The Club
Vancouver Alpen Club, since 1935
The
Vancouver Alpen Club is ideally located at 4875 Victoria
Drive, at the corner of Victoria Drive and 33rd Avenue in
Vancouver, British Columbia. It is a fully licensed club and
consists of a restaurant, which is open to the public, and
several halls of various sizes suitable for renting for any
occasion. Catering may be arranged with our Chef either
buffet style or individually served. There is plenty of
parking in the two parking areas around the Club.
History
The
Vancouver Alpen Club was founded in 1935 by a group of
immigrants from the Alpine Regions of Germany and Austria.
They initially came together to enjoy their traditional
Schuhplattler folk dancing and through it to uphold and
foster their rich diversity of German Culture, customs and
language. Although the Club didn't have an official home,
the members registered it as a Non-Profit Organization and
joined the Canadian Folk Society. This act enabled the
Vancouver Alpen Club to be the only German club to remain
open in North America during World War II.*
During the first years of the Club's existence, the members gathered in private homes or rented various halls for festive activities. The members finally decided to pool their resources and constructed their own building. They accomplished this undertaking in 1950 when the building at the corner of Victoria Drive and 33rd Avenue was completed. It still stands as the home of the Vancouver Alpen Club today, more than 50 years later.
With the arrival of thousands of German-speaking immigrants to the Lower Mainland in the post-World-War II years, the Club's membership increased steadily.
The Club continues to flourish and provides diverse entertainment and activities for people of all ethnic backgrounds. The Vancouver Alpen Club remains a busy gathering place for long-time members of European descent, guests from all over Greater Vancouver and tourists alike.
We extend a hearty welcome to all - why don't you drop in sometime?
* A History of German-Canadians in British Columbia. By Bruce Ramsey