History
Since its beginnings in 1835, the German Society has remained a reliable platform for German-language culture and exchange.
The early years
The German Society was founded in Montreal on 21 April 1835. Louis Gugy, its first president, was sheriff of the city of Montreal. The eighty-one founding members came from all professions.
Half of them had been in Canada for at least one generation, while the others had immigrated from Germany, England, the USA, France and Switzerland.
In its more than 175-year history, the German Society has supported German immigrants in all aspects of daily life, especially during the great waves of emigration from 1882 to 1884 and following the two world wars. Well into the 20th century, the majority of all immigrants, including those who travelled on to the West or the USA, came to Montréal.
When around 500 immigrants were involved in the tragic railway accident near Beloeil (Québec) in 1864, the DGM and other Montréal aid organisations made a special effort to rescue and care for the victims. To this day, the memorial stone erected by the DGM on the Cimetière Mont-Royal commemorates the 97 victims of this disaster.
Members of the DGM successfully contributed to the development of Montreal in many areas. One example is Wilhelm Christian Munderloh, president of the DGM from 1873-77 and 1880-1893. He is considered a pioneer of Canadian maritime shipping, was deputy president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and was appointed president of the German Empire after its foundation.
Recent history
In recent decades, the role of the DGM has changed – from an organisation that originally focused heavily on helping immigrants to a cultural bridge builder between Montreal’s German-speaking, French-speaking and English-speaking populations.
Important developments since the 1990s:
- Cultural events: The DGM regularly organises and/or supports concerts, lectures, readings and celebrations such as the summer festival or the German Advent mulled wine event to keep German culture alive.
- Cooperation: Close cooperation with institutions such as the Goethe-Institut Montreal, the Alexander von Humboldt School and other German-speaking organisations.
- Social engagement: The society continues to support people in need – regardless of their origin – through its Relief and Welfare Fund.
- Archiving and research: Since 1994, many historical documents of the DGM have been archived at the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa, and old minutes books are kept at McGill University. In addition, the DGM supports students who are conducting research on German topics in Montreal.
- Digitalization and networking: Today, the DGM also uses social media and online platforms to connect the German-speaking community, e.g. through a monthly get-together and online forums.