 Google profile & map/directions link (519) 742-7979
Donation min. $5.00 per person. Donations of $25 or more will receive a unique pin and a tax receipt. A limited number of pins are available on a first come basis. Your donation helps support the upkeep of the Woodland Cemetery German war graves, as well as the event's coffee and cake.
SOCIAL MEDIA & EVENT "FACEBOOK LIVE"
If you are unable to attend in person, please watch "live" on our Facebook page or in the feed below. You do not need to subscribe to Facebook to watch.
2023 FACEBOOK LIVE - Video (or, simply see Facebook feed below)
2023 Speech (see PDF), Ms. Kristina Thony, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Toronto
2 ANNUAL EVENTS
German Pioneers Day ~ October
Celebrated in Kitchener, Ontario, after Thanksgiving
Volkstrauertag ~ November
Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener on the Sunday after Remembrance Day
Volkstauertag - Remembrance Day
This public ceremony 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.
"The annual ceremony is about more than the Germans who perished.
We must nurture the hope that one day, peace will prevail.” Werner Schlueter, past president of the German-Canadian Remembrance Society
Photo: echoworld.com
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.
Browse our Photo Gallery of German Pioneers Day, 2024
Click a photo, then scroll to view the entire gallery.
