velkommen TO THE NORWEGIAN CANADIAN CLUB
NEWS & COMING EVENTS
Friday Lunches - closed for the season
Thanks to everyone who supported our Friday Lunches and to the volunteers who make the lunches happen. We’ll resume Sept. 18.
craft bees July 16 and 23 for folklorama
We will hold crafting sessions, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on July 16 and 23, upstairs at the Scandinavian Centre, to make woven paper Christmas tree decorations (heart baskets and stars) and some sort of nisse. These will be for sale during Folklorama; the Scandinavian Pavilion will be open Aug. 2 to 8 under the theme of A Nordic Christmas.
Volunteers to help make the crafts should bring a bag lunch if they plan to stay the full three hours. Experience in making woven paper items helpful but not essential. All materials will be provided, but bring a pair of scissors for paper if possible.
keep those family stories coming
Our Club is still working on a “Norway to Manitoba” Crossings 200 jubilee project to collect data and stories on our own Norwegian immigration to North America (U.S. and Canada/Prairies), including first generation migrants.
If you’ve not yet filled out and returned Journey Map information for your Norwegian ancestor or your own migration to Canada, please do! You do not need to be a member of the Scandinavian Centre/Norwegian Club to participate. To get a form to add the information to our project, please request one through NorwegianCanadianClub@gmail.com
volunteer opportunities
The Norwegian Canadian Club welcomes volunteers to help with routine and special club activities. Areas include planning monthly, annual and/or special events; volunteering during Folklorama, at NCC-hosted brunches or at our weekly lunches; and assisting with communications and/or archives. Ideally, a volunteer would be a member of the Scandinavian Centre/Norwegian Club, with some knowledge of the organizations. Becoming a member of SCC and the Norwegian Club is open to anyone interested in personal Nordic roots or in Scandinavian culture in general.
For more information, contact Martha at NorwegianCanadianClub@gmail.com
coming events -
Aug. 2-8: A Nordic Christmas, Scandinavian Pavilion, Folklorama
Sept. 18 - Friday Lunches resume, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday
Norwegian Language Classes
Instructor Richard Castro is offering Norwegian language classes. For more information, email Janet at jac2@mymts.net or call 204-889-2714.
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HISTORY
The NCC was founded in 1985. It was preceded by other Norwegian cultural organizations in Winnipeg which date back to 1912. Our membership is open to all. Some members are natives of Norway, claim Norwegian ancestry or have married into the culture, while others are simply interested in learning about Nordic life. We promote mutual interest in Norway and support of its language, food, and culture, to the community Winnipeg and environs.
The Norwegian Club meets the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., either for an executive meeting or for a general program on cultural topics, called Kosi Kveld. During the cold, dark winter months, we may switch in-person cultural activities to Sunday afternoons, as scheduling allows.
CELEBRATIONS
In May, the NCC hosts Syttende Mai celebrations, the annual Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17th. We have celebrated Syttende Mai on May 17th since 1912. The event features music, a children’s dance performance and traditional food, like lefse-wrapped hotdogs!
Our club hosts an annual Lutefisk Dinner every November. While many prove their might by actually eating lutefisk, we also have Norwegian meatballs for those who prefer a different taste. We usually have live folk music by the Sill-i-Tones to accompany singing of special lutefisk and lefse songs.
In January, the NCC hosts a version of Juletrefest the traditional Norwegian celebration of singing Christmas songs around the tree.
The NCC members participate in the main events of the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, including the Annual Christmas Market and Café, the Children’s Christmas Party, the Viking School program, and Folklorama.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The Norwegian Canadian Club would like to honour the ancestral people of Manitoba. The land we recognize as the Province of Manitoba has been home to Indigenous Peoples for countless generations: Anishinaabeg, Ininewek, Anisinineek, Denesuline, Dakhota Oyate, and Inuit. Our Norwegian Club is located on Treaty 1 Territory as well as the birthplace and homeland of the Metis Nation.
Our Norwegian forebears came from elsewhere and settled in the Canadian prairies. For our people to settle here, others were unsettled, and during that process, harm did occur to Indigenous Peoples.
While we celebrate our family journeys made from Norway to North America, we also humbly pay respect to all First Nations, Metis, and Inuit ancestors of this land.
2026 BOARD MEMBERS
President: Martha Helgerson
Vice President: Selma Parsons
Secretary: Nichole Elvebo
Treasurer: Elaine Lochhead