HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-05-11, Page 68upeuremir- ---"'"1111111111r
New Canadians keep spirit alive
Club remembers heritage
Laurie Olsthoorn, the Dutch Club queen. (photo
courtesy of The Spectator)
By Else deGroot
They've helped community projects with fund raising
efforts, they've provided entertainment for various events
and they've kept the Netherlands' spirit alive in Canada.
The New Canadian Club of Huron and Perth Counties has
had a terrific success record since its inception just five
years ago.
The New Canadian Club was formed in 1978. It was
established because the Benelux organization in Strat-
ford, representing Belgium, the Netherlands and
Luxembourg, had become so popular that it was difficult
for local high school students to attend the regularly
scheduled dances. Often, after travelling to Stratford for
the dances, the young people were unable to get in
because the event was sold -out.
Some area people of Dutch background put their heads
together and with a little effort initiated a new group, the
New Canadian Club, for the Seaforth and Mitchell area.
The group is mainly involved with dances for young and
old. However the club, does not restrict its membership to
new Canadians only.
Although the club is still in its infancy, many times it
passes on its accumulated money to charitable en-
deavours such as the local nursing homes at Christmas.
The Club donates one large gift, rather than adding to the
already many smaller individual gifts that are sent to the
home.
As well the club financially supported the new Seaforth
and District Community Centre and the Windmill Gar-
dens, a new senior citizens complex project in Stratford
for area Dutch settlers. Club members have also provided
transportation to the Vanastra Recreation Centre for
residents of the Kllbarchan Nursing Horne in Seaforth.
The New Canadian Club tries to celebrate old and new
country events in a traditional ethnic manner. They first
formed a klompen dance group for adult club members.
The dancers have entertained in area nursing homes, at
July 1 celebrations and the Wintario draw held in
Seaforth.
They are very much in demand and because of that and
future continuation of ethnic traditions, they organized,
less than two years ago, a junior klompen dance group for
boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12.
They too keep a very busy entertainment schedule. Last
year they performed at Klompen Feest and this year will
take part in the Friday evening program.
Crowning victory
Organizations like the New Canadian Club are very
active all over Ontario and belong to a province -wide
group, the Dutch Canadian Cultural Organization of
Ontario (DCCOO). One of the events it sponsors is an
annual queen pageant.
In spite of the young age of the New Canadian Club,
their contestant won at the annual event held in Hamilton
on September 12,1981.
It was the New Canadian Club's Laurie Olsthoorn who
did a tremendous job at the pageant, bringing the crown
home to Huron and Perth Counties.
She won a trip for two to Amsterdam by CP Air, who
that year were the sponsors of the annual event. Among
the many other prizes she received were a silver bracelet,
an overnight bag, a flight bag and $350 cash.
Laurie took her winning trip with her only brother in the
summer of 1982.
The New Canadian Club will host the DCCOO pageant at
the Seaforth and District Community Centre in September
of 1984. It will bring many candidates and visitors from
Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Delhi, Woodstock, Brantford,
Stratford and London.
Other events
Yearly during the summer months the New Canadian ,
Club sponsors trips for children under 16 years old, to such
fun places as Boblo Island and Wonderland.
Celebrations of gift giving at Christmas in Canada are
celebrated by the New Canadian Club in old country style
for the children and adults during December. In the Dutch
tradition, the children gather on a Sunday afternoon close
to December 6, the, Saint Nicholas Day in the Netherlands.
Saint Nick and his Black Peters (helpers) bring treats
for the children. They reprimand anyone for their "bad"
performances and give praise to the good children of
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