HomeMy WebLinkAboutVillage Squire, 1980-01, Page 17Swiss Club only. However, on one Sunday
each year, they are allowed to bring friends
who do not belong to the Swiss club. The
final shoot or "big shoot" is held in
October and is followed by a traditional
Swiss feast.
Switzerland hosts an annual shooting
competition, and Swiss marksmen from
around the world compete. It is believed to
be one of the largest shooting competitions
in the world. Last summer men from the
Swiss Club in Mitchell placed sixth making
the rest of the members "very happy and
proud" according to Mrs. Schori.
One of the unique aspects of the Swiss
Club Thames Valley is that, after more
than 30 years. the Swiss language is still
spoken at the meetings. The children, who
represent the third generation of members,
speak English, but they understand the
German -Swiss dialect. Therefore, the
Swiss language will probably survive for
another 10 years and then naturally
disappear.
Mrs. Schori's son, Dr. Niklaus Schori of
RR 5, Stratford, explains the difference
between the three generations. For the
immigrants, the Swiss Club took the place
of the family they left behind in
Switzerland. The feeling of "family"
remains strong for them, because they
grew up in the old country and they have
watched their children and grandchildren
grow up in Canada.
Many of the second generation have
married Canadian spouses. They have
Canadian families, are already settled in
the community, and therefore, have
neighbours and friends. The need for
"family" is not as strong for them, but the
interest in their heritage and the desire to
keep Swiss tradition alive continues.
"I think the Swiss are making a
conscious effort," says Dr. Schori, "to
keep some of the traditions alive, like the
fire they light on August 1st and the
candles and lanterns they use." He
foresees that one of the club's purposes in
the future might be to teach the children
how to speak the Swiss -German dialect and
to teach them about Swiss traditions.
His wife, Linda, is Canadian. One of the
interesting things that happens, she points
out, is. when a Swiss man marries a
Canadian woman, his wife and children
automatically obtain Swiss citizenship.
However, when a Swiss woman marries a
Canadian man, her husband and children
do not obtain Swiss citizenship and she
must apply, before her wedding, to retain
her citizenship.
Mrs. Linda Schori has taken a keen
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interest in the Mitchell Swiss Club and in
her husband's homeland, visiting Switzer-
land twice. One of the most fascinating
facts she discovered is that every Swiss
family is registered in a home village,
which is responsible for them. If a Swiss
man becomes broke, he and his family can
return to the community in which they are
registered. The village will help him find a
job and will support he and his family,
until they can support themselves.
"The people who didn't make it in
Canada," she explains, "always had the
option of going back."
But few, if any, of the Swiss immigrants
that settled in the Mitchell district
returned. Most were farmers who worked
hard on the land and became successful.
The Swiss Club helped them overcome
loneliness and homesickness.
Dr. Schori attributes the club's longevity
to the patriotism of Swiss people. In
Switzerland, people have a strong sense of
nationalism, and that feeling has carried on
over here.
Mrs. Marie Schori sums it up: "I think
people who are proud of their heritage,
proud of where they came from, make good
Canadians...they like it here; they
wouldn't be here if they didn't want to
be." 0
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January 1980. Village Squire 15