German Canadian Cultural Association Edmonton 4.45

History Of the German Canadian Cultural Association (GCCA)

The Club Edelweiss
The Club Edelweiss was founded in 1906 and represented the first German Club in Alberta. The Club received its statures from the Legislature. The members morally supported many newcomers after the First World War. The Club flourished and in 1928 a building was erected - mostly by volunteers. During the Second World War the Club had to close its doors but reopened again in 1953. For many immigrants this was the first and only "home away from home".

Phoenix Club
The Motor Club Phoenix was founded in December 1955. In 1957 they
bought property at Lake Isle and in 1958 the Club name was changed to the Phoenix Club and its focus had changed to a family club with many outdoor interests. The Phoenix Club brought the Oktoberfest to Edmonton - which is still very popular with the public.

Friends of Berlin
The Friends of Berlin Club was founded in 1963 by immigrants coming from Berlin who wanted to show their solidarity with the City of their forefathers, at that time surrounded and divided by a wall and isolated from the rest of Germany. The contact with Berlin has been kept very much alive, many delegations have visited here from Berlin. Unfortunately, the clubhouse burned down in 1982.

In 1983 The members of the Edelweiss Club, the Friends of Berlin and the Phoenix Club decided to form the new German Canadian Cultural Association. In 1983 the Club was founded by three well known German clubs, the Edelweiss Club, the Phoenix Club and the Friends of Berlin Club.These clubs felt the need to unite and to give the German-Canadian population a bigger and better facility. There was also a great need to accommodate the many smaller groups and give them a place to meet.