Trisha Cornforth,was German news reporter for "Der Kanadier" newspaper as well as for CFN/RFC radio and television, from the end of 1978 to the end of May 1994 The original "Der Kanadier " was the weekly newspaper for the Canadian Forces stationed in Europe. It was published in Lahr in the Black Forest, Germany, from 1 July 1970 until 25 May 1994, i.e. until just before Canadian Forces Base Lahr closed down in mid-August 1994. Trisha has stayed in Lahr as a self-employed English teacher (VHS adult education classes and local companies) and as a translator (e.g. for Burda sewing and needlework magazines). She is president of the Lahr German-Canadian Friendship Club, the Lahr Canada-Haus Association (founded in 1994) and the "Schwarzwald Tänzer" square dance club (founded in 1967).

Lahr will hold a German-Canadian Reunion at "Chrysanthema" in October!

Thankyou to everyone who sent enthusiastic messages in favour of a Lahr German-Canadian Reunion - it will indeed take place during Lahr's now famous Chrysanthemum Festival, with the main official events during its opening weekend 20-21 Ocober 2007.

"International friendship"will be the theme of this year's whole Chrysanthemum Festival when the old city centre will look its best. It lasts for a period of three weeks with activites, live concerts, etc. every day, so Canadians are of course welcome to visit Lahr at any time during the festival displays up to 11 November: see our photos from last year by clicking on "Chrysanthema 2006" in our pictures section.

This chrysanthemum festival has been held every end of October since 1993, with Lahr's streets and buildings decorated with masses of these colourful blossoms - at a time when other flowers are withering away elsewhere! Another advantage of the fall is that airline tickets cost less - remember you could fly via London (Standstead) then Ryanair to land
at Baden-Soellingen! Autumn is also a pleasant season with the grape harvest, wine and beer festivals as well as Europa-Park's Halloween festival!

Fall 2007 will mark 40 years since the establishment of CFB Lahr. The first Canadians actually arrived in Lahr in spring 1967 but the official hand-over ceremony from the French Air Force took place in October 1967 when CFB Lahr was officially opened.

Please send messages via our "Der Kanadier" guest book (so that other people can see you're intending to be there) or write to the e-mail address shown below. You will have to find your own accommodations. The best is if you can stay with friends, former landlords or neighbours because there will already be many tourists in the town! See also Lahr's website (Tourismus, Chrysanthema) under Lahr.de on the internet.

If you are coming on an individual trip to Lahr at any time of the year, also please let us know in advance so that we can get together at Canada-Haus, which is located in the former "Der Kanadier" newspaper office above the former downtown post office,
near the Stadtpark! We look forward to seeing some of you in Lahr this year.

Trisha Cornforth
info@kanadahaus.org