Welcome...

The Canadian Schwaben Sick Benefit Association, known as the Kitchener Schwaben Club, was founded to provide its members with money to live on while they were sick and unable to work. Today, the club offers much more: festivals, dance groups and an annual pageant, among other events.

The Kitchener Schwaben Club preserves and celebrates the Schwaben culture. This site was made for both members and non-members alike to learn more about the the Schwaben people, their culture, the Schwaben Club, and the services it offers for those who wish to keep this heritage alive.

History of the Schwaben Club

The Canadian-Schwaben Sick Benefit Association of Kitchener was founded in 1931, with Wilhelm Goss serving as the first president. The first meeting hall was a room in a hotel called the "American", which was owned by a member. The Schwaben Club also shared a room at 33 King Street with the Transylvania Club - this facility later burned down.

The Schwaben Club started as a sort of insurance or worker's compensation program. Members paid $1 a month in dues, and if they became sick and could no longer support their families, the Club would provide $10 a month to live on - quite enough, in those days!

The land on which today's Schwaben Club stands was bought in 1948. The Schwaben Club also purchased other land and buildings. The current Popeye's Gym building originally belonged to the Club, and another manufacturing building used to stand where the parking lot is today. As well, the club used to own land across Weber Street, on the site of the current Eastwood high school. This land and the buildings were all eventually sold to raise money to construct the club.

The Club was built by the members, who gathered on the weekends to construct the buildings. The names and hours of those who worked were recorded in a black book by Wilhelm Goss, possibly in hopes of someday compensating or recognizing these people. Unfortunately, the book was lost and remains missing to this day.

The Schwaben Club soon began branching out in more directions than just a sick benefit society. A German language school and a theatre group were started in 1933, and a choir began in 1934. This year also marked the first Kirchweih celebration at the Club. The Frauengruppe began in 1935, and the first Trachtenfest was also held that year. In 1936, the first youth group (precursor to the Schwaben Dancers) was formed. And a few years later, in 1949, the club formed a soccer team.

Some of these groups and programs have since ended at the Club, and new ones have begun. The Schwaben Club is constantly evolving and now boasts over 400 members, making it the second largest German club in Kitchener. However, the Club and its members never forget their primary purpose, as given in the Club's constitution - "to allow members... to preserve their cultural heritage and German language".

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