Welcome to the Canadian Slovenian Cultural Society web site!
Since its inception, this web site has been our community’s window to the world. Not
only do our local members keep an eye on our web site for community developments,
but the outside world gets to learn about Slovenians here in Winnipeg, and see what we
are all about. This web site goes a long way to supporting our primary goal of promoting
and preserving the Slovenian culture in Winnipeg and surrounding areas. How we
promote our culture in Winnipeg is through our various programs and events that we
hold throughout the year.
Folklorama 2011 – Folklorama is truly one of the most exciting weeks where we
showcase our culture through music, dance, food, entertainment and our specialty
drinks. A very important part of Folklorama is our cultural dance groups – Zvoncek,
Rozmarin and Triglav Dance Ensemble; our men’s singers Zvon. As well our mystical
creature was once again a hit at our Pavilion “The Kurent” - appears only during
festivals as we know here in Canada – “Marti Gras”. Look for some exciting changes to
the look of our pavilion this year!
In 2010, our Slovenian Radio Program celebrated its 9th Anniversary. Our program is
a great way for us to preserve and enjoy our culture. Presented in both English and
Slovenian, the program also keeps listeners informed of news from our community and
around Slovenia. As always, your special dedications are a highlight of each show.
Tune in every Sunday at 5:15 PM on radio station CKJS 810 AM. You can also listen to
selected archived programs over the internet, at the Radio Archive page!
Slovenska Šola Lipa our Slovenian Language School provides the opportunity to
learn the Slovenian Language with the assistance of our three teachers; Hilda Terry,
Kristina Majowski and Marko Simonic. We provide three classes; children, senior
children and adults. The classes not only teach the language but also the traditions
and culture of Slovenes. For more information about our School, please email
info@canadianslovenian.mb.ca.
November 2010, at our Annual General Meeting, we presented the Founding Father’s
Bursary to Dominic Casar, Luke Majowski and Allie Stegne - Congratulations.
The coming year, 2011, promises to be another exciting time for the CSCS. It is
the year of anniversaries with the CSCS celebrating 60 years of a formal Slovenian
presence in Winnipeg. Did the founding members of the ‘Slovenskega Klubu iz
Manitoba’ back in 1951 have any idea that their little group of eighteen men would grow
into the present day CSCS with over 225 members? I’m not sure they did but I think
they would be proud of what they would find in 2011. I think they would be especially
proud of the youth in our community who have taken on huge responsibilities. Last year
we had Myranda Terry, aged 21, coordinate Folkorama, and this year we have Erin
Lebar, aged 22, doing the job. Luke Majowski, aged 19, has taken a seat on the current
board of the CSCS. Could we be around for another 60 years? Hard to say what the
future has in store but for right now things look pretty good.
In celebration of this notable anniversary the CSCS is hosting a celebration dinner and
dance at the Canad Inns – Club Regent on August 26, 2011. We are pleased to say we
have from Slovenia ‘Ansambel Tone Rus’ who will be coming to entertain us with their
songs and music. It has been a few years since we’ve had a band from Slovenija so
this will add another special touch to the celebration. Further information will be posted
on the website in the coming months.
The other great anniversary is 20 years of independence for Slovenija. We are looking
forward to hosting the Ambassador Tomaž Kunštelj at our May 29th picnic. His term is
ending in July and he wanted to visit our community one last time before returning to
Slovenija and his new duties. He has been tremendously supportive of all our efforts
and we will miss his friendship and advice.
One of the goals for the CSCS this year is to help initiate an archival process.
Community and family archives are an important way of passing on the lives and
experiences of those who came before us. Through pictures, documents and
memorabilia we document our lives and sometimes, quite often actually, much of this
information is lost and future generations will wonder why we didn’t do a better job of
telling our story. After a meeting this summer with the Canadian Slovenian Historical
Society we found a need in the community to start collecting and documenting the
Slovenian experience in Winnipeg.
Looking forward a number of years, another goal of the CSCS is to work towards
another tour of Slovenija for our dance groups. Having a common goal to work for, gives
the youth of our community a vested interest in the future of the organization. And as
we all know, without our youth there is no future.
Thank you for visiting our website and do drop by often to check for updates on
upcoming events.
Bryen Lebar
President
Canadian Slovenian Cultural Society Inc.
2010 - 2011 Executive Committee
President - Bryen Lebar
E-mail: president@canadianslovenian.mb.ca
Vice President - Barbara Sobocan
E-mail: vicepresident@canadianslovenian.mb.ca
Treasurer - Gwen Jaques
E-mail: treasurer@canadianslovenian.mb.ca
Secretary - Martina Gornik-Marion
E-mail: secretary@canadianslovenian.mb.ca
Directors:
Mark Lebar, Gwen Jacques, Phil Vrsnik, Kristina Majowski, Luke Majowski
Folklorama Coordinator - Erin Lebar
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