Saskatchewan German Council ensures German heritage remains strong in Saskatchewan

Written by Ryan Flaherty for Sask Lotteries

Whether by birth or by heritage, everyone comes from somewhere, and for nearly a quarter of Saskatchewan residents that somewhere is Germany. 

According to the last census in 2021, German- Canadians make up 24.7 per cent of the population. And while many now call Canada home, they maintain a strong connection to their German heritage thanks in part to the efforts of the Saskatchewan German Council. 

For the last four decades, the Saskatchewan German Council (SGC) has worked to preserve German culture and share it with the rest of the province. Since 1987, those efforts have been bolstered by funding from the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation, helping the council support nearly 30 member groups with programs and projects that promote German- Canadian culture and strengthen its ties to the broader community. 

“It is very exciting to always rediscover German culture in Saskatchewan with new angles and perspectives,” SGC executive director Gabriele Waidelich-Harrison said. 

Some of the many SGC initiatives that have benefited from Sask Lotteries’ support include an annual award ceremony honouring volunteers and youth who have made notable contributions to the German-Canadian community, an online “Collection of Immigration Stories” that highlights the diverse backgrounds of people of German descent who settled in Saskatchewan, and a multicultural cooking series called “Culture in the Kitchen,” which sees SGC participants get together with other cultural groups to share regional dishes and food traditions. Indigenous, Chinese, Nigerian, and Filipino groups are among those who have taken part in the series since its introduction in 2016.

“It’s such a pleasure to work with other community organizations, discovering the commonalities that bind us together,” Waidelich-Harrison said. 

In addition to supporting specific projects and initiatives, Sask Lotteries funds have also helped the SGC achieve its broader mandate of supporting its member groups through project grants, German Language School funding, and even helping to pay for costumes and travel expenses for performing groups. 

In short, the support allows the SGC and its members to maintain and connect with a strong and vibrant German-Canadian community in Saskatchewan, one it hopes will continue to thrive for generations to come. 

“The SGC is immensely proud to be trusted with Sask Lotteries funding, enabling us to make meaningful contributions to Saskatchewan’s cultural landscape,” Waidelich-Harrison said. “(We) take great pride in adding to the cultural vibrancy of Saskatchewan.”