Razstava „Podobe kanadskih Slovencev" pri društvu „Planica"
Frank Brence
Razstava pri društvu Planica
Kakor veste, Kanadsko slovensko zgodovinsko društvo deluje v naši skupnosti že več kot deset let. Leta 2012 smo sodelovali z Inštitutom za slovensko izseljenstvo in imigracijo ZRC SAZU iz Ljubljane in ta razstava „Podobe kanadskih Slovencev" je rezultat tega sodelovanja.
Razstava prikazuje delo in dosežke Kanadskih Slovencev v športu, literaturi, umetnosti in kulturi. Razstava je bila v Ljubljani od 20. junija do 20. julija 2012. Sedaj potuje po Kanadi in si jo je ogledalo že lepo število Slovencev in Kanadčanov. Razstava je
V odspredju DOM III, v sredi DOM I in v odzadju DOM II
bila v mestnih hišah v Torontu in Ottawi, pri slovenskem društvu v Vancouvru in v omejeni obliki tudi pri župniji Marije Pomagaj in drugih društvih v okolici Toronta. Če se vaše društvo zanima, nam sporočite in bom z veseljem organizirali razstavo tudi pri vas.
Potujoča razstava „Podobe kanadskih Slovencev" se je 3. In 4. avgusta, 2013 ustavila pri društvu Planica. Kdor še ne pozna lovskega in ribolovskega društva Planica, naj na kratko povem kdo in kje so ti Slovenci.
Društvo je bilo ustanovljeno leta 1976 in se nahaja kakih 250 km severno vzhodno od Toronta v bližini mesteca Bancroft. Tu imajo čez 400 hektarjev (1.000 akrov) zemlje in letos bo končan tretji „DOM". Skupno bo 64 stanovanjskih sob v privatni lastnini članov. Članstvo je omejeno na 80 članov in sedaj obstoja dolga čakalna lista ljudi, ki čakajo, da pride kakšna delnica na razpolago. Prvotni namen je bil, da dobijo svoj lastni lovski revir, sedaj se pa spreminja bolj v splošno družinsko rekreacijsko uporabo.
Da niso povezani s Slovenijo samo po imenu „Planica", so si postavili tudi kapelico ki jih spominja na mnoge verske znamenje po Sloveniji. Kapelica je posvečena sv. Družini ki potrjuje značaj društva.
Pri društvu Planica so si razstavo ogledali člani in obiskovalci letnega piknika, kateri pridejo tudi od oddaljenih krajev in jo še niso imeli priliko videti.
Iskrena zahvala za vso pomoč pri lepem uspehu razstave gre odboru in članom Planice.
Kapelica sv. Družine
Protect Valued Documents from Flood Damage
By Dorothy Lenarčič
2013 will go down as the year of climate calamity in parts of Canada. In Alberta, torrential rain caused monumental damage in and around Calgary. Weeks later, record setting rainfall hit the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, where Dom Lipa Retirement Home is located. The CSHS Archives are located there, and we are happy to report, its holdings are completely safe.
The same can't be said for the contents in the basements of homes in the affected communities. The media widely reported the heartbreak of families who suffered damage to walls and furniture, and most upsetting, the loss of precious photographs and documents. In some cases, they were the only photographs of ancestors.
One resident interviewed had grandparents who arrived in Canada in 1948 as "Displaced Persons". He kept a box of their memorabilia in his basement office, on the floor in the closet. It contained all their documents such their citizenship papers, refugee camp records, along with letters. When the storm hit, no one expected the amount of rain that fell as fast as it did, or that sewers would back up. By the time he got to it, the box was soaked in sewage water.
What can families do to prevent the loss of documents and photographs they treasure? Here are some tips:
1.	Get legal documents, letters, photographs, anything of sentimental value off the basement floor! At the very least, store them higher on a shelf, and preferably upstairs. Even if there isn't flooding, basements can be humid or have otherwise less desirable air quality than higher levels.
2.	Scan every document and store on a USB key, which you keep in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box. If stored on a computer, ensure that the equipment is not on the basement floor where it could be damaged by water. Be aware of viruses and other dangers to your computer's memory.
3.	It takes time to scan, especially if there are large numbers of papers. You may have an intention to do something, but don't get around to it, (hey, you're busy!). If that sounds like you, consider visiting the CSHS Archives. We will scan refugees papers, immigration documents, letters, journals, legal documents, all types of information that record the experiences of Slovenians who came to Canada, and we'll hold a backup record in the Archives. Your history is available to descendents and contributes to the academic study of Slovenians' contributions to Canada.
4.	Use archive quality materials to store old documents. File folders, storage boxes, photo sleeves, all are available constructed of specific materials which protect the integrity of old documents that could otherwise discolour and/or disintegrate. The CSHS uses only materials sourced from museum suppliers and we store records in accordance with the standards of the Ontario Archives Association, of which we are a member.
5.	Finally, consider donating your original photos, legal documents, letters and artifacts to the CSHS. You will have the peace of mind that your story and/or your ancestor's story is preserved for future generations.
For more information or to set up an appointment, email us at cshistorical@gmail.com or drop by our office in the basement of Dom Lipa on the first Saturday of each month.
Picturesfrom
https:///wwwgoogle.ca/search?g=toronto+flood+2013
What am I signing: Oral History Consent Form
Anne Urbancic
Have you ever stopped to think how many times each day you tell people about yourself, your family, your friends? These are informal conversations that are the basis of human contact and exchange. Once we say them. our words inevitably have an effect on those who hear them.
These are our interlocutors, our listeners, many times our family and friends. But there are also "professional" listeners: your doctor, for example or anyone whom you seek out for advice: insurance, illness, business, academic matters. In a sense, the volunteers at the Archives who conduct ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS can be counted among the professional listeners as well.
The CSHS oral history collection is called Povejte nam kaj (kar po domače) If you would like to tell us your story, we will set up an appointment. Sometimes the appointments are face to face; at other times they are done by telephone, recording to computer software or to a recorder. Usually they take approximately two hours from start to finish. The interviewers are all trained volunteers of the CSHS who have signed confidentiality forms. This means that we, as interviewers, must respect the privacy of what we record. During the interview, we listen, we guide you with questions, but we do not make any judgments. This is above all, YOUR story. Once completed, the interview cannot be sold or traded. These are standards followed by all professional archives. After the interview, the CSHS will always offer you a copy of your interview in CD or electronic file format (the other copy goes to the Archives). Sometimes I will write about one of the interviews in this Bulletin or in articles for Glasilo magazine. Each interviewer has given me verbal and written consent for the publication.
Each interview starts formally with the verbal consent of the interviewer and the place and date of the interview. But we also need your written permission. So what does the Consent Form ask? Firstly, we require information about you: name, address, telephone, email. Then we need to know that you understand that the interview will be used only for preservation of Canadian Slovenian history, your history, in our archives, as described on the form. Your signature and date, together with the signature of the interviewer ensures that you are aware of the policy. If the interview is being conducted over the phone, this form will be mailed to you to return with your signature.
No ORAL HISTORY interviewer working at archives which follow accepted archival standards and practices will interview you without your verbal and also your written consent.
Jožica Vegelj interviewing Frank Skočir as part of "Povejte nam kaj" Oral History project
Recognition for CSHS
The volunteers of the CSHS were honoured to accept an Award of Recognition for our work in preserving the history of Canadian Slovenians. The parchment, which is now proudly displayed in our Archives Office, was presented at the Slovenski Dan Festivities at the Slovenian Farm in July 2013 by Irena Gril, Chargé d'affaires for the Republic of Slovenia. Thank you to all Canadian Slovenians for supporting us in our efforts to tell our community story.
Irena Gril presenting the Award of Recognition to Anne Urbančic, Dorothy Lenarčič and Mary Rožmanc on behalf of CSHS
Video Booth at the Slovenian Summer Camp
By: Mimi O'Handley
This past summer on the bright sunny Sunday of Slovenski Dan at the Slovenian Farm in Bolton, another volunteer and I were given the assignment of filming different Canadian-Slovenians as they talked about the best experiences and memories at the farm. This brand new activity would add filmed and recorded memories to put into our archives. After setting up our little filming studio in the former men's washroom (now thoroughly renovated), we welcomed people, one by one, in pairs or even in larger parties to share with us anything they felt worth remembering about past experienced at the farm, both summer and winter. Though at first some were a little camera shy and explained to us that they didn't know what they should say, it wasn't before long that an explosion of memories came rushing back to them! Some of the stories had similar elements, like the famous high diving board at the old pool, however all the memories were completely unique and very interesting to listen to. It was amazing to hear the different experiences that everyone had at the farm! Thank you to everyone who participated in the filming!
Cross Canada Pedling for Charity	Miriam Čekuta
David Končan a mechanical engineering student from McMaster University has completed a 6,505 km cycling tour across Canada. A tour such as this gave him the opportunity to not only discover the beauty and diversity of Canada's landscape, but also to gain knowledge about himself through the range of people and fellow cyclists that he met throughout this extensive trip. He began his tour on May 11, 2013 and completed it on July 8th.
His foremost objective for this Canada wide tour was to bring awareness and raise funds for the Canadian Food for Children. This is a not-for-profit registered charitable organization which helps to feed children in the impoverished parts of the world. This is a praiseworthy and admirable act for David to accomplish!
To view David's record of his trip, go to: http://acrosscanadaforkids.wordpress.com
If you also wish to donate to this worthwhile charity you can send your donation to: Address: David Koncan, 30 Witherspoon Way, Nobleton, Ontario, L0G 1N0 Pay to the order of: Canadian Food for Children
To learn more about the charity search- http://www.canadianfoodforchildren.net/
David Končan
OUR STORY is published by:
Canadian Slovenian Historical Society
52 Neilson Drive,
Toronto, ON M9C 1V7
For more information contact:
Frank Brence
Telephone: 416-281-6794 E-mail: frankbrence@rogers.com
In this issue:
Razstava "Podobe kanadskih Slovencev" pri društvu "Planica' Protect Valued Documents from Flood Damage What am I signing: Oral History Consent Form Recognition for CSHS
Video Booth at the Slovenian Summer Camp Cross Canada Pedling for Charity