*PLEASE NOTE THAT RECRUITMENT IS NOW CLOSED*
Whether they arrived in the 1950s on a ship or a few years ago on a passenger plane, German immigrants to Waterloo Region still hold many untold stories in their families that risk being lost if they are not recorded.
The Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS) is looking for people of German descent—or their children—who would like to talk about their years in German-speaking Europe, their arrival in Canada during the 1950s, 1960s or later, and their lives in Waterloo Region. Participants can be German immigrants or their family members, such as first-generation Canadians.
Interviews are conducted by a researcher from the university and take about one hour. Participants can choose to have the interview in their home, at the university, or at another quiet location of their choice. Read the information letter for full details on participating in the project.
Marga Weigel, the president of the German-Canadian Education Fund, approached the WCGS with the idea of producing a book that will tell the stories of German immigrants to this area. Helene Schramek and Ernst Friedel, community representatives on the WCGS Advisory Board, are also helping with this ambitious project.
The book will be relevant not only to the local community, but also to a broader audience. It will help tell the story of the German-Canadian community in a historical context by focusing on their personal experiences.
To learn more about this project please contact the Waterloo Centre for German Studies at wcgs@uwaterloo.ca.