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Trisha Cornforth, German news reporter for "Der
Kanadier" The original "Der Kanadier "
was the weekly newspaper for |
2004 Canadian Forces Reunion draft proposal
German-Canadian Friendship Week
10 years after CFB Lahr closure
(possibly combined with a Baden Reunion, before or after)
Proposed dates: Sat. 26 June – Sat. 3 July 2004
The week around 1 July 2004, exactly 10 years after departure of last CFB Commander
Who is the reunion for?
For all interested people! The target group obviously includes all people, military and civilian, who lived in or visited Lahr while the Canadian Forces were stationed here 1967 to 1994.
Who are the organizers?
The idea was suggested by the volunteer members of the website revived version of Der Kanadier together with Lahr’s Canada House Association. However, the event will probably be so big that it can only be organized with official support from Lahr City Administration and sponsorship from the Lahr Merchants Association, local bus companies and firms as well as the Canadian Embassy in Berlin. It will be held together with the Lahr German-Canadian Friendship Club, the Royal Canadian Legion (Branches 002 and 004), the Square Dance Club and many local German clubs. Other organizations will also be involved, such as teachers, media, newspapers, radio, TV (documentary by SWR? or a Canadian TV company?), customs officers, police, etc.
Reservations and costs
The actual reunion organisation concerns only the events to be held in Lahr. Each participant should register online and pay a fee on arrival, including a commemorative badge (or T-shirt?). The rest and other payments would be the responsibility of each individual.
Travel and accommodations to be arranged by participants
Travel and accommodations must be arranged by the participants themselves. Rent a car/mobile home and do your own trip around Europe before or after! Reserve a tourist bus trip! If there are any Canadian travel agencies who wish to organise a special flight etc, this must be done from Canada, either independently or in connection with the organising committee. Potential participants should get in touch with former landlords, neighbours and friends in Germany who might offer their hospitality. Appeals may perhaps be made in local newspapers so that local residents might offer home stays (as for the Lahr-Belleville friendship flight). Commercial accommodation (Gasthaus, hotel, bed-and-breakfast, camping, etc.) should be booked through the official Lahr Tourist Office.(KulTourBüro)
Suggested program for Reunion Week
1st Saturday:
German-Canadian Friendship Festival (26.06.2004), meet and greet, reception or Fest with market, fleamarket and stands in streets of downtown Lahr
1st Sunday
a.m.Volksmarsch organized by a local Volksmarsch/Wanderfreunde club (short distance, special medal, wine glass or beer mug?)
p.m. German-Canadian Friendship Concert: Bundeswehr & C F Band
During week (daytime):
Lahr guided tours, visits to former CFE facilities, local sightseeing, visits to breweries or wineries, day trips offered by local bus companies to visit Black Forest and/or Alsace (e.g. Black Forest Farm Museum in Gutach, Wolfach, cuckoo clocks, Freiburg, Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Ribeauvillé, etc.)
During week (evenings):
live music Lahr downtown, military reunions to be organized by ex-CFE, army, airforce, navy, customs officers, police, Canex or various regiments/units stationed in Lahr
Canada Day (Thursday 1 July): Europa-Park? Lahr Airfield Open Day?
Last weekend (03-04.07.2004): Strong Beer Festival, Bockbierfest in Kippenheim
Please let us know if there are any other ideas/items you would like to suggest!
trishacornforth@derkanadier.de
Trisha Cornforth