Known for their folk dancing, love of music, food and hospitality, local Slovenians have found their home away from home at the Slovenian Society of Vancouver. As one of almost 30 countries participating at this year’s European Festival in Burnaby, Slovenia, represented by the Slovenian Society, will share their heritage with visitors in a variety of Cultural Exhibition activities.
The Slovenian Society of Vancouver was established in 1958 by Slovenian immigrants who wanted a place to call their own in the Lower Mainland. Joe Herceg, the current president of the Slovenian Society, says Slovenians in the 1950s made a week-long trip by boat from their home country to find a better life in Canada. Many settled in and around the Halifax area before migrating west to Vancouver.
“The most determined group landed in Vancouver because they were drawn to the nice climate and the scenery. The lush mountains and water reminded them of back home,” says Herceg, who has been involved with the organization since 1975.“It was a struggle for at least 10–14 years, meeting in private homes, basements and renting out venues for meetings and events.”
Luck changed one day when a wealthy woman and her husband saw a Presbyterian church for sale and decided to buy it for the Slovenian Society. Today, it serves as the centre of all Slovenian Society activities.
A community feel at the European Festival
Young musicians to perform at European Festival.
Darja Zlindra, cultural coordinator at the Slovenian Society, says the European Festival brings everyone together; it’s about teaching each other about different cultures and histories.
“Each culture brings forth something of their own, and when you perform, you feel the [warmth] and the public sees the confidence of that culture and it’s appreciated,” says Zlindra, who first became involved with the society as a singer in 1992 and has served on the committee for the past five years.
As the cultural coordinator, Zlindra organizes cultural events both within the Slovenian centre and outside it.
“If we keep it inside, it’s very internal – we want to share the interests of performers and members with the community so we can learn from one another,” says Zlindra.
At the European Festival, Zlindra says, the Slovenian Society will have a cultural booth complete with souvenirs typical of the culture as well as informative pamphlets on Slovenia and travel.
“[The festival is] a wonderful opportunity for Slovenians and other cultures to show their cultures to one another,” says Vilko Macek, the society’s secretary and a teacher of Slovenian language at the centre. “We’re doing all we can to preserve Slovenian language, culture and tradition. Part of that is to show it other nationalities.”
Herceg says Slovenians are very warm and sociable people who often provide the food, music and dance at the centre of all gatherings.
“Whether it’s in our homes or at the centre, you’re going to be dancing Polka for sure,” says Herceg.
True love leads to Vancouver
Traditional Slovenian Costumes
When Herceg was in his early 20s, his girlfriend, whom he met while he was working in Austria, broke the news to him that she had a father living in Vancouver and that she would join him in Canada.
“I was terrified,” says Herceg.
Eight months later, Herceg completed the necessary paperwork and moved to Vancouver. He later married his girlfriend.
“Thankfully it all worked out,” says Herceg, who is now a father and a grandfather.
Herceg’s first memories of Vancouver include a rainy afternoon in 1966 when he first arrived and began taking English language classes at a school in downtown Vancouver.
He recalls a very kind, retired English teacher who helped him get his first job as a bakery clerk on Granville Street.
“It was a huge help and morale booster that somebody – a complete stranger – would step up and help out like that. I will never forget that,” says Herceg.
His current role includes leading the executive committee as well as helping with membership in general, membership details and event organization throughout the year. Membership numbers, says Herceg, are dropping.
“It depends on how many young people we can recruit in our society as the population is declining,” says Herceg.
For more information:
www.europeanfestival.ca
