1960s

Gallery

During the 1960s, Slovenian identity continued to flourish with many more activities undertaken and the formation of several organizations. The construction of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal church and hall had started in November 1960 and the first mass was celebrated on May 28, 1961. Fr. John Kopač was the first pastor, and Fr. Franc Sodja, the assistant pastor.  Fr. Sodja also directed the choir while Ignac Križman played the organ.  Slovenian school had already existed since 1959, and the Catholic Women’s League was also formed. Blaž Potočnik and Frank Cerar were heavily involved with keeping the youth at Brezmadežna engaged in various organizations.

In Hamilton in 1960, plans for St. Gregory the Great parish were being initiated with Fr. Lojze Tomc as its first pastor. In August 1964, construction began with Slavko Erzetič as the project manager. St. Ann’s Church in Hamilton was used for Slovenian functions until August 5, 1965 when the new Slovenian complex was completed.

The Slovenian Sports Organization (Slovenska Telovadna Zveza) was founded by Frank Gormek to encourage young people to maintain their Slovenian identity and get involved in gymnastic and athletic activities.
In Kitchener, the first gatherings of Slovenians were in private homes, but in 1961, they purchased some land with an old building in Breslau, near Kitchener. The cultural society in the Kitchener-Waterloo area is called Sava. A new hall was built and opened in 1975.

​The organization Bled in Beamsville was formed in 1961 and this group purchased eight acres of land in 1967 for a social and recreational centre.

Holiday Gardens Slovenian Country Club, started in 1957, purchased land in Pickering in 1961 and constructed a hall, a swimming pool and a campground.

In 1962, Association Catholique Slovene - Montreal was established and its mandate was to organize a Slovenian parish and build a church.  Montreal Slovenians had been congregating at a Slovak church, and when the Slovak parish community decided to sell the building, the Slovenian group bought it for $77,000.  The church was named Mission Slovene – St. Vladimir.
Also in 1962, scouting groups were formed at both Toronto parishes. In Edmonton, the men’s choir Triglavski Fantje was formed.

In 1963, Our Lady of Lourdes Slovenian Church in Winnipeg was established by the Slovenian Club of Manitoba. Originally, the building had been a United church and it was then converted with volunteer help into the Slovenian Catholic church. Many Slovenian activities and functions, including Slovenian school and folklore dancing, take place in the hall downstairs.

In 1964, the church committee at St. Vladimir in Montreal purchased 50 acres of farmland in L’Epiphanie, located southeast of Montreal, and converted it into a recreational area. That same year in Cambridge, the organization Slovenski Park was formed, and a campground opened near Cambridge. In the east end of Toronto, the Slovenian Home Association, Slovenski Dom, was established in 1964 and it purchased a clubhouse on Pape Avenue in Toronto, which was renovated by volunteers, then opened in 1966.

Also in 1964, the Edmonton Slovenian-Canadian Association was established and by 1967, land was purchased and the venue accommodates both a social centre and a sports facility.

In 1965, in Alberta, the Canadian Slovenian Club of Calgary was formed. The club owns a cultural hall.

1967 was another active year. The Slovenian Summer Camp near Bolton purchases 20 additional acres which totals 62 acres. The Slovenian National Home (Slovenski Narodni Dom) was established and owns property in Pelhan near St. Catherines calling it, Lipa Park. The Sisters of Mary joined Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal parish. They visited and helped the sick, took care of the church, helped in the kitchen, taught Slovenian School and even operated a day care for several years.

​The Hamilton Slovenia Sports Club was established in 1969. Sporting events included volleyball, soccer and hockey games.
Slovenians continued to participate in many multicultural festivals such as Caravan in Toronto, Harves Trek in Hamilton, Folklorama in Winnipeg, Cavalcade in London and Carrousel of the Nations in Windsor.

Many creative Slovenians have also contributed to the Canadian art world through their paintings, sculptures and other fine arts. These Canadian Slovenian artists include Ted Kramolc, Anton Jemec, Tony Kobal, Andy Štirof, Albert Mlekuž, Stanislav Tušek, Janko Čadež, Andrea Stajan-Ferkul, Irena Hribar Schmidt and Mirko Koršič.

​Additional Reading

SILVER JUBILEE of the MIRACULOUS MEDAL  by Fr. Janez Kopač             1987 

​Fr. Kopač summarizes the various people and organizations that were involved with the first 25 years of the existance of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church. He also includes many statistics.

​Written in Slovenian and English.