Alberta Events
2007
June , 2010 to July , 2010
JULY , 2010
July - 2010
JULY , 2010
AUG 2010
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Swedish 75th Anniversary Jubilee
was Sat, Sun June 25-26, 2005
Want to continue another year?
Yes ?
Links Of Interest
Sweden Links
On this page you will find a small number of links to websites related to the Embassy/Consulate. The portal Sweden.se offers an extensive collection of links to Sweden on the Internet.
Sweden.se – the Official Gateway to Sweden
Links on Sweden.se
> General Information
> Arts & Culture
> Economy & Trade
> Education & Research
> Government & Politics
> Society & Welfare
> Sports & Leisure
> Technology & Infrastructure
> Travel & Tourism
Ministry for Foreign Affairs www.ud.se
Sweden Abroad www.swedenabroad.com/
Swedish diplomatic missions on the Internet
Invest in Sweden Agency www.isa.se
The Swedish Trade Council www.swedishtrade.com
Visit Sweden www.visit-sweden.com
Sweden's official website for tourist information
This page was last updated: October 31, 2009
Side 2
DANIA
The Danish Canadian Society, also known as Dania, was formed in Edmonton in 1921 by a group of Danish people who were interested in keeping their heritage alive in Canada.
As a society, Dania strives to promote Danish heritage among the descendants of those early members and those who arrived from Denmark since the 1920's. Throughout the year, Dania sponsors various activities, which include: two dinner dance nights offering traditional Danish foods - of course with Danish Aquavit; an annual June fishing derby and horse shoe competition weekend at Vasa Park, Pigeon Lake; an October dinner and dance featuring a Danish menu; and a Children's Christmas party in December. These dances are open to non-members, but some activities require a membership in Dania.
For more information about Dania:
Call Sandra Jensen - (780) 451-9588
or Bent Skousbol - (780) 458-7695
THE FINNISH SOCIETY
OF EDMONTON
The Finnish Society of Edmonton, now consisting of about 140 members, was organized in 1953. Its purpose has always been to cultivate and cherish Finnish culture, customs and language. The inherent love the Finnish people have for the outdoors is manifested in the annual fishing derby held at their lakeside property, where everyone enjoys their genuine Finnish sauna baths. Other events include Vappu Dance in May, Christmas Party and Juhannus (Midsummer) Festival in June. Finntasia Choir is a choral, dance and drama group from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, devoted to performing the music of Finland in both Finnish and English.
Information about Finland and Finnish culture is provided through demonstrations & exhibits of literature and crafts. For membership or further information:
Pasi Karsten- (780) 432 1981 or
Jaana Ohinmaa - 484 0208 or Anne Sahuri - 489 7515
THE ICELANDIC
CANADIAN CLUB
OF EDMONTON
Edmonton’s original Icelandic Club was organized in 1934, and operated under the name Icelandic Society of Edmonton from 1976 to 2005. It is the Norđurljós (Northern Lights) chapter of the Icelandic National League. It strives to keep Icelandic cultural heritage alive through an ethnic choir (Saga Singers), newsletter, language classes, invited speakers and musicians. Traditional functions include a fall supper (Leif Eriksson Day), Christmas party, Thorrablót (Þorrablót) in February, Sumardagurrin fyrsti (strawberry tea) in April, an annual Alberta Icelandic Picnic (ĺslendingamót) in June. The picnic is held in Markerville, home of the famous Icelandic Canadian poet Stephan G. Stephansson. The nearby Stephansson House is a fully staffed provincial historic site. Icelandic food is sold in the Kaffistofa (coffee shop) in the old Creamery, another historic site. Thorrablót (Þorrablót) is an annual dinner and dance event where favorite Icelandic foods and special entertainers are featured. During this program, the new Fjallkona (Maid of the Mountain) is presented to the guests. The Saga Singers perform at club events in authentic Icelandic costumes, and act as goodwill ambassadors at other public functions. If interested in joining this choir call: Gloria Krenbrenk 780-458-5896 Club membership and information: call Glenn Benson - ( 780 ) 469-5505 or Walter Sopher 481-3502 .
SONS OF NORWAY
SOLGLYT LODGE #143
Sons of Norway, organized in 1913, is a fraternal organization of men, women, and children of Norwegian birth, descent, or affiliation. Its aim is to preserve, maintain, and promote interest in all that is good and noble in the Norwegian national heritage. It is international in scope with lodges in Canada, United States and Norway. Solglyt Lodge #4-143 in Edmonton has over 220 members. Regular monthly meetings feature cultural presentations and a social time for members. Some of the main events include: January lutefisk dinner, May 17th Norwegian flag raising and banquet, June barbecue, and a Family Christmas Party with singing around the Christmas tree.
Solglyt sponsors workshops for rosemaling, hardanger and ethnic cooking in Edmonton, and takes part in the one week Trollhaugen Language and Cultural Camp in August, featuring Norwegian language instruction, cooking, woodcarving, crafts and folk dancing.
An annual Alberta-Saskatchewan mid-winter games weekend is an occasion for interlodge competition in curling, bowling, cross-country skiing, walking and whist, along with social interaction. Members have an opportunity to join the Curling League for weekly games. Ladies' Sewing Club members meet monthly to enhance their Norwegian needlecraft or cooking skills, and Solglyt Husflid meets to work on crafts once a month. A Norwegian conversation club and a book club meet outside the monthly meetings and Torskeklubben, the men's club, meets monthly for a cod fish and aquavit dinner - topical guest speakers featured. For more information about Solglyt Lodge: Check the website www.sofnedmonton.ca or Call Elaine Domier 434-6532 or Carole Parker 437-7340
VASA ORDER
OF AMERICA,
SKANDIA LODGE #549
The Vasa Order of America is a cultural fraternal organization for people of Swedish or Scandinavian descent with lodges throughout Canada, United States and Sweden. Skandia Lodge #549 is the local lodge in Edmonton, which was organized in 1929. Monthly meetings provide an opportunity to socialize and to learn about Sweden. Several activities are held every year to promote and preserve the Swedish culture and traditions. Vasa Park on Pigeon Lake is the site of a midsummer celebration, a Pea Soup and Pancake Brunch, several summer socials, and a Cultural Heritage Camp for Children.
Vasa members can compete for university scholarships, as well as participate in sports competitions with other lodges within the province.
Active groups associated with Skandia Lodge include Ladies's Auxiliary, the Past Chairmen's Club, and the Vasa Pioneers No. 12, an activity club. For further information call:
Ray Nyroos - (780) 469-8286 or
Lennart Petersson - ( 780 ) 469-0259
Side 1 of Brochure
The Scandinavian Heritage Society of Edmonton
The Scandinavian Heritage Society was incorporated in 1984. Its function is to coordinate and present the Scandinavian community's pavilion at the Edmonton Heritage Festival. The principal aims of the Society are to promote education and research into the Scandinavian culture and languages, and to publicize the efforts and accomplishments of the Scandinavian immigrants to Canada. The five Scandinavian countries are represented in the Society by local groups: Dania (Denmark), Finnish Society (Finland), Icelandic Canadian Club (Iceland), Solglyt Lodge #143 (Norway) and Skandia Lodge #549 (Sweden). . Over one quarter of Canadians of Scandinavian descent reside in Alberta, home to Canada's second largest Scandinavian community. Numbering over 192,000 people, Scandinavians form Alberta's fifth largest ethnic group. Alberta has several Scandinavian historical and cultural sites such as the Stephansson House at Markerville, the Norwegian Laft Hus in Red Deer, the Danish Canadian National Museum at Dickson and place names such as Thorsby, Calmar, Falun, New Norway, Valhalla Center and Viking, to name a few. The well-organized pavilion presented at the Heritage Days Festival today evidences the vitality of the Scandinavian culture in Alberta. The long hours of planning and work done by many volunteers ensure the efficient operation of the pavilion and have resulted in the achievement of several awards for excellence of pavilion management. Although each cultural group retains its own cultural identity during the festival, the combined efforts of all five groups provide continuity of purpose. Local artisans and visiting dance groups from Scandinavia contribute to the authenticity of the presentations. ►The Scandinavian Heritage Society is also active in other ways. Representatives of the Society have participated in various displays of Scandinavian culture throughout the city, such as the Festival of Trees, the Provincial Museum, and the Heritage Museum in St. Albert. Items on display have included crafts, foods, costumes, Scandinavian products, and Viking history. Folk dancing, music and mock Viking battles have provided entertainment at some of the events. The Society has a telephone Response Center that assists people in accessing information on Scandinavian activities, services, culture and language, and membership in the Scandinavian societies. For this information call:
Linnea Lodge (780) 451 3868.
THE VALHALLA SCANDINAVIAN
FOLK DANCERS
The Valhalla Folk dancers were formed in 1984. Their first performances were at the 1985 Edmonton Heritage Festival and they have continued their appearances there as well as in many other locations. The purpose of the group is to preserve Scandinavian culture in the form of traditional dances, music, and costumes, representing each of the five Scandinavian countries. The group continues meeting Thursday evenings September 1-April 30. Enjoyment in folk dancing is foremost and performing is voluntary. If you are interested in becoming a Scandinavian folk dancer, please call Stan Johnson at ( 780 ) 483-8232 or Bud Baadsgaard at ( 780 ) 434-8003 . *** This reconstructed ship simply called “The Viking” sailed under captain Magnus Andersen from Bergen, Norway, and reached Newfoundland four weeks later. It sailed to New York and then attended the Chicago World Fair in 1893.
Printed June 2006
Scandinavian Heritage Society of Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Welcome -Velkommen
Tervetuloa -Velkominn
Velkommen -Välkommen
www.scandinavianheritagesociety.org
This page was last updated: October 31, 2009
The Scandinavian Heritage Society of Edmonton coordinates many of the cultural activities in the Edmonton area that represents the five Scandinavian (Nordic) countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The main activity is the organization and presentation of the Scandinavian Pavilion at the Annual Edmonton Heritage Festival. The Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Norwegians, and Swedes are proud of the contributions that Scandinavians have made to the world. They are also proud to celebrate the historical presence of Scandinavians in North America dating from as early as 1000 AD and resulting from explorations of adventurers such as Liefur Eriksson. Major contributions span areas such as technology, environment, arts, culture, and social development. Scandinavian countries are technologically advanced and noted for clean air, water, healthy outdoor activities, environmental preservation, educational appreciation, literacy, the arts, and human health and welfare. Contributions include clean energy (geothermal heating and electrical generation, hydrogen fuel, wind power), innovative waste management, production of cruise ships computers and communications systems and fisheries. The pavilion will present examples of many of these together with contributions in the Arts, Education and Literature. Each of the five individual countries developed populations with unique languages and special cultural features. However, there are many common themes that bind Scandinavians together as a diversified but unified and friendly people. The Pavilion will attempt to portray the diverse, but common themes within the Scandinavian culture. Information on Alberta resources for Scandinavian contributions will also be highlighted.
