Influential Germans in Western Canada?

Elke's Book

Last summer, I finished my first book “75 German-Speaking Influential People in Western Canada, which is available on Amazon.

This year, January 2021, I am now working on Book #2 and am collecting a list of German-Speaking – Austrian, German & Swiss – influential people in Western who should be in this book. Here is a short incomplete list:

  1. Justin Hoffman
  2. Hans Haebler
  3. Rene Fluri
  4. Rudolph Grauer
  5. Kurt Gagel
  6. Harry & Robert Grimm
  7. Eugen & Ursula Neubert
  8. Alex Schoebel
  9. Hans Albert Rieder
  10. Herbert Siebner

I am also including stories of famous German companies or monuments:

  1. Heidelberg Cement
  2. MTU
  3. Shopify
  4. Robsonstrasse
  5. Lufthansa

If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please get back to me!

Frequently asked questions:

  1. Why am I writing this book? Answer: I would like to share the successes and growth of the German Community while some of the people are still around and can help me answer questions. I would also like to record this for my children and grandchildren, as the Vancouver now is a completely different place than when I grew up here and in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I also want people to know the contribution that Germans made to the Society here.
  2. What are some other projects I am interested in? Answer: Founding a German Media Centre, a German Cultural Centre and a German TV Show. If you have any ideas, please let me know!
  3. What other organizations in Vancouver area can I support? Answer: Here is a list, which is also included in my book:

If you want to support German, Swiss or Austrian non-profits, charities and associations, please find their info here:

  1. Churches
    a. St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – http://www.stmarkschurch.ca/
    Donations welcome!
    b. Martin Luther – https://www.martinlutherchurchvancouver.com/
  2. German Clubs – become a member or donate money towards events
    a. Vancouver Alpen Club – https://www.vacbc.ca/
    Become a member for only $75 a year
    b. Swiss Society – http://www.swiss-society.org/
    c. Austrian Vancouver Club – https://www.austriavancouverclub.ca/
  3. German Schools – set up a scholarship or donate money for teaching resources
    a. Vancouver Westside German – http://www.vwgs.org/
    b. Deutsche Sprachschule Surrey – surreygermanschool.com
    c. German School North Shore – http://www.germanschoolns.ca/
  4. Seniors
    a. German Canadian Benevolent Society
    https://www.gcch.ca/
    They are working for the development of a new, state-of-the-art care home. Donations welcome!
    b. Swiss Seniors Club – http://www.swiss-society.org/seniors-club
  5. Charities – support their wish list
    a. SOS Childrens Village BC – https://www.sosbc.org/
  6. Business Associations – become a member or support an event!
    a. Austrian Business in Canada
    http://www.advantageaustria.org/
    b. Swiss Chamber of Commerce – swisscanadianchamber.com/
    c. German Business Association – germanbusinessvancouver.com
  7. Festivals
    a. Eurofest BC Society – http://www.europeanfestival.ca/
elke porter
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