HomeMy WebLinkAboutVillage Squire, 1980-01, Page 15Mrs. Mari Schori [left], an active member of the Swiss Club in the Mitchell area, since the early
1950's, her daughter-in-law, Linda, and son, Nlkiaus, study pictures of Swiss flags and emblems. On
the walls are paintings by a Swiss artist depicting Swiss people, their costumes and traditions in the
1800's. --Photo by Elaine Townshend.
Thames Valley Club
keeps Swiss fires
burning
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
In 1948, three families moved to the
Mitchell district from Switzerland. They
couldn't speak English; they didn't know
their neighbours; everything was new and
strange to them, as it was to all
immigrants. Homesickness drew the three
families together until they became as one
Targe "family". It was the beginning of the
Swiss Club Thames Valley, which has
grown into one of the largest and most
active Swiss Clubs outside of Switzerland.
In the beginning, the purpose of the club
was to help Swiss immigrants feel
comfortable in their new homes. Now the
purpose of the club, which has approximat-
ely 200 members, is to maintain ties with
other Swiss living abroad, to keep Swiss
traditions alive and to help present these
customs to longer -established Canadians.
By 1950, when Mrs. Marie Schori, her
husband and two sons moved to Mitchell
from Alberta where they had lived for three
years, a small group was on hand to
welcome them into the "family".
Mrs. Schori recalls that the early
meetings of the Swiss Club were more like
family reunions: "It was a family affair; we
always took the children", she says. "And
we always came together on a farm. Even a
New Year's Eve party was held on a farm,
until the time came when there were too
many people and we had to meet
somewhere else."
Everyone participated, and most import-
ant, everyone had a good time. They
supplied their own music. Someone played
the accordion, while someone else played
the clarinet -- two essential instruments in
Swiss music. Through the years, the club
has also had a drummer and an organist.
The club's reputation for having a good
time spread. Now Swiss Clubs from as far
away as Toronto and Montreal join in some
of their special celebrations. Because of the
increased attendance, the club hires bands
and rents recreation centres, but the
feeling of "family reunion" still exists
especially for the original members.
Four special events are held annually -- a
New Year's Eve party, a spring dance, an
August 1 celebration and a walk in the
woods at Christmastime.
The spring dance held in April, is a
"friendly get-together" that is open to the
public. In recent years, the dance has been
held in the Mitchell Recreation Centre,
which the club decorates with Swiss flags
and scenes. Many club members wear
their traditional Swiss costumes. The
January 1980, Village Squire 13