On May 7 and 8, 1956, the Women’s Liberal Club hosted an International Carnival of Nations in Edmonton.  This was a major event and was officially opened by Lt. Governor J.C. Bowlen.  Part of the Carnival was a food fair and a group of Swiss people had been invited to participate.  The group consisted of Betty and Conrad Eisenhut, Margrit and Robi Fritz, Greta and Arnold Sulser, Peter Gommel, Clare Ostrowski, and Anna and Paul Attenhofer.

The men decorated the booth with Swiss flags and posters.  Many people stopped at the both and were introduced to various types of Swiss food.

Swiss cookies had been baked (mostly by the ladies, one can assume) and packaged by the group. “Buure Schüblig” had been made by Joe Suter.  Swiss chocolate was on consignment from Mr. Smith, Palace of Sweets.  All these delicacies found appreciative buyers.

After expenses, a total of approximately $ 35.00 was left in the kitty.  This became the starting capital for the Edmonton Swiss Society, which was founded in 1958.  Was this Carnival the forerunner for the now so popular Heritage Days?  Maybe... 

An inaugural meeting to form the Edmonton Swiss Society was held on February 25^th, 1958, at the Edelweiss Club (9663 – 101A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta).  The first constitution (bylaws) was accepted by the membership at the Annual General Meeting on January 27, 1959.  The Edmonton Swiss Society was then incorporated on March 4^th, 1959, under the Society Act Chapter #315 of the revised statutes of Alberta 1955.  On August 1, 2005, an updated constitution, formulated to take into account the passage of time, the changes in customs and in the Alberta Societies Act, was developed and accepted by the membership.

In 1967 the Edmonton Swiss Society had 63 active members.  From 1970 to 1991 the membership was constantly around 50 members.  In 1993 it rose to 67 and was peaking in 1997 with 89 active memberships.  Most of these are family memberships.  The last few years the membership has been steady at around 80.  It is with great pleasure that we see new and young families participate actively.  Unfortunately, we have also experienced the loss of quite a few of our older members.  If you’re a Swiss, Swiss descendant or a spouse, please join us to keep the Swiss Heritage alive.

Right from the beginning we were a very active community with outings such as film nights, guided tours through TV/radio studios, picnics, dances & banquets, wine & cheese tastings, Christmas parties, bowling on every Saturday night at Bonnie Doon, Bingo & Jass, Metzgete (Butcher’s Night).  A big event was (and still is) August 1^st, the Swiss National Day, with celebrations originally at Sylvan Lake, Regamey Honey farms, and since quite a few years at the Huwiler’s acreage.  We have a crossbow shooting competition, sell the special pin, enjoy Swiss food and music.  The Edmonton Swiss Society was one of the founding members for the Heritage Festivals and participated for years.

The Landsgemeinde, another historical and popular event, started in 1974 at Aspen Beach on Gull Lake.  It originated in the vision to gather in one place as many Swiss residents of Alberta from varied walks of life as possible.  The Landsgemeinde was organized as a joint venture by the Calgary and Edmonton societies.  In the 70s there were Schwingen (Swiss wrestling), Alphorn, Schellenschuetten (bell ringers), Fahnenschwingen (flag throwing), Jass (playing cards) and crossbow shoots.  More recently we have mainly the choir concerts & yodeling, crossbow shoots and Jass left, as the other traditional customs are endangered even at our native Switzerland.

Since 1980, the annual Landsgemeinde is held in Stettler, usually on the 2^nd weekend in June, and is now organized by the Edmonton Swiss Society with participation of the Edmonton, Calgary and Central Alberta Clubs.  This event is of special interest to families, as they can show and promote the Swiss Heritage to their children and grand-children.

In 1984, we celebrated our 25^th Anniversary with a dinner and dance at the Edmonton Convention Centre.  People were wearing their Swiss costumes (Tracht) and the venue was decorated in real “Swiss style” with flags and other memorabilia.  For the 40^th Anniversary in 1999 a brunch was held at the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe (Edmonton) to celebrate this very joyful occasion with our members. We are currently planning our 50^th Anniversary (2009).

The Edmonton Swiss Society always had some kind of newsletter.  It started with the monthly “Echo” of Alberta in the 60’s together with the German and other European clubs.  This was followed by our own newsletter and by several updates of the layout.  Currently, we have a quarterly newsletter.  It is mailed to all active members and to the Swiss Clubs in Western Canada (in exchange for theirs), as well as to the Swiss Embassy and Consulate.  We publicize our own events as well as those of the Edmonton Swiss Men’s Choir and those of the Edmonton Swiss Rifle Club.  Furthermore, the newsletter includes events in surrounding areas and other information of general interest to the Swiss community.  It also includes an advertisement section, mostly with ads from Swiss businesses.  In 2003, and in keeping with the changing times, the Edmonton Swiss Society launched this web site.

The first elected President of the Edmonton Swiss Society was Dr. O. Hohn, to June 17, 1958.  Thereafter, Mr. Hunsperger was President until the AGM in January 1960, when Mr. Mader took over the President’s position.  Since then, thirteen eager Swiss men and women followed him until the current President, Walter Hiltebrand, was elected at the AGM in February 2006.  There were a quite a few obstacles to overcome in the past and sometimes it seemed like the very existence of the Society was at risk, but there was always someone committed coming forward to the rescue.  Thank you very much to all.

From 1975 – 77, Pierre Monod, president of the Edmonton Swiss Society at that time, held the position of Chairman of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council.

In 1993, the Presidents of the Swiss Clubs of Western Canada started their annual meetings in Vancouver and these meetings are now held bi-annually.  In 2000, it was in Edmonton.  The purpose of these meetings is the exchange of information and solutions of common problems, such us how to make the Society attractive to new (and current) members,  cater to the interests of young people, how to keep the membership, and the executive, motivated and many more.

If you like more information about some of the above, don’t hesitate to contact us and please have a look at our events calendar so you don’t miss the next gathering with your fellow Swiss. 

This club history is based on the Edmonton Journal of May 3, 1956, the recollections of Anna Attenhofer, Madeleine Monod and archive studies by Claudia Farner.  This page is updated by the webmaster.

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